A family member faces a deadly disease. Your neighbour desperately needs Jesus but turns away every time you try to share Christ. A nation begins to crumble because its people follow their own evil ways. But what can you do? Often, the problems we face seem too big for us. No matter how much we try, we cannot solve them on our own. It’s times like these when we need to turn to the Lord in intercessory prayer.

Intercession is a prayer that pleads with God for one’s personal needs and the needs of others. But it is also much more than that. Intercession involves taking hold of God’s will and refusing to let go until His will comes to pass.

Intercession is warfare — the key to God’s battle plan for our lives. But the battleground is not in this physical world (earth). It takes place in the spiritual world where the battles for our own lives, our families, our friends and our nation are won or lost. The Bible says, “We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and spiritual powers in the heavens above” (Eph. 6:12).

If you are born again, you are God’s son or daughter (John 1:12). As His child, you have a direct “hotline” to God. At any time, you can boldly come into His presence (Heb. 4:16). This incredible access to God is the basis for intercession. Once you are in God’s presence, you can now discover “His battle plan” for the situation you are facing. Because prayer alone is not enough — you need a target for your prayers (2 Samuel 5: 22 – 25)! To discover God’s plan, all you have to do is ask. How many times have you prayed by asking God questions and waited for Him to answer you? Many of us are too busy with activities (church and social life) that we find it difficult to wait on our knees for five or more minutes to hear from God after prayers. This reminded me years ago when I was eager to know what God wants me to do, and even when I ask Him I find it difficult to wait to hear Him (when I knew less). Beloved, we must be patient in the place of prayer and have a listening ear to what the Spirit is saying.

Another thing is our mindset. Romans 12:2 says, “Let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him.” We sometimes believe that God should answer us in a certain manner or way (by the way our needs are met) if not the way our mind is telling us, we leave it and then continue praying (Acts 12: 12 – 17). You should start seeing things from God’s own point of view even as your spirit is in tune with God’s Spirit if not you will labour more and get few results. This is the part where many Christians miss it. Sometimes the Spirit of God may tell you to just worship Him only, instead we try to impress the crowd or those who are with us to show them that we can pray (this is flesh manifesting now).

A plan for battle is for us not to pray aimlessly, pray selfishly, waste time, energy, and resources. It is also for us to know when to retreat back and seek for God’s plan (specific directions) on what to do next. If you refuse to fall in line and be led by God then be sure that you and those praying will struggle in place of prayer or may become casualties in the place of warfare. Prayer of intercession is a serious matter. And just like soldiers who are preparing for battle, who take instructions from their superiors, we cannot take on the enemy if we don’t pray strategically and be led by the Holy Ghost. We should not use spirituality and cover our laziness, lateness, and failures in life for God will not support this. This is why we must go into battle armed and prepared for spiritual conflict (see 2 Cor. 10: 3 & 4). You must recognize that Jesus is in control of the situation no matter how bad it may look. Jesus “rules over forces, authorities, powers, and rulers … over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well” (Eph. 1:21). He is King of kings and Lord of lords. If God shows you the identity of specific spiritual strongholds that are at work, take authority over these strongholds in the name of Jesus. And always remember that “God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Next, bind the work of Satan, knowing that Jesus has given you the authority to defeat the power of your enemy (Luke 10:19).

Excerpts from http://www1.cbn.com/questions/what-is-intercessory-prayer

At the beginning of each New Year, experts give their predictions about the economy, politics, weather, and a host of other topics. Will there be war or peace? Poverty or prosperity? Progress or stagnation? Only one Person is completely reliable, and He had strong words for some so-called experts. The religious leaders of Jesus’s day claimed to have the truth. These scholars and theologians thought they knew what the promised Messiah would be like when He arrived. Jesus cautioned them, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.” Then He pointed out how they were missing the heart of the matter. “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39–40). People everywhere are hoping that this year will be better than last, but no one knows what will happen. Don’t be alarmed. Our confidence remains in the One at the very heart of the Scriptures – Jesus! He has a firm grip on us and on our future, and there is a better way to start off a new year, a new month and a new day – which is to concentrate on conveying gratitude to our Lord rather than focusing your attention on the negative based on what the media will say. That’s why we should make time for God and rest in His love—the love that made you and me. It is the reason for our existence and the means by which we will make the most of our lives. Even though we are in this world, we operate using the principles of God. When you count your blessings of last year and see how far God has brought you even when it seems challenges would overwhelm you but God saw you through in all (2 Samuel 21: 15 – 17).

Start your year with thanks to the Lord, and a timeout with God (retreat), presenting your goals, ask Him for ideas, and plans for that year to see if it fits in the plan of God for your life (that’s the big picture we all need to be looking at). He will give the blueprint for the year and directions to follow. This has been my yearly practice and you can be sure to face the world and what it throws at you. I must confess that in the past I have not faithfully followed His directions the way I should because I have allowed distractions and procrastination hinder me. I have learned my lessons in a hard way and would not like to see others make this grave mistakes. Bear in mind that God will not tell you everything that will happen throughout that year but will give you the necessary tools for your move forward in the particular direction He wants you to go. This will surely lead you to success in that area of your vocation. There’s nothing like having to know where you are going and what to do in this present time irrespective of how bad the economy is in the state or country. As a child of God, be sensitive to His direction in that way that leads to success. Know when to stop, move, accelerate more and slow down. It’s like someone driving a car to a particular destination. When you follow the signs you are sure to make it on time and safely. Many believe that as the year has started they need to accomplish all the goals they set for themselves before the year runs out (do or die affair). My dear remember you don’t need to mortgage your life or that of your family even though some do so and regret it later.

Education, wealth, power, marriage, and pleasure are good things, but they’re not the best (please don’t misunderstand me). The best is loving God and taking in His love—bringing Him glory by our walk with Him in that particular calling in our lives, and making Him our friend for life. That leads to the best possible life because it gives us satisfaction and joy after we must have gotten to our goals for the year and many years ahead (John 10:10). I like the way the psalmist put it: “It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works” (Ps. 73:28). In other words, the good life is drawing close to the One who loves us like no other. The light of Christ shines more brightly through us who know and love Him. Just don’t think of today alone, think gene-rationally and eternally. Jesus is our joy and hope—today, tomorrow, and forever! Knowing the future is uncertain; knowing the One who holds the future is a sure thing.

Prayer: Father, let me know the heart of the matter and may I not get carried away by the situation report of the country as I continue to walk toward my purpose in Jesus name…..Amen!!!

Excerpts from odb.org 01/14; 01/15; 04/18

Obedience can be said to be submission to God’s authority, while blessings can be said to be an expression of God’s love and goodness towards us. Our obedience to God shows our love for Him and His blessings upon us shows His love for us (John 14:15 & 21). While going through this particular chapter of the Bible, I found out that the greatest blessing a child of God has is the presence of the Holy Spirit in his/her life. Now the Holy Spirit enables us as Christians to overcome, and obey God willingly without a struggle as we yield our lives to Him daily.

Every child of God is expected to develop a personal relationship with God as we study and meditate His word day and night without giving excuses (Joshua 1:8). In our meditation (pondering on God’s word), the Holy Spirit through His word makes us understand God’s will for us. The word of God is not for the carnal mind because this is beyond human reasoning as we need the Holy Spirit to interpret and bring it to our level of understanding. If you remember the first time you gave your life to Jesus, the first thing that happened was that an unseen sort of load was lifted and you felt so light irrespective of how others see you. An unexplainable joy flows into you and right there and then you feel like telling everyone what Jesus has done. Wow! What a blessing! You at that time will begin a spiritual journey that will take you through challenges, temptations, trials, persecution, etc, but in all His promise of never leaving us still stands. As am writing this, I myself am going through a challenge that I went to the gents and cried. I said, “Oh Lord help me never to say anything negative whether by thought or by words.” I remembered 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

You know as a pastor you see people’s prayers being answered and yours on hold, that is still a blessing. Because when you keep walking with the Lord and never allow your emotions blind your sense of spiritual judgment (faith), then will you see the power of obedience and the blessings that will come.  I want you to bear in mind that obedience comes with a price which is self-denial (putting self to death on daily basis). This I also call a blessing. Beloved, I must tell you that being born again is the starting of the spiritual journey of our faith and we are being tested daily the decisions we take. After studying and meditating on God’s word and saying your prayers, God expects us to make the right decisions by you obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit – this is what brings the blessings.

When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, they enjoyed the presence of God and every other good thing there until the day they did what they were told not to do (Genesis 3: 16 – 24). Our joy and happiness as Christians lie in our obedience to God, not on materials things. Please, I am not saying that you should become a stereotyped Christian whose life is just doing God’s work and forgetting that taking care of your family (emotional and financial)is also part of God’s work. Beloved, I want to urge to refrain from saying this, “Nobody is watching me, after-all I have my life to live, and I will live it the way I want”. Or it’s nobody’s business. Now because you are a child of God, people are already watching to see how you conduct yourself, your reactions to little matters and your attitude toward big matters. When you consistently walk with the Holy Spirit, He uses you to teach others who are watching closely and those who are young in the faith (1 Timothy 4: 11 – 13). This is also a blessing. As the father of the house, when you follow God in obeying Him, your wife and children also learn quickly. You know why because each time you obey God, He blesses you in a way that the members of your family will see it and believe. Your obedience makes it easier for them to trust in God wherever they go (Genesis 26: 1 – 6). This is also a blessing. But when they see you are the type who is stubborn to God, they also become stubborn. I want you to bear in mind that the power of obedience breaks the yoke of curses and bondage in “some” ways without you going for deliverance in some cases (Matthew 1: 5 – 6). This is also a blessing.

Your level of yielding or let me say obedience determines how far you will go with the Lord in your walk with Him, and how blessed you will be. A Christian’s worth/value is how obedient such a person is to the Lord. Until your obedience surpasses your emotions, I believe you will start experiencing victories in some areas of your life; such like when you are persecuted in the church by leaders in your church, you are able to forgive and move on without allowing become the reason why you leave the church (Acts 7: 54 – 59). This is also a blessing. There are so many examples sighted in the Bible of which in my second part of the same topic we shall look at the men who obeyed God and were highly blessed by God.

Trial is part of the education given in the school of Christ to purify God’s children from the dross of earthliness. Christ Himself entered this school of affliction as an example to us who must follow His way and do His will (Hebrews 5:8). God has always tried His people in the furnace that the dross (chaff in us) is separated from the true gold of Christian character. Our afflictions are in God’s hand, they are intended for the trial and improvement of our graces. Jesus watches the test; He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal that it may reflect the radiance of His love (Malachi 3:3). He sees that some of us who are gifted in many areas which will be used in the advancement of His work, and He allows us to go through trials; in His power, He brings us into positions that test our character and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from our own knowledge. He gives us the opportunity to correct these defects and to fit ourselves for His service. The Lord shows us our weakness and teaches us to lean upon Him; for He is our only help and safe-guards.

You may be educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfill the grand purpose for which God’s power has been given to you, but if patience is lacking in your life the possibility of you “totally” fulfilling that purpose is very slim even though you may eventually make it to heaven. So while the trials of today may be hard and painful, in the long run, they will prove to be a blessing to you if you patiently bear them. Trials are the greatest blessings God can bestow upon us, His children. Suffering (that comes not from our deliberate mistakes or disobedience) is a gift of grace bestowed upon those who chose to serve the Lord faithfully. So many people I believe misunderstand God in the sense that when their prayers are not answered immediately or come in the way they don’t expect or are betrayed by those in authority they look up to. God in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His Spirit. He “permits” us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardship not as a curse but as the greatest blessings of our lives. You have to bear in mind that every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives you a new experience, strengthens your spiritual muscles, and advances you in the work of character building.

As stated by Matthew Henry Commentary, Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience and not our emotions, be set at work in us; whatever is said to you or done to you, let your patience have the final say of your reaction rather than your emotions. Do not allow pressure, or what people will say or think, cause your emotions to hinder the effective work of patience being built by God; for when your patience is tried, your emotions are bound to well-up. Let us give it leave to work, and it will work wonders in a time of trouble. We must let patience have its perfect work. If one affliction comes upon the heels of another, and a train of them are drawn upon us, yet let patience go on till its work is perfected. When we bear all the burden that God appoints, and with a humble obedient eye to Him, then patience hath its perfect work.

In conclusion, the cultivation of godly virtues forms an integral part of our training. Patience must have its perfect work or we cannot be perfect and entire, and wanting nothing. Trials are an indication that God sees value in us, just as a refiner sees something precious in an unrefined ore (Malachi 3:3; Job 23:10; Isaiah 48:10, 17 & 18). God allows His Chosen ones to be placed in the furnace of affliction to prove what temper they are of whether they can be fashioned for His work. Trials most times are an indication of God’s leading in our lives.

Philosophy may instruct men to be calm under their troubles, but Christianity teaches them to be joyful because such exercises proceed from love and not fury in God. In them, we are conformable to Christ our head, and they become marks of our adoption. By suffering in the ways of righteousness, we are serving the interests of our Lord’s kingdom among men, and edifying the body of Christ; and our trials will brighten our graces now and our crown at last. Therefore there is a reason to count it all joy when trials and difficulties become our lot in the way of our duty.