Intercessory Prayers Series 1

INTERCEDING FOR THE NATION

“Prayer for the Nation’s is an inescapable duty and obligation of every Believer in order to thwart and avert the works of the enemy, to advance the Gospel and to ensure the prosperity and well-being of Nation’s”

TEXT: 1Timothy 2:1-4; Psalm 8:1-2, 110:1-6, Jeremiah 51:20-23.

INTRODUCTION:

The Lord Jesus Christ is the king of kings and the Lord of lord. He is the ruler of the earth’s rulers and the Governor over the earth’s governments. He is the head of all principalities and powers as stated in Colossians 2:10. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, dominions, or principalities, or powers all things were created by him and for Him” – Colossians 1:16;“………..The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will“ – Daniel 4:25b. Christ’s authority over all earthly governments is made available in His name to the Church. As Moses stretched forth his rod on God’s behalf over Egypt, so the Church by her prayers stretches forth Christ’s authority over the nations and their rulers. By this authority we may then determine the destinies of nations and governments. As the people in charge, the Lord expects us to constantly make use of our authority “to root out, to pull down, to destroy, to throw down, to build and to plant” – Jeremiah 51:20-23. Hallelujah, we are the Prophets unto the Nations and Kingdoms.

A. BASIS FOR PRAYERS OVER THE NATIONS:

1. We are kingdom of priests. Daniel 7:14, 18, 22, 27; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10.

2. We are joint-heirs with Christ. Every Christian has a dual citizenship. By natural birth he is subject to the laws of his earthly government, and by spiritual birth, through faith in Christ he’s also a citizen of God’s heavenly kingdom. Philippians 3:3, 14. As a citizen of the heavenly kingdom, the Christian is subject to its law, just as he is entitled to share in it’s authority. Ephesians 2:4-6, 1:20-21, Galatians 4:6-7.

3. God has set us over the nations as their spiritual rulers – Jeremiah 1:5, 10; 51:20-23; Romans 5:17

4. Believers are God’s spiritual law enforcement agents. Psalm 149:5-9, 11:16; Matthew 16:19, 18:18. We are concerned with the word ‘BIND’ in these passages. One translation of the passages Matthew18:18 (Amp) states: “Whatsoever ye shall prohibit or allow, declare illegal and unlawful on earth, shall be prohibited, disallowed, and declared illegal and unlawful in heaven”. So we are responsible for all that take place on earth. Unlike Natural law enforcement agents who are limited in their operations by geographical demarcation of nations, the Spiritual law enforcement agents is unlimited in his operations of binding and loosing, since there is no geographical demarcation in the spirit realm.

5. We are the Temple of the living God. – “a house of prayer for the nations” Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Isaiah 56:7; Luke 19:45-46; 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

6. The Church is the “salt of the earth”. Matthew 5:6.

First of all, salt gives flavour. Food which in itself is unappetizing becomes tasty and acceptable when seasoned with salt. As Christians, our ambition (in living and prayers) is to give flavour to the earth. Our presence makes the earth acceptable to God. Our presence commends the earth to God’s mercy and grace.

Secondly, salt preserves or restrains corruption. Our presence on the earth as Christ’s disciples operates like salt in a spoiling meat. The process of sin’s corruption is already at work in all spheres of man’s endeavours – social, moral, religion and political. We cannot abolish the corruption that is already there, but we can hold it in check (through our lives, and prayers and intercession) long enough for God’s purpose, grace and mercy to be fully worked out.

7. We are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 4:6; John 1:4-6, Ephesians 5:8-13. Prayer makes the light of our lives shine brighter and shinning light drives out darkness. Light is a symbol of development and exaltation and righteousness to a nation – Proverbs 14:34. This can bring in the hands of God’s grace and mercies.

B. RELEASING THE POWER OF GOD

The scripture teaches and shows certain means by which God’s power is released into a person, thing, circumstance or situation.

a.    Prophetic utterance – Jeremiah 1:10; Ephesians 3:7-12; 1 Kings 17:1. In all

Earth’s affairs the last word is with God. At times however, God causes this word to be spoken through the lips of a believer.

b.    Such a word may also be spoken in authoritative ministry of the word. 2 Kings 2:22 (19-22); Matthew 8:5-13; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians1:18; Isaiah 44:24-26, Romans 10:8-10.

c. Also in a prayer closet of petition or in intercession. Number 16:28-33; Joshua 10:12-14; 1Timothy 2:1. This is a type of prayer of command or authoritative praying Matthew 11:22-23. As God’s word given in an instance by the Holy Spirit, they would just be as effective in the believer’s mouth as they would have been in the mouth of God Himself. Isaiah 44:24-26.

C. PRAYING EFFECTIVELY FOR OUR NATION AND THE WORLD.

1. Know your exalted position and delegated authority in Christ. Ephesians 2:6. For they that do not know their God shall be strong and do exploited; but they that do no know their God shall be weak and they shall be exploited. Daniel 11:32b.

2. Know why God requires us to pray for all men and for those in authority. 1Timothy 2:1-4.

3. Have a good understanding of our governmental set-up and its rulers; be fully up to date with the nation’s problems and sudden developments. An ignorant and unlearned believer cannot prayer effectively. Isaiah 5:13, Hosea 4:6.

4. Prayer for the nations is a prayer of identification. Not exoneration. Daniel 9:1-19, Ezekiel 9:1-11, 10:1; 2Chronicle 7:14.

5. Make it a habit to both pray with the knowledge and in the Spirit for our nation and other nations. 1 Corinthians 14:15; Daniel 9:1-2; Ephesians 6:18.

6. Guide and guard your speech and confessions as regards your prayers for the nations and the happening. Romans 10:8-10, Hebrews 3:14, 10:23, 1 John 5:14-15.

7. Refuse to be discouraged if you do not see immediate results of your prayers or even if the contrary happens. God will ultimately answer prayers of faith and importunity. Luke 11:8, James 5:16, Mark 11:22-23, Philippians 4:6-7.

8. Take note of revelations, and visions and burdens of nation and international concern that God may give you. Note them, analyse or interpret them and pray about them, then wait and watch for results. Habakkuk 2:1-4. Nehemiah 1:1-3, 4-11.

9. Take out time to wait upon the Lord in fasting and prayers on issues that are very critical and do demands a wrestle with the Lord until answer comes from Him. Daniel 9:3, Nehemiah 1:3-4.

10. You can also pray more definitely with the use of good and update map of those nations and of the world with card keys to itemize the nations and indicate their problems, similarly be current through the news media (Satellite, Radio, Television, Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, etc) to obtain specific information to give a prayer awareness of an area.

Compiled By Revd Chukie MORSI