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Intercession within the Church to Promote Deeper Relationships

Intercession within the Church to Promote Deeper Relationships. Chad Cogburn 8 July 2010 Colorado Springs, CO. Intercession. Def. – To Petition on behalf of In scripture, usually refers to prayer on behalf of others. Prayer. Communication with our God

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Intercession within the Church to Promote Deeper Relationships

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  1. Intercession within the Church to Promote Deeper Relationships Chad Cogburn 8 July 2010 Colorado Springs, CO

  2. Intercession Def. – To Petition on behalf of In scripture, usually refers to prayer on behalf of others

  3. Prayer Communication with our God Relieves stress by casting our burdens on Him (1 Pet 5:6) Confession relieves the burden of sin (1 John 1:9) Gets our mind off ourselves (Phil 2:3,4) Benefits others that we pray for (James 5:15) Exercises faith (James 5:15) Demonstrates humility and submission to authority Admission of our need for God (and our weakness) Invokes God’s blessings (protection, healing, strength, etc.) Prayer promotes deeper relationships (God & others) Prayer is a Privilege! Daniel served to the lions for praying 3

  4. Making Intercession 4

  5. Making Intercession • Having concern for others (unselfishness) • Solicited vs. unsolicited • Barriers • Poor spiritual health (incl. mental, emotional) • Dismal prayer habits • Lack of agape love (commitment, follow-through) • Lack of faith (Matt 21:22) • Busyness • Selfishness

  6. Genuine Concern Phil 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.  20I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.  21For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.  22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.  23I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.  • Looking after the interests of the church is looking after the interests of Jesus • Self denial is key

  7. Commanded to Pray for Each Other James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.  14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  15And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elders intercede for the sick - relationship Confession and prayer – relationship Commanded to pray 7

  8. Samuel Felt Great Responsibility 1 Sam 12:19 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.”…23As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.

  9. Making Supplication for the saints Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints19and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel - Prayer is an essential element of our spiritual arsenal

  10. The Spirit Intercedes for Us! Rom 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. • If the Spirit intercede for us, we can intercede for others! • Don’t worry if the words, names or circumstances are unknown or wrong; it’s just a draft! • H.S. is the editor prior to final delivery • Impossible to harm someone by praying for them! • God is teaching us to be more like him

  11. God Teaches us to be like Him Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.  Thoughtless prayer is useless prayer Why pray when God already knows what we need? God shapes our character to conform to His God is teaching us dependence on Him “Like them” in what way? Denying God’s sovereignty (a.k.a. PRIDE) 11

  12. God Teaches us to be like Him “Fruit” of the Spirit Jesus was baptized Jesus prayed for us John 17 H.S. intercedes for us when we pray Jesus prayed for his enemies God is generous God is forgiving God is (agape) love God is trustworthy God is unselfish Rom 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to beconformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Col 3:9 …since you have put off the old man with his deeds,  10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him

  13. Should we let others know we are praying for them? 2 Corinthians 13:7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil,…9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.  • Paul told the churches when he was praying for them, even when confrontational; discretion needed Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; • Paul encourages them by mentioning his prayer efforts

  14. Receiving Intercession 14

  15. Receiving Intercession Sharing concerns with others Solicited vs Unsolicited Opportunities (less formal prayer meetings) Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  16Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Phil 4:8…whatever is of good report…meditate on. Where’s the report? Barriers Pride Embarrassment Self-sufficiency syndrome 15

  16. Self Sufficiency Syndrome:Flesh Comes up Short on Both Ends • Guard Against Sin • Produce Righteousness

  17. Self Sufficiency Syndrome:Flesh Comes up Short on Both Ends • Guard against sin Colossians 2:20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”  22which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?  23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

  18. Self Sufficiency Syndrome:Flesh Comes up Short on Both Ends • Producing righteousness Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

  19. Self Sufficiency Syndrome:Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh 2 Cor 12:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. God sent Paul something to keep him humble Our weaknesses drives us to God’s strength When we have exhausted all efforts to be righteous, God gives His strength. 19

  20. GOD’S Strength ours Self Sufficiency Syndrome: God’s Strength Made Perfect in My Weakness

  21. Self Sufficiency Syndrome:Letter to Laodiceans - Deficiency Rev 3:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  16So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— They thought they possessed independence by wealth Their primary offense was not recognizing their miserable condition (a.k.a. PRIDE) Rev 3:18 They were counseled to buy gold, garments & eye salve from Jesus – the source of our sufficiency 2 Cor 3:5-6 – Our sufficiency is from God 21

  22. Self-Sufficiency Syndrome: David and Goliath Goliath Self-Dependent Champion Warrior Own Strength Own armor Own weapons Battle on man’s terms Defied God Proud Leader David God-Dependent Shepherd God’s Strength God’s Armor God’s Weapons –Simple Battle Is The Lord’s Honored God Humble Servant

  23. Areas of Intercession in the Scriptures For the saints – Eph 6:18 Correct words to speak – Eph 6:19 Boldness to preach the gospel – Eph 6:19 Healing – James 5:14-15 Faithfulness – John 17, 1 Cor 12:7 Authorities – 1 Tim 2:1-2 All men – 1 Tim 2:1 Knowledge of God’s will – Col 1:9 Be pleasing to God – Col 1:10 Strength – Col 1:11 Repentance – James 5:19-20 (Someone turns a sinner from the error of his way)

  24. Summary We are commanded to pray for others God teaches us to have genuine concern for others; less of self God teaches us to conform to His image God leads us into a relationship with Him through prayer Prayer is an essential element of our spiritual battles God teaches us to rely on his strength Pride and Selfishness are the main barriers to intercession (and deeper relationships)

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