23404 Jesus Christ, Our Intercessor

“…Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.” —Romans 8:34

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

“I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word.  Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you,  because I have given them the words you have given me. They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

I am praying on behalf of them. I am not praying on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you have given me, because they belong to you.  Everything I have belongs to you, and everything you have belongs to me, and I have been glorified by them.

I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them safe in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.

When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled.  But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience my joy completed in themselves.  I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world.  Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth.

Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.

And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.” —John 17:6-19

Jesus Prays for All Believers

“I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me.

The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one – I in them and you in me – that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they can see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world .

Righteous Father, even if the world does not know you, I know you, and these men know that you sent me.  I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them, and I may be in them.” —John 17:20-26

23403 Prayers of Intercession

“As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright.” —1 Samuel 12:23

And this is my prayer:


“And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight 1:10 so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.” —Philippians 1:9-11

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” —Romans 15:13

“And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” —1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

“Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —1 Thessalonians 5:23

“Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.” —2 Corinthians 13:7

“For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God,…” —Colossians 1:9-10

“And in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” —2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

“I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him, – since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened – so that you can know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,…” —Ephesians 1:16-18

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.” —2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

23402 Guidelines for Intercession

“…and I always ask in my prayers, if perhaps now at last I may succeed in visiting you according to the will of God. ” —Romans 1:10

“But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you,…”
—Matthew 5:44

“Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.”
—Jeremiah 29:7

“…if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” —2 Chronicles 7:14

“Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up – and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.” —James 5:14-16

“If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.” —1 John 5:16

“At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” —Colossians 4:3

“Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, that the Lord’s message may spread quickly and be honored as in fact it was among you, and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith. ” —2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

“Pray for me also, that I may be given the right words when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.” —Ephesians 6:19-20

“With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.” —Ephesians 6:18

23401 Intercession Overview

Focus on the needs of others

Guidelines for Intercession

“For God, whom I serve in my spirit by preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness that I continually remember you 1:10 and I always ask in my prayers, if perhaps now at last I may succeed in visiting you according to the will of God. ” —Romans 1:9-10

Prayers of Intercession

“As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright. ” —1 Samuel 12:23

Jesus Christ, Our Intercessor

“Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.” —Romans 8:34

Praying for My Family and Friends

What does God want me to pray about specifically for this person?

Praying for My Church and Special Ministries

What shall I pray for my pastor and his staff, our congregation and our missionaries?

Praying for My Community, State and Nation

For which government leaders, public authorities and events should I pray today?

Praying for Believers Around the World

Where is there a special need for wisdom, strength, protection, unity, revival and outreach?

Other Intercessory Prayers

What additional things should I pray about for others today?

23375 Stand Against the Devil’s Schemes

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

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.

“Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.” —Ephesians 6:10-13

God, I am Putting on Your armor:

(Ephesians 6:14-18)

The Belt of Truth

  • So Satan can’t destroy my perception of reality through deception.
  • Because Satan doesn’t want me to know the truth. (John 8:44)

The Breastplate of Righteousness

  • So Satan can’t degrade my sense of worth through false guilt and accusations.
  • Because Satan wants me to believe that You see me as a failure.
    (Revelation 12:10)

The Shoes of Peace

  • So Satan can’t damage my right standing with You through my disobedience.
  • Because Satan wants to inhibit my relationship with You through sin and worry. (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 4:6-7)

The Shield of Faith

  • So Satan can’t destroy my trust in You through doubt.
  • Because Satan doesn’t want me to depend on You for my needs and protection. (Job 1:9-10)

The Helmet of Salvation

  • So Satan can’t manipulate my thinking through thought projection.
  • Because he wants me to accept his thoughts as my own.
    (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

The Sword of the Spirit

  • So Satan can’t defend strongholds of deception.
  • Because Satan doesn’t want me to use the power of Your word against him. (Hebrews 4:12)

23374 And Do Not Give the Devil A Foothold

“Do not give the devil an opportunity.” – Ephesians 4:27

Be self-controlled and alert

“Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. 5:9 Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. ”
—1 Peter 5:8-9

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
—2 Thessalonians 3:3

(John 17:15; James 4:7)

“Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! ”
—2 Corinthians 2:11

Satan tries to control my perspective, manipulate my thinking and exploit my foundational desires.

Deception

  • With total lies that have been dressed up to look like the truth.
  • With lies that have been mixed in with the truth.
  • With misrepresentations of truth because it has been taken out of context.

Temptation

  • With sensual pleasures.
  • With money and possessions.
  • With fame and power.

Accusation

  • By condemning me of past sins that have already been confessed to God and forgiven.
  • By creating false guilt about things for which God does not hold me responsible.

Distraction

  • With entertaining diversions.
  • With strategic crises.

Affliction

  • Through mental and emotional torment.
  • Through physical illness and disease.

Discouragement

  • Through hopelessness.

Doubt

  • By questioning God’s motives and character.

Division

  • By focusing on differences in others.
  • By being suspicious of the motivations of others.
  • By harboring bitterness and unforgiveness toward others.
  • By committing offenses against others or God.

Intimidation

  • Through fear of failure.
  • Through fear of rejection.
  • Through fear of the unknown.
  • Through fear of persecution.

23373 Three Avenues of Temptation

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.” —1 John 2:15-17

The Seductiveness of Sensual Pleasures and Entertainment

“All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach –yet his appetite is never satisfied!” —Ecclesiastes 6:7

“For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. ” —Titus 3:3

“All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.” —James 1:17

“For every creation of God is good and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.” — 1 Timothy 4:4-5

  • Is this pleasure wholesome or sinful? (Hebrews 11:25)
  • Am I more devoted to pleasure than I am to God? (2 Timothy 3:2-4)
  • Does this pleasure get in the way of what God wants me to be doing? (James 5:5)

The Seductiveness of Money and Possessions

Fueled by the magnetism of greed — the more we have, the more we want. (Ecclesiastes 5:10; Luke 12:15-21; 1 Timothy 6:9-10)

God is the owner of everything and we are to be good stewards of what He has entrusted to our care.

“O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You, Lord, have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all.”
—1 Chronicles 29:11-12

  • Is my desire for money and material things stronger than my love and devotion to God? (Matthew 6:19-24)
  • Am I content with the material blessings God has given me or am I consumed with getting more? (Philippians 4:12)
  • Am I putting my hope and trust in my material resources or in God? (1 Timothy 6:17)

The Seductiveness of Fame and Power

Fueled by the glory of pride — the more praise and recognition we receive, the more we solicit. (Proverbs 25:6, 27; 30:32)

God has created us for greatness. But He wants us to concentrate on exalting Him, not ourselves. (Psalm 8:5; 2 Timothy 1:7)

  • Am I serving others or demanding to be served? (Matthew 20:26)
  • Am I building God’s kingdom or my own? (Matthew 6:33)
  • Am I doing everything for the glory of God or seeking glory for myself? (1 Corinthians 10:31)

23372 Merciful Deliverer

“Pray to me when you are in trouble! I will deliver you, and you will honor me!” —Psalms 50:15

“For he will rescue the needy when they cry out for help, and the oppressed who have no defender.” —Psalms 72:12

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.” —Titus 3:4-5

“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.” —Psalms 34:18

(Psalms 50:23; Luke 1:50; Ephesians 2:4-5)

Therefore: I will seek refuge in You.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God!
I strengthen you – yes, I help you – yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!” —Isaiah 41:10

“The Lord is on my side, I am not afraid! What can people do to me?
The Lord is on my side as my helper. I look in triumph on those who hate me.” —Psalms 118:6-7

“I constantly trust in the Lord; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” —Psalms 16:8

“You are my hiding place and my shield. I find hope in your word.” —Psalms 119:114

“You are my hiding place; you protect me from distress. You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance.” —Psalms 32:7

“Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” — Luke 22:40

“Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41

“…and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness.” —Romans 6:13

“No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

“For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.” —Hebrews 2:18

(Matthew 4:2-11; James 1:14; 2 Peter 3:17-18; 1 John 4:4)