OLD TESTAMENT INTERSECERY PRAYERS: KEY VERSE: Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord s people. NOTE ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT REFERANCES: I included these verses to show that the Jews, generally, did not think they could go to God directly in prayer, but sought out powerful men of God to intercede for them by prayer. This was in addition to the need to go through the Priests in order to approach God with the different types of sacrifices. Jesus ended this by breaking the old covenant requirements of going through a priest to make the required sacrifices or a prophet to intercede for them when they felt overwhelmed by the situation they were in. Because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross, it is he who intercedes for me with God the Father. I now am free to go directly to God the Father and Jesus, laying before him all my prayer requests, doing so in Jesus name. I am encouraged to do so in 1 Peter 5:6-7( 1) EXAMPLES OF INTERCESSERY PRAYER: 1 Sam 7:2The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time twenty years in all. Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah Then all the people of Israel turned back to the LORD. 3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 5 Then Samuel said, Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you. 6When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, We have sinned against the LORD. Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.
1 Sam 12: Samuel s Farewell Address 18 Then Samuel called on the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the LORD and of Samuel. 19 The people all said to Samuel, Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king. I think there was a very clear separation the people felt between themselves and God. That they could not appraoach God directly and needed to find a prophet or a priest to intercede for them. This is made clear to me by the fact that the phrase the Lord your God is used in 401 verses, while the phrase, the Lord my God is found in only 17 verses. It wasn t until Jesus opened the way, that this clearly changed and I now have free unhindered access to God the Father through prayer, when I pray in Jesus name. 1 Kings 13: A Man of God speaks against the new alters the king of Israel set up 4 When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, Seize him! But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. 5 Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the LORD. 6 Then the king said to the man of God, Intercede with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored. So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king s hand was restored and became as it was before. Jer 42 Jews seeking to escape the Babylonians into Egypt 1Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah [Azariah] son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached2 Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. 3 Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do. 4 I have heard you, replied Jeremiah the prophet. I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the Lord says and will keep nothing back from you. 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us. 6 Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the LORD our God. Jer 42:18 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: As my anger and wrath have been poured out on those who lived in Jerusalem, so will my wrath be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You will be a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach; you will never see this place again.
19 Remnant of Judah, the LORD has told you, Do not go to Egypt. Be sure of this: I warn you today 20 that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it. JESUS AND PRAYER God s Desire to having a place dedicated for pray: (2) Matt 21 Jesus at the Temple 12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 It is written, he said to them, My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers. (Jer 7:112) Mark 11:17 And as he (Jesus) taught them, he said, Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers. Under the old covenant the temple located in Jerusalem was the only acceptable place for the people to worship God. However, Jesus ended that covenant and established the new covenant in his blood which ended the need to go to the temple, but instead opened the path for anyone, any where, to come to God who seek to worship him in spirit and in truth, as Jesus said to the Samaritan Woman. (John 4:21 243) Now everyone can go to God the Father in prayer, however, the most effective prayers will be those who go in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus Example on Prayer: Jesus made a major investment of time and effort to pray: (2) Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5 Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy: (v12-16) 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Jesus Encouraged all to get close to Him: Matt 19 The Little Children and Jesus: 13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. The disciples had wrong attitude concerning accessibility to Jesus, instead of separating Jesus from the people, Jesus encouraged finding reasons to come to him. (Heb 4:164)
Jesus intercedes for me: Luke 22:31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I (Jesus) have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. Elements of a Good Prayer: Matt 6 Prayer: (v5-15) 9 This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, Praise to God First hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, Be submissive to God s will your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Pray for: 11 Give us today our daily bread. - My physical needs 12 And forgive us our debts, - Forgiveness for my sins as we also have forgiven our debtors. - Help me to forgive others (*) 13 And lead us not into temptation, [or testing] - Strength to resist temptation but deliver us from the evil one. 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, (then) your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, (then) your Father will not forgive your sins. This is in keeping with God s desire that I have a heart that is increasingly becoming like that of Jesus. If I am unwilling to forgive, then how can I grow closer to the likeness of Christ? (*) NOTE: Verse 12 also reads like a if/then verse. It says forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. It clearly implies to me that my forgiveness is directly connected to how I forgive others. This is supported by other verses. (Luke 6:375) and (Matt 18:356) Therefore, it comes down to the condition of my heart, it is a heart that God will listen to, or a heart that will be ignored? The Heart I should have for effective Prayer: (4) NO Hypocrisy in Prayer: (4) Matt 6 The Sermon on the Mount: Prayer: (v5-15)
5 And when you (the croud) pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Example of the wrong Heart for effective prayer: (3 verses) Mark 12:38 As he taught, Jesus said, Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely. Luke 18 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (v9-14) 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other people robbers, evildoers, adulterers or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. 14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. This is a good contrast of hearts; the Pharisee having an unacceptable heart while the tax collector s heart was accepted by God. Luke 20 Warning Against the Teachers of the Law 45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely. Matt 5:43 You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor [Lev 19:18 ] and hate 7 your enemy. 44 But I (Jesus) tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even
the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. NOTE: In the command to love your neighbor (Lev 19:18) there is no command to hate your enemy; this was evidently something added by man. This is a good verse because it lays out cause and effect, clearly show an if then relationship. If I want to be a true child of my Heavenly Father, then I should have a heart that loves and prays for others, even my enemies. Have faith in the power of prayer: Mark 9 Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit: (v14-29) 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, Why couldn t we drive it out? 29 He (Jesus) replied, This kind (of unclean spirit) can come out only by prayer. This would also be; start with prayer before tackling difficult tasks. Matt 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Be willing to submit to God s will. Matt 26 Gethsemane: 39 Going a little farther, he (Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, (then) may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. Practical Advice for Effective Prayers: Dedicated alone time with God for prayer: (1 verse) Matt 14 Jesus Walks on the Water: (v22-36) 23 After he (Jesus) had dismissed them (those following him), he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, Having a dedicated time to shut distractions out and focus on having a connection to God to recharge and to prepare for what will come. This was very effective for Jesus at this time because when he finished, he was able to walk on the water. Mark 1 Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place: 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Luke 6 The Twelve Apostles: 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Be Persistent in Prayer: (3) Luke 11 Jesus Teaching on Prayer: 5 Then Jesus said to them, Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him. 7 And suppose the one inside answers, Don t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can t get up and give you anything. 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 18 The Parable of the Persistent Widow: (v1-8) 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, Grant me justice against my adversary. 4 For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, Even though I don t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won t eventually come and attack me! 6 And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? Luke 2:36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Example of persistence in prayer requests, Offer up impossible prayers: Luke 1 The Birth of Joh the Baptist Foretold: (v5-25) 13 But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
It is likely that Zechariah had prayed for years that Elizabeth would have a baby, even into their old age, when it would naturally seem imposable. His faithfulness in prayer brought God to answer, yes. Dedicated times and place to pray: Luke 22 Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives: 39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. Take time to be still and listen for God s answer: Ps 46:10 He says, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. I really need to stop talking and allow God time to answer, to listen to the Spirit of God answer me as the Father directs. Once again I use the time when Ezekiel was in the cave and needed God s help. I think in part that Ezekiel was too focused on blurting out his complaint that he failed to stop and let God respond. For him, it took God to push his distracting, overflowing thoughts aside so he could really hear what God was trying to tell him. (1 Kings 19:9-188) Get hindrances out of the way: Mark 11:22 Have faith in God, Jesus answered. 23 Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, (then) forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Not having the same forgiving heart as Jesus will effectively hinder my prayers. Example of when Jesus Prayed: (2 verses) Having time with God to recharge spiritually: Mark 6: After feeding the 5000 46After leaving them, he (Jesus) went up on a mountainside to pray. Desperate need: Mark 14 Gethsemane: 32 They (Jesus and disciples) went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, Sit here while I pray. 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, he said to them. Stay here and keep watch.
Examples of What Jesus said I should Pray For: Resist Temptation: Matt 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Even though the disciples were not with Jesus as he prayed, they should also have be praying in his support and their own.. Luke 22:40 On reaching the place (Gethsemane), he (Jesus) said to them, Pray that you will not fall into temptation. 41 He withdrew about a stone s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, This admonishment to pray not to fall into temptation was not obeyed. The disciples were tempted, dropped their guard and went to sleep, then when the time came they were not ready to face the challenge when the time came. Luke 22:46 Why are you sleeping? he asked them. Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. Ask God for help when in need, be willing to submit to God s will: Mark 14 Gethsemane: 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. Pray for spiritually strong: Mark 14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Luke 21:36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. Life is filled with danger, this calls for me to be continually on alert to what I may face daily. If I don t then I am likely to be blindsided and unprepared spiritually to handle it. Spiritual protection against the devil John 17:15 My (Jesus ) prayer is not that you (God the Father) take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Pray for Enemies: Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Pray for Other disciples: John 17:9 I (Jesus) pray for them (his disciples). I am not praying for the world, but for those you (God the Father) have given me, for they are yours. Pray for the lost will become disciples John 17:20 Jesus Prays for All Believers: 20 My prayer is not for them (disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, UNUSED VERSES: Have an acceptable heart before God, one that is like Jesus Matt 18:23 The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? 22 Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 At this the servant fell on his knees before him. Be patient with me, he begged, and I will pay back everything. 27 The servant s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. Pay back what you owe me! he demanded. 29 His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, Be patient with me, and I will pay it back. 30 But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 Then the master called the servant in. You wicked servant, he said, I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart. Matt 24:20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. Promote Group participation in prayer: Matt 26 Gethsemane: 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray. Matt 26:42 He (Jesus) went away a second time and prayed, My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done. Matt 26:44 So he (Jesus) left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Mark 14 Gethsemane: 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. Luke 1:10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Luke 3:21 [The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus] When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened Luke 5:33 [Jesus Questioned About Fasting] They said to him, John s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking. Luke 9:29[the Transfiguration] As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Luke 19:46 It is written, he said to them, My house will be a house of prayer ; but you have made it a den of robbers.
Luke 22 Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives: (v39-46) 44 And being in anguish, he (Jesus) prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. John 17:1 [Jesus Prays to Be Glorified] After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. FOOTNOTES: (8 Verses)! 1 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him (Jesus) because he cares for you. 2 Jer 7:11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD. 3 John 4 Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman: 21 Woman, Jesus replied, believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. 4 Heb 4:16 Let us then approach God s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 5 Luke 6 Judging Others: 37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 6 Matt 18 Parable of the Unmerciful Servant: 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart. 7 Lev 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
8 1 Kings 19 There he went into a cave and spent the night. The LORD Appears to Elijah 19 And the word of the LORD came to him: What are you doing here, Elijah? 10 He replied, I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too. 11 The LORD said, Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? 14 He replied, I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too. 15 The LORD said to him, Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.