THE POWER OF INTERCESSION
NOTE to the reader:
This blog post is for the notes of our podcast "Overcoming seemingly impossible feats through intercession"
found at www.africhristpodcast.com and on all major podcast platforms.
In Job 42:7-10: After Job Interceded for his friends, God gave him back twice as much as he had before
7 And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept [a]him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had [b]accepted Job. 10 And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
The picture above of Spanish and Kenyan runners Ivan and Mutai, tells of a beautiful story of putting others first. Mutai was about to cross the finish line in first place, but the signs confused him and he stopped thinking he had crossed it. The Spanish runner in second place behind him noticed and shouted telling the Kenyan to continue. But Mutai did not understand Spanish. So the Ivan pushed him across the finish line to let him finish in first place, Ivan come in second. But Ivan became also well known for his sportsmanship. Normally no one remembers number 2 finishers.
Intercession
When we unselfishly pray for others, interceding for their needs and putting them first, we are answering the biblical call. We are accepting God’s call on our lives to stand in the gap for others before him. Avoid this pride!
Ivan later explained , "My dream is that one day we can have some sort of community life where we push ourselves and also others to win.” He further said, "I didn't let him win, he was going to win. The race was his."
When we intercede for others helping them overcome and win, we answer the Bible’s call in 1 Timothy 2:1 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them”.
1 Samuel 30:1-6, 6-8: God’s hand of guidance
David’s Conflict with the Amalekites guidance by Ephod
Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was [a]grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
2 Chronicles 20:12 when overwhelmed: worship!
2 Chronicles 20:1-3, 6, 10-14,17, 21-22
It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites,[a] came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from [b]Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set [c]himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 6 and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?
10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:
“Praise the Lord,
For His mercy endures forever.”
22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
Do what the brave dare not do! Believe what God dares you to do.
King Jehoshaphat was overwhelmed by a mighty army that surrounded him. He approached God by
1. Acknowledging God as the Almighty.
2. Testifying about what God had done.
3 Humbling himself that he is powerless.
4. Calling for group prayer and fasting.
5. Allowing the Spirit of God to lead him placing a praise choir ahead of an underarmed army.
Kiprotich brought Uganda its first Gold in the Marathon and after many godless Olympic years. His entire Uganda managerial team abandoned him and left the Olympics early because they did no see a winner in him. He believed in himself a carried the responsibility of bringing joy to 40 million people. He saw joy in the future.
God may lead youth do or say what others may look at as nothing but gullibility. DO NOT GIVE UP! Worship him in whatever way the Spirit of God leads you. Like Kiprotich, do not think about people whose presence would only make you lose. Like that little boy in the picture, believe that that which is in you is greater than what you see. It made him world famous, no one knows the others behind him.
Submit to the will of God in your situation
How Jesus won the sting of the cross by submitting to the Father
Luke 22:42 (NKJV)
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
