Easy to say, when it’s not your body that was beaten. Or, when you are not bound up as a prisoner for Christ. Relieve, support, and give; but, by all means pray, like prayer is more effective than anything we can possibly do. “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body” (Hebrews 13:3 KJV). Prayer is not like a consolation prize we get for participating in a game. It is more effective than money, because Christ mingles His “intercession for them” (7:25) with all our prayers to accomplish all the good possible for the Kingdom of God. Allow the emotion of what comes over us for the suffering we see in our brothers and sisters to cause us to pray. LORD, we know You are watching over Your children, especially those being persecuted. Preserve them. Grant them courage. Bless them with confidence in You. Even give them joy for knowing they have been accounted worthy to suffer shame for Your name. Allow persecution to remind us, we do not simply wrestle with flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places. Return quickly, Lord Jesus, and deliver all Your children. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Intercession
Winning in the Courts of Heaven (Part 2)
Change your attitude. Of course, we would labor feverishly, if our house was burning down. But, if our neighbor’s house was on fire, we hope we would be willing to do whatever is necessary to save them. Prayer for others is intercession, which is distinguished by love. “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 19:19 KJV). We’ve prayed so many times for ourselves unsuccessfully, how can we do any better for someone else? Naturally, there would be greater potential for answer, if there were more signatures on the petition, but the Courts of Heaven are looking for a judicial people, who can clear away satanic objections for the Judge of All the Earth to grant their requests. “And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And He said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake” (Genesis 18:32).
Winning in the Courts of Heaven (Part 1)
Many worthy cases submitted to the courts of man will not render justice. Then, why are not all prayers answered in the highest of the Courts of Heaven, when their legal groundwork appears to be consistent with the revealed promises of the Word of God? For example, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6 KJV). Before consigning unanswered prayer requests to “It’s not the will of God,” shouldn’t we investigate? If the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9) really conducts court, sitting upon a throne, and making judgments, must petitioners and intercessors make a case for their requests? Yes, or He would simply grant all requests without the Courts of Heaven. God allows the “accuser [Greek, katēgoros, complainant at law] of our brothers and sisters” (Revelation 12:10 NET) to place prosecutory objections against us to which God has bound Himself to answer, as an impartial judge (Genesis 18:25). Our Paraklete or defense attorney advocates for us (1John 2:1), not against our will, and more specifically, requiring our cooperation to overcome those objections.
The Courts of Heaven
God rules sovereignly from Heaven but not arbitrarily. In the Unseen Realm, “God [Hebrew, ělôhîym, ruler, judge, divine one, angel] has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods [Hebrew, ělôhîym] He holds judgment” (Psalms 82:1 ESV). With the Supreme Judge of All the Earth (Genesis 18:25), both Abraham and Moses pleaded cases before His court and won (Genesis 18:25; Numbers 14:13-20). Why should Yahweh allow Himself to be persuaded by a mere mortal in prayer? “Remind Me of what happened! Let’s debate! You, prove to Me that you are right [Hebrew, tsadeq, acquitted, justified, vindicated, declared right]!” (Isaiah 43:26 NET). God desires us to enter into intimate relation with Him to form a more perfect union, when we argue our case in the Courts of Heaven using all our intellect, understanding, experience, emotion, and feeling, thus bonding to Him with all our strength for eternity.
Asking God As Friend
We come to God in the first place because He is our Father, but we are emboldened to pray because He is our Friend. Friends help friends. “And He said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves” (Luke 11:5 KJV). We know that our Friend is well able to give us what we need because He is God Almighty. Even Jesus made it clear we are His friends. “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). Here, prayer graduates to intercession for others.
You Are Not The Only One
Unbelief cries out, “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me” (Romans 11:3 NIV). God responds, “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal” (11:4). So, if we are only representative of others like us, we should pray for them because their circumstances are like ours. Intercede and believe for them what God has made plain to pray for ourselves. Don’t hold back requesting for them what you would not want withheld from yourself. God’s kingdom must grow with faith like that!
Negotiating With God
“That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25 KJV). Abraham interceded for Lot, when he negotiated for Jehovah’s willingness to put off the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The LORD was not negotiating whether it was right to deal with the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, but He was willing to give the evil twin cities more time to repent — and, they never did! Never mistake God’s merciful kindness for unwillingness or inability.
We Need A Miracle 