INTERCESSORY PRAYER

I TIMOTHY 2:1 "EXHORT therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men"

I was asked this last Sunday to direct our continued discussion in Sunday school while our regular teacher was gone. My topic was to be Intercessory prayer and what a wonderful part of our prayer lives that is. We all have read and talked about how Abraham prayed for Lot and to save Sodom and how GOD heard his prayers and saved Lot and his family. Unfortunately Sodom could not be saved because he could not find ten righteous men in the city. We know how Moses was such a persistant and bold intercessor for the people of Israel, reminding GOD how HE had brought them out of Egypt and not to turn HIS back on Israel now and GOD heard and held back HIS hand and responded with grace.

"I stood between the LORD and YOU" Exodus 32:7-14.

And the power of intercessory prayer of the Church in Acts 12:5-12 when the whole church prayed for Peter and his chains fell off and he walked out of prison. We know that even the LORD sought an intercessor in Ezekiel 22:30-31. Because GOD did not find anyone to "stand in the gap" to intercede for the land, HE poured out HIS judgment due to its disobedience. Psalms 14:2(2 Chronicles 16:9)

" The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek GOD."

How many of us want the prayers of others to bring us closer to our LORD or save us from some sin that binds us like Job felt in JOB 16:21

" Oh that one might plead for a man with GOD, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor."

Why do we pray for others? Of course I TIM 2:1 tells us to but we pray for others so that GOD can know our faith and we can draw closer to HIM, prayer changes us. How can you pray for another person and still hold a grudge in your heart? How could you not know forgiveness when you pray? When you take the pain of others and their misfortunes you open your heart and bind in fellowship with GOD. GOD may have placed a burden in that person's pathway to bring them to HIM but again HE may only be waiting to hear your prayer, as HE once searched for intercessors in the Old Testament. Jesus prayed for his disciples and for all that came to Him through them. Jesus is the most powerful intercessor, dying on the cross for our sins. It was our sins that stood in the gap between GOD and us. What could be more powerful then to be praying to our LORD as HE is praying for us! I grew up learning the Trinity in the Methodist church, praying to the FATHER, through Jesus the Savior, in and with the Holy Spirit. That is a powerful process that GOD guided us in as we read the scriptures but it doesn't always need to come exactly in that order. When we have difficulty with the words or thoughts in our intercessory prayers the Holy Spirit guides us and leads us to draw closer to GOD to open our hearts and draw near to HIM. One of the members of the class drew attention to a lady named Bess who passed away. A binder was found in some of the items she left for the church. In that binder was an organization of scriptures and names of people she had been praying for in the church. She kept the names in order and when she knew those prayers had been answered she crossed out the date and the name. Bess prayed for her own son for 24 years before he came to Christ, what a faithful intercessor she was. Another class member told us of how he came to Christ through the prayers of others, as he fought the conversion for years. I think of my own son Seann. We have struggled in our relationship for many years and for so many reasons that leave fault on both sides. I will never give up on him in my prayers as I continue to plead to GOD for HE to bring someone or open a door to lead Seann back to fellowship with the FATHER and for forgiveness. My wife Rita has always been the patient intercessor in our relationship and I know she would tell you her prayer life has grown through a better understanding of intercessory prayer. My loving mother, what a great intercessor she was, always keeping so many of us in her prayers. I want to be a faithful intercessor. The story of Bess and the testimony of our class member gives me great hope and inspiration as it should to all of you that seek answers in your prayer lives.

WHY ARE OUR PRAYERS ANSWERED? GOD tells us because of our Faith, just as in Mark, chapter 2, when Jesus healed the man who was lowered through the roof and said it was because of the faith of his friends that he was healed.

WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY? As soon as we know the need, start praying now.

KNOW THAT THE GOD WHO HEARS THEM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART TO YOUR PRAYERS. The power come from HIM, not us.

MEET WITH OTHERS, in fellowship and pray.

WHO SHOULD WE PRAY FOR?
Leaders of our government
Spiritual leaders, our pastors, their families, Christian lay persons
Our community, friends, all who have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD
The saints of the church, people of GOD.

Pray with persistence and determination, patience, discipline and great Faith.

GOD BLESSES THE WORLD WITH OUR PRAYERS AND REMEMBER THIS WEEK THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH. "THE EARNEST PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON HAS GREAT POWER AND WONDERFUL RESULTS, REMEMBERING THE GREATER POWER IN THE ANSWER COMES FROM GOD"

Thank you for letting me share my lesson with you as I presented it to our prayer class. I hope you will keep Rita and I in your prayers always as we do for all of you. GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK. MONTH, YEAR AND FOREVER ETERNITY...