This is that … June 2021
The Lost
Who are the lost?
The lost are those who are alive but perishing. That means they have the loss of eternal life, total alienation from God. Upon death they are sent into hell … forever without hope.
FOUNDATIONS OF INTERCESSION
1. God’s Word
The study of God’s Word must always be the precursor to prayer. Why? Because faith comes from The Word, and without faith you’re spitting in the wind. In other words, your prayers are empty of substance. They will produce no fruit. And God is always after fruit!
2. Love Never Fails: 1 Corinthians Chapter 13
Love people, even those who reject the gospel because this is where love triumphs! Saul of Tarsus, before he met Jesus, was out to persecute Believers and destroy Christianity. (Acts Chapter 9) But the Saints were praying and Jesus intervened! Love in the heart of the pray-er is the power that the Holy Spirit converts to spiritual power to touch lost souls to bring them to repentance. Beware of unforgiveness in the heart. It strangles faith from bearing fruit. (Mark 11:25-26)
3. Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Tongues
John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire! (Matthew 3:11) Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus said signs would follow Believers. He said one of those signs is they shall speak in tongues.
The Holy Spirit’s voice cannot be heard without a Believer.
Romans 8:26-27 reveals the glorious inner workings of the Holy Spirit uniting as one with us in prayer to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth. It’s what the whole creation is groaning for! (Romans 8:18-25)
There is nothing that can take the place of the power of praying in tongues — for our own lives and for interceding for the lost. Satan hates it! It is he who has deceived the Baptists, Lutherans, Catholics, and others about Holy Spirit. (Acts 19 gives us the picture of Christians without the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.)
Satan wants to keep The Church from entering into the higher realms of spiritual authority that will bind him.
Angels are Waiting
The Kingdom of God suffers violence, but the violent TAKE it by force! The great armies of God, the angels, listen for their assignments from us. “Though we speak with the tongues of men and of angels …” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Elisha asked God that his fearful servant might see what he saw, the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire all around, and God agreed. This is something to think about when interceding. Now imagine the millions of intercessors engaging in spiritual warfare, taking the Kingdom of God every day! Imagine all those prayers answered!!!
Intercession moves out to the frontline to seize territory before the boots on the ground enter in. Be aware of enemy tactics that try and steal your prayer time.
Prayer and Intercession: Is there a difference?
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority …”
(1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Intercession - Vines Dictionary: a technical term for approaching a king and so for approaching God in intercession; seeking the presence and hearing of God on behalf of others; to make petition or intercede on behalf of another is used in Romans 8:26 of the work of the Holy Spirit in making intercession.
The Father put it this way in Isaiah 42:22
“But this is a people robbed and plundered;
All of them are snared in holes,
And they are hidden in prison houses;
They are for prey, and no one delivers;
For plunder, and no one says, ‘Restore!’”
Intercession Brings Restoration
Do you remember when Abraham interceded for the depraved city of Sodom? Of course the greatest example of intercession is Jesus Christ as He became sin. And He continues as the greatest Intercessor today, “for He always lives to make intercession for us!" (Hebrews 7:25) We cannot fully accomplish our assignment without Holy Spirit led praying, meaning we join with Him in glorious tongues as avenues of darkness are penetrated with light, life and great power!
Holy Spirit is speaking to us in this hour to step up prayer and intercession. There is an epidemic of stupidity and ignorance all around us because the lost believe in lies and want to make them into laws.
This produces perilous times. (2 Timothy 3:1)
Kenneth Copeland’s daily devotional: “Faith to Faith” has an example of how to pray for a lost person. But we can use those same steps for all the lost in our cities, states, and nation. I will highlight his major points.
* Most all unbelievers who have purposely refused to receive Jesus as Lord think they have made that decision by their own free will. The truth is they haven’t. Satan has blinded their minds. (2 Corinthians 4:4) That’s important. He’s blocked their perception of the truth.
* Through the prayer of intercession, you can interfere with satanic forces and help to remove the blinders. Your prayers, God working in you, can change circumstances that will bring them in contact with the Lord. You are well within your spiritual rights to do that.
* Whether you’re praying for a relative (or all the lost in your city), first bind the strong man (Matthew 12:29) and then enter his house and spoil his goods. Speak it and use the name of Jesus!
* Pray Matthew 9:38: ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Then claim the person or your city or state for the Kingdom of God, saying “we believe we receive salvation and deliverance” (for so and so).
* Declare victory … “in faith we praise you Father for the results!” Rejoice! You, and Holy Spirit power inside you, have taken off the blinders and opened their eyes to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ! Praise God! See 2 Corinthians 4:1-7.
Not only is your private time with the Lord the time to intercede for our nation, but everywhere you go, you are representing God’s kingdom, to cashiers, people in the mall, at a restaurant, and so on. If you see homeless on the street or see speeding drivers, instead of calling them bad names, pray for them to be born again. Apply the blood of Jesus on them. In other words, intercession doesn’t stop when you leave your private time with Jesus, but wherever you go, you are appointed an intercessor to stand in the gap.
And Jesus said you will speak in tongues! It’s doing more than we think … His Word shall not return void!
This is that ... which is the armor of God for an Intercessor:
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil ... " (Ephesians 6:11)
(Remember to cast all cares onto the Lord.)
***I was able to find a half-hour teaching from Kenneth Copeland on praying for the lost:
“How to Pray for the Lost”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL5EXGXoX0M&t=20s
There’s always more to learn about being an intercessor!
The Lost
Who are the lost?
The lost are those who are alive but perishing. That means they have the loss of eternal life, total alienation from God. Upon death they are sent into hell … forever without hope.
FOUNDATIONS OF INTERCESSION
1. God’s Word
The study of God’s Word must always be the precursor to prayer. Why? Because faith comes from The Word, and without faith you’re spitting in the wind. In other words, your prayers are empty of substance. They will produce no fruit. And God is always after fruit!
2. Love Never Fails: 1 Corinthians Chapter 13
Love people, even those who reject the gospel because this is where love triumphs! Saul of Tarsus, before he met Jesus, was out to persecute Believers and destroy Christianity. (Acts Chapter 9) But the Saints were praying and Jesus intervened! Love in the heart of the pray-er is the power that the Holy Spirit converts to spiritual power to touch lost souls to bring them to repentance. Beware of unforgiveness in the heart. It strangles faith from bearing fruit. (Mark 11:25-26)
3. Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Tongues
John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire! (Matthew 3:11) Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus said signs would follow Believers. He said one of those signs is they shall speak in tongues.
The Holy Spirit’s voice cannot be heard without a Believer.
Romans 8:26-27 reveals the glorious inner workings of the Holy Spirit uniting as one with us in prayer to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth. It’s what the whole creation is groaning for! (Romans 8:18-25)
There is nothing that can take the place of the power of praying in tongues — for our own lives and for interceding for the lost. Satan hates it! It is he who has deceived the Baptists, Lutherans, Catholics, and others about Holy Spirit. (Acts 19 gives us the picture of Christians without the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.)
Satan wants to keep The Church from entering into the higher realms of spiritual authority that will bind him.
Angels are Waiting
The Kingdom of God suffers violence, but the violent TAKE it by force! The great armies of God, the angels, listen for their assignments from us. “Though we speak with the tongues of men and of angels …” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Elisha asked God that his fearful servant might see what he saw, the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire all around, and God agreed. This is something to think about when interceding. Now imagine the millions of intercessors engaging in spiritual warfare, taking the Kingdom of God every day! Imagine all those prayers answered!!!
Intercession moves out to the frontline to seize territory before the boots on the ground enter in. Be aware of enemy tactics that try and steal your prayer time.
Prayer and Intercession: Is there a difference?
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority …”
(1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Intercession - Vines Dictionary: a technical term for approaching a king and so for approaching God in intercession; seeking the presence and hearing of God on behalf of others; to make petition or intercede on behalf of another is used in Romans 8:26 of the work of the Holy Spirit in making intercession.
The Father put it this way in Isaiah 42:22
“But this is a people robbed and plundered;
All of them are snared in holes,
And they are hidden in prison houses;
They are for prey, and no one delivers;
For plunder, and no one says, ‘Restore!’”
Intercession Brings Restoration
Do you remember when Abraham interceded for the depraved city of Sodom? Of course the greatest example of intercession is Jesus Christ as He became sin. And He continues as the greatest Intercessor today, “for He always lives to make intercession for us!" (Hebrews 7:25) We cannot fully accomplish our assignment without Holy Spirit led praying, meaning we join with Him in glorious tongues as avenues of darkness are penetrated with light, life and great power!
Holy Spirit is speaking to us in this hour to step up prayer and intercession. There is an epidemic of stupidity and ignorance all around us because the lost believe in lies and want to make them into laws.
This produces perilous times. (2 Timothy 3:1)
Kenneth Copeland’s daily devotional: “Faith to Faith” has an example of how to pray for a lost person. But we can use those same steps for all the lost in our cities, states, and nation. I will highlight his major points.
* Most all unbelievers who have purposely refused to receive Jesus as Lord think they have made that decision by their own free will. The truth is they haven’t. Satan has blinded their minds. (2 Corinthians 4:4) That’s important. He’s blocked their perception of the truth.
* Through the prayer of intercession, you can interfere with satanic forces and help to remove the blinders. Your prayers, God working in you, can change circumstances that will bring them in contact with the Lord. You are well within your spiritual rights to do that.
* Whether you’re praying for a relative (or all the lost in your city), first bind the strong man (Matthew 12:29) and then enter his house and spoil his goods. Speak it and use the name of Jesus!
* Pray Matthew 9:38: ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Then claim the person or your city or state for the Kingdom of God, saying “we believe we receive salvation and deliverance” (for so and so).
* Declare victory … “in faith we praise you Father for the results!” Rejoice! You, and Holy Spirit power inside you, have taken off the blinders and opened their eyes to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ! Praise God! See 2 Corinthians 4:1-7.
Not only is your private time with the Lord the time to intercede for our nation, but everywhere you go, you are representing God’s kingdom, to cashiers, people in the mall, at a restaurant, and so on. If you see homeless on the street or see speeding drivers, instead of calling them bad names, pray for them to be born again. Apply the blood of Jesus on them. In other words, intercession doesn’t stop when you leave your private time with Jesus, but wherever you go, you are appointed an intercessor to stand in the gap.
And Jesus said you will speak in tongues! It’s doing more than we think … His Word shall not return void!
This is that ... which is the armor of God for an Intercessor:
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil ... " (Ephesians 6:11)
(Remember to cast all cares onto the Lord.)
***I was able to find a half-hour teaching from Kenneth Copeland on praying for the lost:
“How to Pray for the Lost”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL5EXGXoX0M&t=20s
There’s always more to learn about being an intercessor!