Wednesday, January 15, 2014

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 7 (1/14/14)

How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life Study Guide
(By Dr. Gregory Frizzell)
DATE: 1/14/14
CHAPTER (7)



Phase Four:  Powerful Intercession

INTERCESSION IS THE MOST POWERFUL YET LEAST

PRACTICED OF THE BASIC TYPES OF PRAYER


It is the type of prayer that is primarily focused on the needs of others.

As with petition, we should put a greater priority on interceding for eternal issues as opposed to the temporal.

An excellent description of intercession is found in Ezekiel 22:30 "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
The prayers of intercessors are God's foundational strategy for evangelism, missions, discipleship, revival, and spiritual awakening.
A very shallow level of intercession explains the lack of power in many ministries.
Many are hindered from intercession because they simply do not know how!  We face an urgent need to teach Christians how to intercede biblically.
As with petition prayers, many believers are caught in a type of intercession that is far too general and unfocused.
 
In Ezekiel 22:30 what was the responsibility of the intercessor God was seeking?
___________________________
In your own words, explain what you have thought intercessory prayer involves.
__________________________
 
 
WHERE DO I FOCUS MY INTERCESSION?
 

Let your greatest focus be issues with eternal rather than temporal significance. (Foundational Principle)

Though you will certainly intercede about physical and temporal needs, these should not predominate your intercession.
Turn to page 82 and read through the list of the most important subjects for which all believers should pray regularly (Key Subjects for Consistent Intercession).
These fifteen subjects provide a general prayer guide for you to follow.  Set a pattern in which you pray for certain categories on certain days.  God will lead you to shift your focus on certain issues from day to day.
 
Key Subjects for Consistent Intercession  
Go through the following list and ask God to give you specific names or situations for prayer.
Spiritual and physical needs of family and friends___________________
Spiritual needs of work mates, classmates and those we see in daily life_____
Those who don't know Christ__________________________________
Spiritual growth and protection for new Christians_____________________
Backslidden believers_______________________________
Your pastor, staff and key lay leaders_________________________
Revival and growth in your church__________________________
Missionaries and persecuted believers_________________________
Key denominational leaders and agencies (local, state and denominational)_______
Spiritual leaders and key churches of all denominations_________________
National leaders (the President, governors, mayors, etc.)_________________
Local, state, and national government_____________________________
Sweeping revival and spiritual awakening (local, national and worldwide)_________
Key mission initiatives and strategies (local, state, national and global)____________
Key evangelism initiatives and strategies (local, state, national and global)__________
 
What have you discovered about biblically powerful intercessory prayer? ___________
Make a list to keep in your Bible or daily prayer journal so that you will always have it to use during your prayer time.
 

HOW DO I PRAY "SPECIFIC" PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION?

The more specific and biblical our prayer, the more power we have before God. The following sections provide examples of specific intercession for some of the basic categories.  Ask Christ to enable you to pray these prayers in the unique manner and wording He gives you. 


Turn to page 83-86 and pray through the listed prayers. In each of the categories be specific, using the name of the person or place in your prayers.


For the lost and backslidden
For pastors and spiritual leaders
Twelve specific prayers for your church
Ten specific prayers for revival and spiritual awakening
Seven Specific Prayers for Local and National Elections
 
 
Some material from the book is missing. Sorry
 

KEY POINTS – The Biblical Path to a Powerful Prayer Life
 
As you meet with God, He will guide you in your own prayers and reveal biblical promises to claim before His throne.
 
It is especially important to combine your intercession with the biblical promises that God has quickened to your heart.
 
Do not be overwhelmed by the potential depth of intercession.
 
God has called all His children to some level of consistent intercession.
 
God has incredible blessings for all who embrace biblical levels of intercession.
 
Please turn to page 88, look up the scripture verses, review the study questions and pray the prayers for daily growth on page 89.
 

QUESTIONS:

1.    How many of the fifteen basic intercession categories do you consistently lift to God?

 

2.    When praying for the lost, list several scriptural words that should be part of our prayers.

 

3.     List several specific requests you should pray for pastors and Christian workers.  Why is it so important to pray biblically and specifically for our leaders?

 

4.    List several biblical words you should pray for revival and spiritual awakening.  Why must you learn to pray biblically and specifically?

 
PRAYER:

Father God, fill us with the spirit of genuine intercession.  Help me stand in the gap for my land (Ezekiel 22:30).  Lord God, as an intercessor teach our hands to war and our fingers to fight.  Grow us up into powerful biblical prayer that spring from Your heart, Amen.
 

No comments:

I AM HERE