TOPICS LIST: http://www.eztech.com/bibletalks/topics.htm EMAIL ADDRESS: bibletalks@eztech.com Bible passages taken from New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Bible Talks about INTERCESSORY PRAYER. WHAT DOES "INTERCESSORY" MEAN? 1)To come between two separated parties to bring them together. 2) To speak on behalf of someone who needs help. INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS COMMANDED BY GOD. PSALM 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. MATTHEW 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, LUKE 6:28 "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. JAMES 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS URGED AND ENCOURAGED. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,.." JESUS INTERCEDES FOR US. HEBREWS 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them. (Read also: ROMANS 8:24; JOHN 17:9: JOHN 17:20; LUKE 22:12.) THE HOLY SPIRIT ALSO INTERCEDES FOR US. ROMANS 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. EACH ONE OF US IS EXPECTED TO INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS: For all saints(Born-again believers).EPHESIANS 6:4. For all men. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1. FOR ALL IN AUTHORITY. 1 TIMOTHY 2:2 For all ministers. 2 CORINTHIANS 1:11 For Jerusalem. PSALM 172:6. For children. MATTHEW 15:22. For friends. JOB 42:8. For fellow countrymen. ROMANS 10:1. For the sick. JAMES 5:14. For those who envy us. NUMBERS 12:13. For those who forsake us. 2 TIMOTHY 4:16. For those who murmur against God. NUMBERS 11:1,2. WE ARE TO INTERCEDE FOR ONE ANOTHER. GALATIANS 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Choose someone as a praying partner and pray for him or her regularly. Have that someone pray for you regularly. Thus we help each other "bear one another’s burden.") YOU MAY INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS BY PRAYING WITH A GROUP. ACTS 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. HOME-BOUND PEOPLE CAN BE INTERCESSORS (Intercessory prayer would appear to be especially suitable as a full-time ministry for the home-bound. They could have time to intercede for people they know, hear about on radio and T.V. programs and pray for those they read about in newspapers.) GOD EXPECTS BELIEVERS TO BE INTERCESSORS. ISAIAH 59:16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. (God was astonished that there was no one to intercede with prayer). TO NEGLECT INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS A SIN. ISAIAH 12:23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.." INTERCESSORY PRAYER HAS ACTUALLY CAUSED GOD TO CHANGE HIS MIND. (God tells Moses He will destroy Israel and start over again with Moses. Moses intercedes for Israel) EXODOS 32:14 So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. AMOS 7:3 So the LORD relented concerning this. "It shall not be," said the LORD. ((God sent locusts and fire to punish Israel Amos interceded for Israel and God relented again.) JESUS INTERCEDED FOR MANY INCLUDING YOU AND ME. LUKE 22:32 (For Peter). "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." LUKE 23:34 (For His crucifiers).Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." JOHN 17:20 (For you and me and others)"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; JOHN 17:9 (For His disciples)."I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. EXAMPLES OF INTERCESSORY PRAYERS AND THE RESULTS. GENESIS 20:7 - 18. (Abraham interceded for Abimelech.God not only did not punish Abimelech but healed him as well). MATTHEW 8:5 - 13. (The Centurion at Capernum interceded for his sick servant. The servant was healed). See also ROMANS 10:1; Romans 15:20; COLOSSIANS 1:3 and 1:9; and ACTS 8:15. SUMMARY: Intercessory prayers are very important to believers. God commands,expects and urges such prayers. At times God appears to wait for someone to intercede before He will act. See JOB 42:8. Intercessory prayers are a powerful tool in a believer’s hand and have a tremendous effect. Situations have been changed, people saved, people healed, and God has been persuaded to change His d! Go to http://www.eztech.com/bibletalks/topics.htm to find a particular Bible Talk by number or Topic. Click on your selection and print or read it on the monitor screen.