WEDNESDAY January 9, 2019
The Ministry of Intercession
And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.
1 Samuel 7:9
Israel had repented of their sins. They came to Samuel and earnestly asked him to pray for them. They were afraid of another defeat––the Philistines were arrayed for battle against them. Samuel once again offered a sacrifice of consecration. Notice, the Lord heard and listened to Samuel’s intercession for the people. The Lord would fight for them.
Understand, God hears the prayers of godly men and women who intercede on behalf of others, and He answers them. Abraham interceded for the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He said to the Lord: “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord” (Genesis 18:27). Judgment fell on these cities, but the lives of his nephew Lot and his daughters were saved (Genesis 19).
If you want to be used by the Lord to intercede for others, keep away from sin. Sin hinders our prayers; it places a barrier between us and God, and He will not answer us:
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:1-2).
To have a ministry of intercession, our lives must remain consecrated to God. Many people remain separate from God because of their sins. They are bound to go into eternity without God. When was the last time you stood in the gap to intercede for them?
We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the heavenly world and can bring
its power down to earth
~Andrew Murray~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!