What Is Intercessory Prayer?

A family member faces a deadly disease. Your neighbor desperately needs Jesus, but turns away every time you try to share Christ. A nation begins to crumble because its people follow their own evil ways. But what can you do?

Often, the problems we face seem too big for us. No matter how much we try, we cannot solve them on our own. It's times like these when we need to turn to the Lord in intercessory prayer.

WHAT IS INTERCESSION?

Intercession is prayer that pleads with God for your needs and the needs of others. But it is also much more than that. Intercession involves taking hold of God's will and refusing to let go until His will comes to pass.

Intercession is warfare -- the key to God's battle plan for our lives. But the battleground is not of this earth. The Bible says, "We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and spiritual powers in the heavens above" (Ephesians 6:12CloseEphesians 6:12 For we* are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

Intercessory prayer takes place in this spiritual world where the battles for our own lives, our families, our friends and our nation are won or lost.

A PLAN FOR BATTLE

If you are born again, you are God's son or daughter (John 1:12CloseJohn 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). As His child, you have a direct "hotline" to God. At any time, you can boldly come into His presence (Hebrews 4:16CloseHebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

This incredible access to God is the basis for intercession. Once you are in God's presence, you can now discover His battle plan for the situation you are facing. Because prayer alone is not enough -- you need a target for your prayers!

To discover God's plan, all you have to do is ask. The Bible says that "if any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5CloseJames 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). When we ask God for wisdom, His desires will become the focus of our prayers. "Let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him" (Romans 12:2CloseRomans 12:2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

ARMED FOR BATTLE

Intercessory prayer is a serious matter. And just like soldiers who are preparing for battle, we cannot take on the enemy if we leave our weapons behind. That's why we must go into "battle" armed for spiritual conflict (see 2 Cor. 10:3,4).

First, recognize that Jesus is in control of the situation. Jesus "rules over forces, authorities, powers, and rulers ... over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well" (Ephesians 1:21CloseEphesians 1:21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Then, put on "all the armor God gives" (see Eph. 6) so that you will be ready to fight with God's weapons. These are the "weapons of our warfare" that can pull down strongholds in the spirit world (see 2 Cor. 10:3,4). They will also protect you from the attacks that are sure to come once you begin the spiritual battle.

Next, bind the work of Satan, knowing that Jesus has given you authority "to defeat the power of your enemy" (Luke 10:19CloseLuke 10:19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). If God shows you the identity of specific spiritual strongholds that are at work, take authority over these strongholds in the name of Jesus. And always remember that "God's Spirit is in you and is more powerful that the one that is in the world" (1 John 4:4Close1 John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

Finally, as you begin the spiritual battle, take comfort knowing that you are not alone: Jesus also is interceding on your behalf! The Bible says that Jesus "is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25CloseHebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save* those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , NASB; see also Romans 8:26-34CloseRomans 8:26-34 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers* in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together* for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn* among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

PERSISTING IN BATTLE

Intercessory prayer is also prayer that doesn't give up. It's the kind of prayer that endures all setbacks and overcomes every obstacle. It's prayer that "presses on" until we "apprehend" God's will in whatever situation we are facing (see Philippians 3:12ClosePhilippians 3:12 I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , KJV).

This kind of prayer is the key to seeing breakthroughs in your life and in the lives of those around you. Jesus gave a great model for intercession in the story of the persistent friend. Here we see a friend who knocks on his neighbor's door at midnight to ask for three loaves of bread. The neighbor does not want to get up, but Jesus said, "because of his friend's persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs" (Luke 11:8CloseLuke 11:8 But I tell you this—though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.* OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , NASB).

Then Jesus said, "Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks" (Luke 11:10CloseLuke 11:10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). Those words mean keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. In God's time, your persistence in intercessory prayer will reap a spiritual harvest in your life and the lives of those around you!

BATTLING FOR YOUR NATION

Throughout the Bible, God searched for those willing to fight the spiritual battle for their land. In Ezekiel, God says, "And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found no one" (Ezekiel 22:30CloseEzekiel 22:30 "I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land, but I found no one. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , NASB).

Through intercession, you can take the offensive in the spiritual battle, building up your community, your nation and your world. As you follow God's call to rise up and take your place in the spiritual battle, God promises to "heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14, NASB).

JOINING THE BATTLE

God is calling Christians to join His battle plan for this world -- to join in intercessory prayer. He is not looking for perfect prayer warriors, just willing hearts who want to see His will come to pass on the earth. All you have to do is turn to the Lord in prayer:

"Father, I come into Your presence and ask You to give me the heart of the intercessor. Help me to be persistent in prayer until the breakthrough comes. Thank You for this powerful weapon of spiritual warfare -- and for Your faithfulness in my life. In Jesus' name. Amen."

GOD'S WORD ON INTERCESSION

"We live in this world, but we don't act like its people or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God's power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people's thoughts and make them obey Christ" (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

SCRIPTURES FOR STUDY

Isaiah 59:16CloseIsaiah 59:16 He was amazed to see that no one intervened  to help the oppressed.So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm,  and his justice sustained him. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; Galatians 6:2CloseGalatians 6:2 Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; 1 Timothy 2:1Close1 Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) -- Our responsibility to intercede

Genesis 18 -- The importance of righteous believers

Isaiah 58:6-7CloseIsaiah 58:6-7 "No, this is the kind of fasting I want:Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;  lighten the burden of those who work for you.Let the oppressed go free,  and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry,  and give shelter to the homeless.Give clothes to those who need them,  and do not hide from relatives who need your help. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) -- The need for intercession

Romans 8:26-34CloseRomans 8:26-34 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers* in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together* for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn* among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) -- Help to intercede

Ephesians 6 -- The "armor" for spiritual battle

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture references are from the Contemporary English Version of the Bible.