Prayer and the Prayer Warriors/Intercessors

Prayer and the Prayer Warriors/Intercessors

(Psalm 34:3)
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

What is prayer?
1) A conversation with God; a connection with our heavenly Father.
2) It’s a privilege and responsibility.
3) A request that can move the hand of God in a situation where there is no other hope.
4) Crying out to God from deep inside, pouring out your soul before God.
5) Prayer blesses you not only when it’s returned, but also when it’s never returned at all.

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
v16) Be joyful always
v17) pray continually
v18) give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

In these verses, prayer is sandwiched between joyfulness (rejoicing) and thanksgiving. It’s a juicy prayer burger. I want you to see that prayer is more than we ever thought possible. Let's push ourselves and move into something new.

Examples of what you can do and say in your prayers:
• You can rejoice the good things God has done for you (forget not all His benefits);
• You can give God thanks, thanksgiving (It’s not about the assumption that He’s going to answer your prayers. It’s about acknowledging and truly thanking Him for the great things He’s done for you.);

Declare that the days of racing through a prayer list and thanking God for answering your prayers over. You know the kind of prayer I’m talking about. Thank you Father for doing this. Thank you Father for giving me that. This is vain repetition! Dare to be bold and come unto the throne of grace. Be bold and confident enough that you can be humble before your God. Go for it. Want more. God wants a conversation with you. He wants sweet fellowship with you! He wants talking and listening. Humble yourself before Him. Trust God. He will not disappoint you.

(1 Peter 5:6-7)
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

(Hebrews 4:16 NIV)
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

• You can praise God (openly praise Him in your prayers and watch and feel how it warms His heart);
• You can worship God in your prayers (be a worship warrior) speak of his glory and your love and devotion (Oh Father, you are holy. In heaven and on earth there’s no one your equal!);
• You can ask God’s forgiveness;
• You can pray for yourself and your family;
• You can pray for those who are sick;
• You can pray for the world and its leaders, sins, momentous happenings, and disasters;
• You can pray for those teaching the word, and that your mind is fertile ground that you receive the word that’s taught;
• You can pray for our fellowship and friendship;
• You can pray for wisdom, understanding, learning, discerning, and witness;
• You can pray for fellowship events, activities, and ministries;
• You can pray for vision (enlightenment) and renewed energy (strengthening);
• You can pray for peacefulness and comfort; quietness (pay attention, feel God's presence.)

What is a prayer warrior?

As believers, we pray privately, in a group – but what sets a prayer warrior apart from other believers?

A prayer warrior is a Christian believer who is passionate about praying for others. They will pray individually or in groups. Their prayers are packed with requests for others. Think of it as the selflessness of a soldier who defends his/her country for the good of family and friends; and he/she asks nothing in return. They consistently intercede on behalf of others before God. As they pray, they come between God and the trouble in another person’s life (intercession). Prayer warriors/intercessors recognize that God is merciful, and they ask for God’s intervention on behalf of the person they are praying for.

Prayer itself is powerful. You see, prayer does not equip you for greater works. It is a greater work in itself. Prayer doesn’t cause faith to work, but faith causes prayer to work. Approach God's throne with confidence!

(James 5:16 NIV)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Now, this is when prayer warriors become very powerful.

(Matthew 18:19-20 KJV)
Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father Which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

The Apostle Paul constantly prayed for others. He’s a great example of a prayer warrior. In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus:

Example of an Intercessory Prayer:
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Are your prayers filled with requests for others? If you have been given this ministry, through prayer and intercession you can be used by God to touch the lives of those you have never met and the lives of those close to you. Are you a prayer warrior?

Becoming a Prayer Warrior requires faith that your prayers have an impact on those that you are praying for. It takes dedication to strengthen your private prayer life and relationship with God. You must set aside time each day to pray for those that you feel lead to pray for, discerning what to pray for and for whom.

Notes: Whenever satan comes to remind you of your past sins to distract your walk with God, remind satan of his future.

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
v9) Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

v10) If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

v11) Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

v12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

(James 4:10)
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

(2 Chronicles 7:14)
If my people, who are called by my Name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.