Grace and Truth

Bible Ministries

We are continuing in our examination of intercession as a facet of prayer as part of our study of the doctrine of Prayer as a mandate for the believer in the PPOG for the church age. Phil 4:6; 1Thes 5:17;

Some examples of intercessory prayer in Acts.

Acts 3:3-10; The lame beggar is the beneficiary of Peter's intercessory prayer. Which set up the opportunity for him to evangelize the Jews where about 5000 became believers Acts 4:4; (This occured about 3 years after the Crucifixion of Jesus)

Acts 7:59-60; Steven's prayer as he was being stoned to death was very similar to Jesus' prayer to the Father on the cross except is it in the subjunctive mood rather than the imperative mood. ( This occured about 5 years after the cross.)

We know that Steven's prayer was answered because Saul who was the leader of those who stoned him to death was Paul who became the greatest apostle of the Church Age.

Acts 8:15-17; Prayer for the Holy Spirit to come on the Gentile Samaritans who had believed; See Net Note 38 This occured about 5 years after the cross.

Acts 12:1-11;Peter was the beneficiary of the Church's intercessory prayer. This occured about 14 years after the crucifixion of Jesus.

Paul mentions his intercessory prayers for believers in almost all of his letters. Rom 1:8-9; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:9; Philemon 4; 2Thes 1:12; 1Thes 1:2; 2Tim 1:3; 1Cor 1:4;

Paul also typically requested his readers to make intercession for him (Rom. 15:30; Eph. 6:19; Phil. 1:19; 1Thes 5:25; 2Cor 1:11; 2Cor 9:14;

The write of the Hebrews also requested intercessory prayer. Heb 13:18;

Paul specifically asked believers to interceed for him regarding his opportunity for evangelism while he was in prison. (Eph 6:19,20; Col 4:3).

Instead of sending the churches a list of names and requesting prayer for the salvation of those specific individuals, Paul said, "Pray on my behalf". Paul requested prayer for himself as the evangelist rather than for the unbelivers who were to be evangelized in the same way that we saw TLJC instruct the 70 who were sent out to witness of him in Judea. Luke 10:2;

Paul believed that effective witnessing must be initiated by God (John 16:8-11). For him to be efffective, God had to be working through him, consequently, Paul urged fellow believers to pray that God would grant him proper wording in his witnessing and open doors for evangelization.