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The ministry of "Intercessory Prayer" has been an on-going ministry within The Apostolic Church. There exists many needs (within the body of Christ and also outside the body of Christ) which only God can fulfill. Prayer is a way of life at The Apostolic Church; Prayer is indeed powerful; Prayer is direct communication with God. Jesus instructed us to "pray always" (Luke 21:36). Quite simply, intercessory prayer is the act of praying on behalf of others. The role of mediator in prayer was prevalent in the beginning, in the cases of Abraham, Moses, David, Samuel, Hezekiah, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Christ is pictured in the New Testament as the ultimate intercessor, and because of this, all Christian prayer becomes intercession since it is offered to God through and by Christ. Jesus closed the gap between us and God when He died on the cross. Because of Jesus’ mediation, we can now intercede in prayer on behalf of other Christians or for the lost, asking God to grant their requests according to His will. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). |
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A wonderful model of intercessory prayer is found in Daniel 9. It has all the elements of true intercessory prayer. It is in response to the Word (v. 2); characterized by fervency (v. 3) and self-denial (v. 4); identified unselfishly with God’s people (v. 5); strengthened by confession (v. 5-15); dependent on God’s character (vv. 4, 7, 9, 15); and has as its goal God’s glory (vv. 16-19). Like Daniel, Christians are to come to God on behalf of others in a heartbroken and repentant attitude, recognizing their own unworthiness and with a sense of self-denial. Daniel does not say, “I have a right to demand this out of You, God, because I am one of your special, chosen intercessors.” He says, “I'm a sinner,” and, in effect, “I do not have a right to demand anything.” True intercessory prayer seeks not only to know God’s will and see it fulfilled, but to see it fulfilled whether or not it benefits us and regardless of what it costs us. True intercessory prayer seeks God’s glory, not our own.
Intercessors take others' situations and supplications before the face of God in prayer. Intercession involves standing on God's Holy Word; taking hold of God's will and remaining steadfast until His will comes to pass. There is an erroneous idea in contemporary Christianity that those who offer up intercessory prayers are a special class of “super-Christians,” called by God to a specific ministry of intercession. The Bible is clear that all Christians are called to be intercessors. All Christians have the Holy Spirit in their hearts and, just as He intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will (Romans 8:26-27), we are to intercede for one another. This is not a privilege limited to an exclusive Christian elite; this is the command to all. In fact, not to intercede for others is sin. The scripture shares how Samuel states “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23).
The following is only a partial list of those for whom we are to offer intercessory prayers: all in authority (1 Timothy 2:2); ministers (Philippians 1:19); the church (Psalm 122:6); friends (Job 42:8); fellow countrymen (Romans 10:1); the sick (James 5:14); enemies (Jeremiah 29:7); those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44); those who forsake us (2 Timothy 4:16); and all men (1 Timothy 2:1). It is a privilege to be under the leadership of Pastor Aregbesola, an intercessor, and in obedience to God's Word. "If my people which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear rom heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (II Chronicles 7:14)
If you would like to join us on Intercessory prayer, attend our weekly prayer on every Saturday afternoon at 1.00pm prompt.
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