Discussion on Intercessory Prayer

[PinkPebbles]

I'd like to have a biblical discussion on intercessory prayer and hope that you ladies will chime in.

If God gives us 'free will', how are you praying for people that you know that are lost, un-saved, or have back-slide?

Does a person have to acknowledge their sin and need for God before God intervenes on their behalf?

I pondered on James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

I thought it was quite interesting that this verse states key words that are powerful in the spiritual realm "confession", "prayer", "healed", "effectual", "fervent", "righteous", "availed", "much".

How do you ladies connect and interpret this verse in regards to intercessory prayer?

 

[disgtgyal]

Subbing because I have this same question. Is essence is my prayer changing the person's free will and is that what "avail much " mean. Also for the mature intercessors, what has helped you grow as an intercessor? Sorry I'm not trying to hijack your thread.

 

[sweetvi]

My friend and I were discussing this the other day! How do you pray for a nonchristian ?do you pray they are blessed? Do you just pray for their salvation? Are you suppsoed to pray for them to have blessngs even though they are living an unholy life?



Many questions lol

 

[Iwanthealthyhair67]

Please bear with me...I'm tapping lol.


God desire is that none would perish.

2peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Paul prayed for the unsaved, and so should we.

Rom 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.






I'll be back.

 

[disgtgyal]

Please bear with me...I'm tapping lol.

God desire is that none would perish.

2peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Paul prayed for the unsaved, and so should we.

Rom 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

I'll be back.

So does this mean that as far as the unbeliever we should pray for their salvation and then once saved we can pray for other things?

 

[momi]

So does this mean that as far as the unbeliever we should pray for their salvation and then once saved we can pray for other things?

I generally take this approach. Many times people ask for prayer for circumstances that God may be using to bring them to repentance.

I believe we have to let the Holy Spirit lead us - however prior to prayer I always do a little fact finding about the persons spiritual state and obedience to Christ.

What's the point of me praying for a new job opportunity (just as an example) if your soul is lost?

It's not profitable to gain the whole world but lose your soul.

Clearly salvation is primary. Now if it is The Lord's will the prayer would be answered... However I would only pray after the issue of salvation and obedience is addressed.

 

[TraciChanel]

Deleted post.

 

[sweetvi]

TraciChanel

oh i was hoping to read your post

 

[PinkPebbles]

Subbing because I have this same question. Is essence is my prayer changing the person's free will and is that what "avail much " mean. Also for the mature intercessors, what has helped you grow as an intercessor? Sorry I'm not trying to hijack your thread.

disgtgyal please continue to ask your questions...we are here to learn and help each other!

 

[MrsHaseeb]

I will be back to respond

 

[PinkPebbles]

Deleted post.

TraciChanel I hope you repost...look forward to reading your post!

I will share my thoughts later on today.

 

[Iwanthealthyhair67]

I generally take this approach. Many times people ask for prayer for circumstances that God may be using to bring them to repentance.

I believe we have to let the Holy Spirit lead us - however prior to prayer I always do a little fact finding about the persons spiritual state and obedience to Christ.

What's the point of me praying for a new job opportunity (just as an example) if your soul is lost?

It's not profitable to gain the whole world but lose your soul.

Clearly salvation is primary. Now if it is The Lord's will the prayer would be answered... However I would only pray after the issue of salvation and obedience is addressed.

ITA, I believe in finding out if a person is saved first before going to ask for things on their behalf. Many will not agree with this method but it's wrong to go and ask God for 'stuff' for someone who has no interest in serving God.

 

[sweetvi]

okay can i throw a monkey wrench in there? sorry I just have many questions

Is it biblical to pray for a relationship to end that you know is ungodly?

 

[Nice & Wavy]

I will be back later...great thread!

 

[disgtgyal]

^^ I don't think it's ungodly I've prayed for a friend of my sister to be removed from her life because she was a horrible influence I'm talking extremely promiscuous and heavy drug user. I prayed God would dissolve their friendship by any means and He did a few weeks ago my sister says, "idk for some reason I'm not feeling said friend " I said praise God! But I digress, I think you should pray for God's will to be done in both their lives even if that means separating. If she comes to you for advice I would listen and simply ask her questions that will guide her in her coming to same conclusion you've come to. I don't think you should pull away but just tell her you don't feel comfortable talking about her relationship.

 

[Iwanthealthyhair67]

Like I mentioned in my post earlier, that Paul prayed for the salvation of the Israelites and so we are to for the unsaved.


I believe that the both the human will and God will work together, it’s important to note that the Word John 6:44 says no man cometh unto the father unless he is drawn, the way God draws is through the supernatural workings of Holy Spirit through the word of God, the reason why he draws us is because in our natural sinful state we have no desire or inclination to seek after God. The word says behold I stand at the door and knock however it is up to me whether I open up the door or not and this is what I mean by he does not violate our wills.

 

[Iwanthealthyhair67]

Do you mean the unsaved person who you are praying for?

 

[HWAY]

I know people prayed for me before I fully gave myself to Christ. There was nothing I did myself to merit his favor. Three of the people on my team are not Christians but I pray for our team to deliver better care to our patients. I pray for improved relationships amongst us as coworkers and things have improved. As the old saints say, "prayer changes things."

 

[PinkPebbles]

Do you mean the unsaved person who you are praying for?

Iwanthealthyhair67 yes, the unsaved and the backsliden.

Like I mentioned in my post earlier, that Paul prayed for the salvation of the Israelites and so we are to for the unsaved.


I believe that the both the human will and God will work together, it’s important to note that the Word John 6:44 says no man cometh unto the father unless he is drawn, the way God draws is through the supernatural workings of Holy Spirit through the word of God, the reason why he draws us is because in our natural sinful state we have no desire or inclination to seek after God. The word says behold I stand at the door and knock however it is up to me whether I open up the door or not and this is what I mean by he does not violate our wills.

Thank you for sharing this scripture! As we pray for the individuals in our lives we can trust that God hears us and will draw that individual unto Him.

In our prayers we can take it a step further and ask the Lord to open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind. And to send forth His light and His truth to the individual's life. Psalm 43:3

 

[PinkPebbles]

I know people prayed for me before I fully gave myself to Christ. There was nothing I did myself to merit his favor. Three of the people on my team are not Christians but I pray for our team to deliver better care to our patients. I pray for improved relationships amongst us as coworkers and things have improved. As the old saints say, "prayer changes things."

HWAY ITA! People prayed for me as well before I gave myself to Christ.

I thank God for His love and the love and concern from others about my salvation and wellbeing.

Indeed prayer changes things...I can attest to the power and move of God on my job as well .

 

[PinkPebbles]

@sweetvi you asked the question is it biblical to pray for a relationship to end that you know is ungodly?

I'd say yes, according to 1 Corinthians 15:33 this verse warns us do not be deceived, evil company corrupts good habits.

Here are a few other scriptures...
2 Corith. 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 

[sweetvi]

PinkPebbles

Thank you because that's what my concerned was. I will go back to praying.....Now am I wrong to pull back ?

 

[sweetvi]

1 Corinthians 15:33 this verse warns us do not be deceived, evil company corrupts good habits.
The sentence is short but the truth is profound!!!!!

 

[sweetvi]

Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

nevermind This answered every question lol

I must admit we were a major influence to each other in the world and it wasn't for good when I was in the world....so it may seem mean now but I think this is best!

 

[PinkPebbles]

@PinkPebbles

Thank you because that's what my concerned was. I will go back to praying.....Now am I wrong to pull back ?

@sweetvi you have to ask yourself does the relationship serve any purpose? If you feel the need to pull back please don't feel guilty about it but ask God for His wisdom and guidance.

ETA: I responded before I read your above posts!

 

[PinkPebbles]

This is a great article....
The Importance of Prayer in Evangelism
By Matt Slick

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest," (Matt. 9:37-38).

Prayer is essential in the Christian's life. Without it your witness will be far less effective and you will be far more vulnerable to the enemy. When you witness, you need the blessing and support of the Lord. You need to be in fellowship with Him. Prayer makes this all possible.

When you witness you plant the seeds of the Gospel, but it is God who causes the growth (1 Cor. 3:6-7). In prayer you ask God to give that growth. In prayer you ask God to convict the unrepentant of their sin and by that awaken in them the need for salvation. In prayer you, "...let your requests be made known to God," (Phil. 4:6).

Think back to your own conversion. Were there people praying and requesting your salvation?

Jesus prayed frequently (Matt. 14:23; 26:36; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16; John 17). Paul prayed (Rom. 1:9; Eph. 1:16). Stephen prayed (Acts 7:55-60). You must pray. God wants you to pray to Him and have fellowship with Him (John 1:1-4). Why? One reason is that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against powers and the spiritual forces of darkness (Eph. 6:12). That is where the real battle is, in the spiritual realm. You need prayer. Prayer is one of God's ordained means for you to do spiritual warfare, and sharing the Gospel is definitely spiritual warfare.

Another reason to pray is that you can actually influence God with your prayers. If you are doubtful then look at 2 Kings 20:1-7. King Hezekiah was told by the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, that he should set his house in order because he was surely going to die (v. 1). Hezekiah prayed earnestly (v. 2,3). The Lord heard his prayers and said, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. And I will add fifteen years to your life," (v. 5).

Hezekiah's prayer made a difference. That is why you, as a Christian, can be an effective witness, because you have influence with God and because you can ask God to save. Prayer is a vital part of witnessing.

Continued....

 

[PinkPebbles]

What should you pray for?
Pray for more people to witness. Jesus specifically asked you to pray to the Father and ask Him to send workers into the field (Matt. 9:37-38). What is the field? It is the world of sinners.

Who are the workers? They are people like you. Jesus wants people to find salvation and enjoy eternal fellowship with Him. He wants you to preach the Gospel. He has given the command "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." (Matt. 28:19). Your witness for God may or may not be verbal. But either way, you need to pray and ask God to give you strength, love, and insight.

Pray for compassion for the lost. Compassion is a necessary element in witnessing. It motivates you to speak, to teach, and to pray for others to come into the kingdom of God. Compassion helps you to cry over the lost and to come to God in humble request for their salvation. Paul said, "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation," (Rom. 10:1).

Pray for the desire to witness. Pray this regularly and watch the Lord change you and give you a desire to reach out and tell people about Jesus. God will grant your prayers and joy will fill your heart as you fulfill the command of God by witnessing.

Pray for boldness. Pray for the courage to step out in faith and speak up when needed. Many Christians are timid because speaking a word for the sake of the Lord can be risky and frightening. Boldness gives you the courage to risk ridicule and to endure the scorn. Ask God for it. "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord," (2 Tim. 1:7-8).

Pray to the Lord to bind Satan and his angels. There is a hierarchy of demons seeking to hinder your witness and steal the seeds of the Gospel that you plant. You cannot fight spirits with reason or flesh and blood, but you can ask the Lord to fight.

With prayer you can assault the camp of the enemy and weaken his false kingdom. Prayer is a mighty tool, a powerful tool. You need it if you are going to witness.

Pray for your needs. Do you have a close walk with God? Do you need a deeper fellowship with Him? Do you have sins you need to confess and forsake? If so, then pray. Enjoy your privilege of coming to the Creator of the universe who meets your every need. He loves you. He wants to hear from you and He wants you to make your needs known to Him. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God," (Phil. 4:6).

Continued....

 

[PinkPebbles]

Hindrances to prayer

Prayer is important for many reasons, especially for witnessing. But prayer can be hindered. So that your prayers and witnessing might be as affective as possible, a discussion of the hindrances of prayer is necessary. Do any of the following apply to you?

Sin hinders prayer. "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear," (Psalm 66:18). We all sin, but do you have unconfessed and unrepented sin in your life? If so, confess your sin, repent from it as you are commanded in Acts 17:30, and continue in witnessing and prayer.

Selfishness hinders prayer. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3). Examine yourself. Make sure your prayers are not motivated by selfish desires. If you find that selfishness is a factor then confess it and repent.

Doubt hinders prayer. "But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind," (James 1:6). We all doubt. We all fail. But when you doubt be reminded of the man who said to Jesus, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24). He believed and yet doubted and Jesus granted his request.

Remember that God has given a measure of faith to every man (Rom. 12:3). Trust God, even when you have doubts. It does not matter necessarily how much faith you have as much as who your faith is in. Put what faith you have in Jesus. Trust Him. Watch Him be faithful to you.

Pride hinders prayer. Jesus spoke of the Pharisee and the tax-gatherer who both were praying. The Pharisee boasted about himself while the tax-gatherer asked for mercy from God. Jesus said in Luke 18:14 regarding the tax-gatherer, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other."

Jesus shows us that pride is sin and that it hinders prayer (James 4:6). Have the same attitude that Jesus had in heaven in His full glory as He had on Earth as a man. He was humble. If you are prideful, confess it as sin, repent, and continue in humility.

A poor husband and wife relationship hinders prayer. This may seem a little out of place here, but it isn't. A proper relationship with your spouse is very important. If there are problems because of selfishness, pride, argument, anger, unforgiveness, or any of the other multitudinous obstacles that can develop in marriage, then your prayers will be hindered.

How are you doing with your mate? Are you witnessing while there is anger between you two? In Matt. 5:23-24 Jesus said, "If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering."

Are you reconciled to your wife or husband (for that matter, anyone you know with whom there is strife) before you offer sacrifices of witnessing and prayer to the Lord? If not, then be reconciled, so your prayers won't be hindered.

1 Pet. 3:7 says, "You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that you prayers may not be hindered."

Prayer is a privilege

Prayer is a privilege. It is a powerful tool. Without it you will be a foolish worker in the fields of the dead. Pray and ask the Lord of the harvest to raise the dead to life. Bend your knees in fellowship with your Lord. Let Him wash you in His presence and fill you with the Holy Spirit. Prayer is where you meet Him. Prayer is where you are shaped. Pray.

 

[PinkPebbles]

The more I read the more insight I receive....and I feel led to share.

How can our loved ones, friends, neighbors, etc be saved, or those who have backslidden come back to the Lord?

John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." Here Jesus speaks specifically about His crucifixion. It is He who draws to Himself all who are to be saved. When you present the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4), the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus for sins, Jesus draws the sinner to Himself. He does the work, not you.

As a Christian, you are to witness with truth, honesty, and integrity. As the Lord provides the opportunity, you should respond in a humble and gentle spirit (2 Tim. 2:24). And in that, you should point people to Jesus. It is He alone who saves.

If you know that God's Word will accomplish what God desires, that the gospel is powerful to save, and that it is Jesus who draws all men to Himself, then you should realize that the responsibility of salvation does not rest on you, but on God. You are the teacher, the deliverer of good news. "How shall they believe in Him who they have not heard?" (Rom. 10:14). You help them hear!

You witness; God saves. You plant the seeds; God waters. He uses you. It is His Word that accomplishes salvation. It is His gospel that is powerful. It is His Son Jesus who draws. You witness in power when you witness with the Word of God.

 

[sweetvi]

Thank you for this!!!