|
It is a technical term for approaching a king
and so, for approaching God in intercession, it is rendered “prayer”...in
1 Timothy 4:5, and in the plural in 1 Timothy 2:1 (i.e. seeking
the presence and hearing of God on behalf of others.)
As a verb, the word “intercession” means
primarily to fall in with, or to meet with, in order to converse;
then to make petition, especially to plead with a person either
for or against others.
Examples: Acts 25:24 -petitions were made against
Paul by the Jews.
Romans 11:2 -Elijah petitions against Israel
Romans 8:27 -Holy Spirit petitions for the saints
Romans 8:34 & Hebrews 7:25 -the intercessory work of Christ
The definition in the college dictionary - to
petition in behalf of one in difficulty or trouble. (i.e. to intercede
with the governor for a condemned man.)
back to top
How is this different
from Supplication?
-a different form of the word “prayer”
is used here, which means to pray or humbly give a petition. This
would apply to personal prayer, rather than prayer used for a city,
church or nation. Examples of supplication can be found in the following:
- James 5:16-20 -confession, prayer, and pardon
- Philippians 4:6 -make petitions for all things with thanksgiving.
- 1 John 5:14 &15 -Ask in faith, knowing that God listens.
back to top
What is Travail?
-the definition in Vine’s Expository reads
it as a difficult or burdensome work; to labor or toil. This word
is often used to explain the deep work of the Holy Spirit in intercession.
Romans 8:26 -27 -(Amplified version) -so too the
Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for
we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily
as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication
and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings
too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows
what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit - what His intent is - because
the Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) in behalf of the saints
according to and in harmony with God’s will.
.....In every-day language, it just means there
are some things which need prayer and humanly formed words seem
unable to cover the expression that the Holy Spirit requires to
petition the Father.
Other times that “travail” is referred
to in the bible:
Isaiah 53:11- refers to the coming Messiah.
Isaiah 66:8 - Israel is birthed as a nation a second time. Romans
8:22 - All of nature travails as it awaits its deliverance from
the fall.
Galatians 4:19 - Paul speaks of prayerfully birthing (again) some
who are being drawn away from the truth.
back to top
WE HAVE BEEN
GIVEN A MANDATE TO PRAY! (1
Timothy 2:1- 4)
- First of all, then, I admonish and urge that
petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be offered on
behalf of all men. For kings and all who are in positions of authority
or high responsibility, that (outwardly) we may pass a quiet and
undisturbed life (and inwardly) a peaceable one in all godliness
and reverence and seriousness in every way.
For such (praying) is good and right, and (it
is) pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior, Who wishes all men
to be saved and increasingly to perceive and recognize and discern
and know precisely and correctly the (divine) Truth, (Amplified
Bible)
Philippians 1:9 - 11 -Paul’s prayer for the Philippians to
grow in the Lord.
Hebrews 13:18 -Paul asks the church to pray for him.- Vs.20-21-Paul
prays for the church.
1 Samuel 7:9 - God heard Samuel’s prayer for Israel.
Revelation 8:3 - Prayers ascend as incense before God.
CLICK
HERE to read more on our mandate.
back to top
Instruction
Concerning Prayer:
Luke 21:36- Jesus states that men should pray
and not faint.....(don’t get lazy, or give up.)
1 Tim. 2:8- pray with a pure heart, not out of
anger, or resentment..(don’t try to manipulate God.)
Jude 20- pray in the Holy Spirit...(we need the
anointing that comes from God to do the job.)
Eph. 6:10-20- we are told how to arm ourselves,
what to expect, and how to do battle...note verses 17 and 18...And
take the helmet of salvation and the sword the Spirit wields which
is the Word if God.
Pray at all times -on every occasion, in every
season - in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty.
To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance,
interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated
people) ....pray the word of God!!!
back to top
The Power of The Word
in Prayer:
Deut. 8:3 & Matt. 4:4 -Man shall live by every
word that comes from the mouth of God.
Deut. 30:14 & Rom.10:8 -The word is near you, on your lips and
in your heart.
Psalm 147:15 -His word runs very swiftly.
Isaiah 45:23 -God swore by Himself, the word is gone out of His
mouth.
Isaiah 55:10-11 -God’s word shall not return void, or be useless,
but it shall prosper.
Ezekiel 12:28 -None of God’s words shall be deferred anymore,
they shall be performed.
Matt. 8:8; 24:35 -His word shall not pass away. Col.3:16-17- applying
the word to our lives.
back to top
WATCHMEN
Part One and Two
-members within the church, willing to stand on
guard spiritually on the wall for their brothers and sisters. In
the N.T. there are 5 words translated from the word to watch, with
gregoreo the most frequently used of the 5.
This verb means to keep awake, be alert, give
strict attention lest through negligence and indolence some destructive
calamity overtakes one (matt.24:42; 25:13; Rev. 16:15), or lest
one deny or forsake Christ (Matt. 26:41), or fall into sin (1 Thess.
5:6; 1 Cor. 16:13; 1Pet.5:8; Rev.3:2) We are all called to guard
our section of the wall; but there are times when others within
the community are unable to protect their gate.
The Holy Spirit is continually looking for those
who’ll to come along-side of their brothers and pray. I believe
that we are in the final watch of the night, and that God is getting
ready to do a new thing.
He is calling watchmen(intercessors) on the wall,
so that we can, by the Holy Spirit, speak God’s Word over the
earth, and the season of “Suddenly” can begin. Remember,
the ministry we’re in, is only as successful as the prayers
which undergird it. If we desire growth and change, it starts with
us.
God wants it to be a House of Prayer!
(Isaiah 56:7)
Psalm 65:2 -O You Who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.
(We are told The Lord hears our prayers, and we can be assured that
we are not just doing a vain exercise.)
Psalm 65:4 -Blessed is the man whom You choose
and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts! We shall
be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy Temple.
(When we come to the Lord in prayer, we enter into His temple).
Revelation 5:7-8 - He then went and took the scroll
from the right hand of Him Who sat on the Throne. And when He had
taken the scroll (book), the four living creatures and the twenty-four
elders (of the heavenly Sanhedrin) prostrated themselves before
the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had
golden bowls of Incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning),
which are the prayers of God’s people- the saints. (Notice
that the prayers are offered up as incense offerings)
Revelation 8:3-4 -And another angel came and stood
over the altar. He had a golden censer, and He was given very much
incense(fragrant spices and gums which exhale perfume when burned),
that he might mingle it with the prayers of all the people of God
(The saints) upon the altar of gold before the throne. And the smoke
of the incense (The perfume) arose in the presence of God with the
prayers of the people of God (The saints) from the hand of the angel.
(If you continue to read this chapter, you Will see that the prayers
of God’s people are precious to God, and that there is Power
in prayer, for God responds to it).
Psalm 141:1-2 - Lord, I have called upon You;
hasten to me; give ear to my voice when I cry to You. Let my prayer
be set forth as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as
the evening sacrifice. ( In these verses, not only does the psalmist
cry out as a Child to his father; but he lifts up his voice, and
his hands as an offering in the Temple.)
back to top
We are
Instructed to Pray
1Chronicles16:10-11 -Glory in His holy name; let
the heart of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
Seek the Lord and His strength, yearn for and seek His face and
to be in His
presence continually!
John 16:23-24 - And when that time comes, you
will ask nothing of Me. I assure you, most Solemnly I tell you,
that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My name (Presenting
all I Am). Up to this time, you have not asked a (single) thing
in My Name(that is, presenting all I Am) but now ask and keep on
asking and you will Receive so that your joy may be full and complete.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 -Be unceasing in prayer
-praying perseveringly; Thank God in Everything -no matter what
the circumstances may be, being thankful and give thanks; for this
is the will of God for you (who are) in Christ Jesus- (The Revealer
and Mediator of that will). Do not quench the (Holy) Spirit. (Do
not Suppress or subdue)
John 15:7 & 1 John 3:22 -and we receive from
Him whatever we ask for, because we (watchfully) obey His orders
-observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us
-and (habitually) practice what is pleasing to Him.
Romans 8:26-27 - So too the (Holy) Spirit comes
to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what
prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the
Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf
with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.
And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what
is in the mind of the (Holy) Spirit -what His intent is -because
the Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) in behalf of the saints
according to and in harmony with God’s will. (Psalm 139:1-2)
Acts 4:31 -And when they had prayed, the place
in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and they continued to speak the Word of God
with freedom and boldness and courage...notice that there were results
after the prayer!
back to top
WHY PRAYER?
It has to do with Divine fellowship:
Matthew 18:20- for where two or three are gathered
together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.
Luke 24:15 - And it came to pass that while they communed together
and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them.
Revelation 3:20 -Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man
hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with Me.
Moses knew about fellowship with God -Exodus 24:2,
25:22, 33:9
Enoch also walked with God - Genesis 5:22 -24
Noah saved his family by walking with the Lord -Genesis 6:9
Other references -Malachi 2:6, Revelation 3:4
God desires a close relationship with us, to overshadow and speak
with each one of us.
Psalm 16:8 -speaks of God being at our right hand
Psalm 34:18 -refers to God searching the heart of an individual.
Psalm 145:18 -promises that the Lord is as close as our call.
Jeremiah 23:23 & Acts 17:27 promises us that God is not a distant
God.
back to top
We are encouraged to draw near to
God in every situation:
1 Samuel 14:36
Psalm 73:28
Hebrews 7:19 & 10:22
James 4:8
The Word of God is full of invitation and promise
concerning our relationship and fellowship with the Lord. The whole
plan of redemption is hinged on the Heavenly Father’s desire
to bring us back into the position we had with Him before the fall.
He loves us so much, and He wants to walk with us in the cool of
the day. He longs to reveal things to us as he did with Adam.
God hasn’t given up on us; it was man who
ran away from the Lord. Now that we’re coming home, we need
to learn how to talk and walk with our Father. Often when we’ve
strayed, it’s uncomfortable to come back.
- we feel awkward, because we aren’t sure
what will be expected of us. Sometimes shame or guilt try to block
us, and we have to remind ourselves that it’s been removed-
it’s as though we never sinned, or left home. How then can
we best rediscover this communication?
#1. We go to His Word, not only to learn what
He says; but who He says we are, and what our position is with our
Heavenly Father.
#2. We turn to the aid of the Holy Spirit, Who
has promised to reveal the Love and the Will of The Father towards
us.
#3. We trust in the Word and the Spirit of God
to lead us into a walk which is pleasing both to the Lord, and to
us.
#4. We gradually develop a relationship that peels
away the layers of selfishness and carnality. We Are finally willing
to be led by the Word and the Spirit, rather than the flesh.
A relationship is developed which eliminates selfishness.
We become “God Minded”, serving others (under the power
and influence of the Holy Spirit) -not by the arm of the flesh,
or motivated by personal gain. As “Godly” as we might
think we have become, without the Holy Spirit and the Word to keep
us in check, we are very “self”motivated....we will stray
off of the path that the Lord has set before us and become self
absorbed once again. For this reason, we must stay in prayer, and
in His Temple.....Only then can we begin to grow.
back to top
|
