Intercession is the key to influence
Are you a person who wants to influence others, or are you a person who is easily influenced by others? If you are a parent, do you want your kids to influence others for good or to be influenced by others for bad?
If you are a Christian, you were “created for influence,” which is the title of a book that I will mention later. The church was also created for influence. Regrettably, individual believers and churches are in many cases being influenced by culture rather than the other way around.
If we as individual believers and churches are called to be influencers for good and God on our own culture, how is that to be accomplished? The answer is not what many want to hear, but the answer is intercessory prayer. Culture says this: “Prayer is for little old ladies and kids, but real influence is brought about by being a mover and shaker, power lunches, strong arm tactics, manipulation, scheming, intimidation, and closed door meetings.” Not only is this the approach in worldly culture, but sometimes in church culture as well.
Intercession seems to be the Casper milk toast kind of answer. The fact that many have this misconception about prayer shows the degree to which culture has influenced us. In many cases, prayer is a last ditch effort instead of the first choice of action in whatever situation one may be facing. We do everything but pray, but if all that fails, then we resort to prayer.
Jesus taught much on the subject of prayer. Note what he said in Luke 18:1: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” His emphasis here is on the need to be persistent in prayer. It must be important to pray or Jesus would not have said what he did.
Paul wrote much about the importance of intercession. For example, in I Timothy 2:1-2, he wrote these words: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Why would Paul urge the believers to intercede if it wasn’t important? Prayer changes things, even having an impact on those in government.
There is much we do not understand about prayer. There is a certain mystery about it. But somehow prayer moves God to act in behalf of individuals and even nations.
Prayer also enters into the realm of spiritual warfare. Paul in Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. In Daniel 10:12-14, we are reminded how the “prince of Persia” detained Daniel’s answer to prayer from reaching the earth for 21 days. Daniel’s fasting and persistence in prayer brought Michael to the aid of the messenger angel to deliver the answer to prayer to the earth.
Allow me to quote from William Ford’s book Created for Influence: “According to these Scriptures, unseen forces bend the will of human beings by infusing their minds with ideas and assumptions that are at enmity with God’s truth.” “Our prayers like Daniel’s, can partner with God in heavenly breakthroughs, resulting in openness on the earth to God’s message of hope: the good news of Christ’s kingdom.” (pp. 39-40)
Who are those for whom we should be interceding?
Government officials for our own city, state, and nation, as well as leaders of all nations of the earth are standing in the need of prayer. Please pray for them by name and not just a blanket prayer. Pray that all would be open to the spread of the gospel. As we begin such intercession, it will dawn upon us one day that from our own home we can affect what is going on in nations halfway around the world. How exciting! (Check with your church’s prayer ministry or pastor for a list of all nations with their presidents or leader.)
Along the same line, we should pray for missionaries and ministries by name who are serving around the world as well as stateside. Your denomination or church should be able to provide you with such a list.
Intercede for the lost people you know by name, whether it be a family member, neighbor, or co-worker. They need the Lord just as much as those far away.
Finally and most importantly, pray for each member of your own family by name. Parents can raise their kid’s right, make sure they are in church, and guide them to choose good friends, but there is nothing more important than than interceding for them daily. Don’t wait until your kids get in trouble to start praying for them. The Evil One and those over whom he holds sway want to influence your kids as well. By interceding for your kids, you unleash the power of the Lord to protect (and deliver in some cases) your kids from the sway of those unseen forces. That includes kids living under your roof, as well as adult kids.
It goes without saying that we can do more than intercede to influence others. We can write and call our government officials. As we pray for the lost by name, we also need to verbally share the gospel with them at some point. Dr. A. J. Gordon said this about prayer: “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”