The Revelation of Intercession
I. THE PRIMARY WAY THAT GOD GOVERNS THE UNIVERSE
A. God has chosen intercession as the primary means in which He releases His government (power) through Jesus and
with His people now and forever. This choice shows forth the majesty and mystery related to intercession. Its majesty is
seen most in Jesus’ intercessory function.
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always
lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
34 Christ…at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:34)
B. The mystery of intercession: the primary principle of intercession is simply to tell God what He tells us to tell Him
as the means of releasing His power. This is profoundly simple. Its mystery is in its “weakness”, simplicity, humility and
accessibility to all. Yet, it has such great impact on us as it draws us into intimacy with God’s heart and unifies us with
God’s people as it transforms us and trains us to function in His government while ruling in partnership with Jesus.
C. The majesty of intercession: the highest means of releasing God’s power is intercession. Jesus as the second
Person of the Trinity operated in this “principle of intercession” when He created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1).
Jesus continues to use intercession to govern the universe in partnership with His people. The governmental center of the
universe is in the “Prayer Ministry”, which includes all the Spirit inspired prayers on earth and in heaven that converge
before God.
II. JESUS, AT THE TIME OF CREATION USED INTERCESSION
A. The Father has deep thoughts (plans) burning in His heart. The Father ordained that Jesus would speak out the
Father’s thoughts (intercession) as the way to release the Spirit’s power in Genesis 1.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void...and the
Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there
was light. (Genesis 1:1-3)
9 God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together...and it was so…11 God said, "Let the
earth bring forth grass...and it was so.” (Genesis 1:9, 11)
B. Jesus is identified as the creator who spoke and said, “let there be light” in Genesis 1.
16 For by Him (Jesus) all things were created...in heaven and that are on earth. (Colossians 1:16)
9 God who created all things through Jesus Christ... (Ephesians 3:9)
2 God has…spoken to us by His Son...through whom also He made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:2)
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made… (Psalm 33:6)
III. JESUS CREATES, SUSTAINS AND GOVERNS BY SPEAKING GOD’S WORD
A. Jesus sustains, upholds or holds together the created order by speaking the Word (type of intercession) to the
Father in the present tense.
3 Who (Jesus)...upholding all things by the word of His power… (Hebrews 1:3)
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (hold together: NIV, NAS). (Colossians 1:17)
B. Every good thing that God does for us comes by Jesus speaking the Father’s Word.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift…comes down from the Father…18 Of His own will He (God: Father
and/or the Son) brought us forth by the word of truth… (James 1:17-19)
C. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, He used the Word to strike like a sword cutting into Satan’s
domain. This is our model of how to release God’s power against darkness.
3 He (Satan) said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 He...said, "It is
written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 5 The
devil….said, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down..." 7 Jesus said..."It is written again, 'You
shall not tempt the LORD...'" (Matthew 4:3-7)
D. Speaking God’s Word is what releases the power of the Spirit as a sword against Satan.
17 Take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
IV. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD
A. When Jesus articulates the Father’s thoughts, He functions as the Living Word. One reason that Jesus is called
the “Word” is because He brings God’s private ideas into existence in the natural.
1 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus speaking the Father’s thoughts), and the Word, was with God, and
the Word was God (Jesus)...3 All things were made through Him (Jesus in intercession), and without Him
(Jesus) nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3)
B. Jesus’ name is the Word of God in that He acts and rules by speaking the Word of God.
13 His name is called The Word of God… (Revelation 19:13)
1 That which was from the beginning…concerning the Word of life (Jesus)… (1 John 1:1)
V. JESUS RELEASES GOD’S JUSTICE IN RESPONSE TO INTERCESSION
A. Jesus taught that justice would be established through night and day prayer (speaking God’s Word). Justice is God
making wrong things right. Jesus is the ultimate social reformer and king of justice. He was the first man to connect justice
(social reform) to night and day prayer.
7 Shall God not avenge (bring about justice for, NAS) His elect who cry out day and night to Him? 8 I tell
you that He will avenge (bring about justice to, NAS) them speedily. (Luke 18:7-8)
B. The two sides of God’s justice:
1. Judgment (punishment, vengeance) to the rebellious who resist God’s justice
2. Salvation (deliverance, vindication) to the redeemed as He makes wrong things right for them
C. Examples of God’s justice (judgment/salvation) that makes wrong things right
1. Healing: God’s judgment on sickness is seen in the manifestation of healing power.
2. Revival: God’s judgment on compromise is seen in reviving the Church by the Spirit.
3. Soul winning: God’s judgment on the kingdom of darkness is seen when people get saved.
4. End-Time judgments: God’s judgments against the evil governments and their actions
5. Righteous legislation: God’s judgment on unrighteous legislation (abortion laws, etc)
6. Unity (reconciliation): God’s judgment on division in the family, society and the Church
7. Holiness: God’s judgment on sin, anger, pornography, drugs and rebellion, etc.
D. Jesus requires night and day prayer as the condition to release justice. Prayer is a very practical expression of the
commandment to love one another in that it releases deliverance for the needy.
E. The revelation of intercession affected David’s method of government. He established 24/7 worship and intercession
as the foundation of his kingly reign in Israel (1 Chronicles 23-25). David had revelation of the spiritual impact of prophetic
intercessory worship (Psalm 22:3).
3 But You are holy, enthroned (releases power) in the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3)
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth… 7 to execute vengeance (justice) on the nations, and
punishments on the peoples; 8 to bind their kings with chains…9 to execute on them the written judgment--
this honor have all His saints. (Psalm 149:6-9)
VI. JESUS’ INTERCESSORY PRINCIPLE AS A MAN (IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM)
A. In Psalm 2:7, David revealed that Jesus will use intercession to govern the world. He will rule in the Millennial
Kingdom by making decrees (intercession) that come from the Father.
7 I (Jesus) will declare the decree: The LORD (Father) has said to Me, “You are My Son…8 Ask of Me, and I
(Father) will give You the nations for Your inheritance…" (Psalm 2:7-8)
B. Jesus will rule by intercession which is referred to as the rod of His mouth (Revelation 19:15; 12:5; Psalm 2:7, 9;
110:2; Isaiah 11:4; Ephesians 6:17-18). Moses rod that released judgment was a parallel of this.
4 He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
(Isaiah 11:4)
2 The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule (in the Millennial earth) in the midst of Your
enemies! (Psalm 110:2)
C. The sword from His mouth is another term for releasing God’s power through His words.
15 Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. He Himself will rule them
with a rod of iron. (Revelation 19:15)
VII. INTERCESSION: EMBRACING WHAT MEN CALL FOOLISH AND WEAK
A. God has chosen to use the things that men consider as weak to triumph over the things that men consider wise
and mighty. God will use the so called weakness of an obeying and praying Church to participate in Jesus’ triumph over
the mighty armies of the earth at Jesus’ return.
27 God has chosen the (so called) foolish things of the world to put to shame the (so called) wise, and God
has chosen the (so called) weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty…29 that
no flesh should glory in His presence." (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
B. Because intercession is telling an invisible God what He tells us to tell Him, men consider this to be too weak and
offensive to do (especially since it is so simple that everyone can do it). We see God’s wisdom in sharing His government
in a way that leaves no place for our glory or boasting.
C. Intercession is a form of “voluntarily weakness” (as are fasting, persecution, giving, etc).
9 He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." …I will boast
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
D. We offer our prayers in weakness yet because of Jesus they ascend before God in power.
E. The simplicity or so-called “foolishness” of preaching or prophetic singing also operates in the principle of
speaking out God’s thoughts as the way to release His power.
18 The message of the cross is foolishness to those perishing, but to us…it is the power of God. 21 It
pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save... (1 Corinthians 1:18-21)
F. God is humble and therefore, has chosen to govern through humility. He has chosen that His people would rule
with Him through speaking His simple words. He is the God who triumphed over darkness by Jesus’ humility as seen in
His life of obedience and His death on the cross.
29 Take My yoke on you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart… (Matthew 11:29)
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even
the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)
VIII. THE WISDOM OF INTERCESSION: THE BENEFITS THAT WE RECEIVE
A. The weakness and wisdom of intercession expresses God’s heart for deep partnership with us. God desires
relationship with us, thus, allows us wrestle with Him and prevail (Genesis 32:24-30).
B. Intercession causes us to internalize God’s Word by saying it back to Him throughout our life. Each time we say
what God says, it marks our mind and spirit and changes us. In intercession, we declare God’s mind many times. This
process progressively dominates and saturates our mind. Over the years, this progressively renews our inner man.
I compare it to a computer programmer who rewrites thousands of lines of code when developing a computer program.
We are changed in prayer in comparison to “rewriting many lines of code” in our minds.
C. God’s words are spirit and life (John 6:63). In other words, they impart the life of God to us. Thus, each time we
say what God says, we receive a small measure of impartation of His life. Over time our mind is illuminated and our heart
is tenderized.
63 The words that I (Jesus) speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)
D. The Father’s word abiding in us is our fuel for intercession and personal transformation. The truth of God’s word
renews our inner man as it takes root in our heart.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
(John 15:7)
31 Jesus said…, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know (experience)
the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
E. One way that we are filled with the Spirit is by singing God’s word back to Him.
18 Be filled with the Spirit 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord… (Ephesians 5:18-19)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly …admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)
F. The process of intercession humbles us so that when God answers us in power we are protected from our pride.
By speaking God’s Word back to Him in intercession, our hope is continually renewed during the process of waiting for
the release of His promises.
G. Intercession deeply joins and unites our heart to people and places. We love what and who we pray for. Thus,
intercession produces community with people and ownership of God’s purposes in other places. One reason that most of
the NT prayers are for the Church instead of the lost is so that we grow in love for the Church that we tend to despise
due to being overly familiar with it. An anointed Church will always bring multitudes of people into the Kingdom
(Acts 19:10-20).
H. Intercession for others causes multiplied blessings to return back on the life of the intercessor. Every prayer of
blessing for another is a prayer that God returns back on you and your family. The law of the Kingdom requires that we
always receive more than what we give away by faith.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will
be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38)
I. Intercession gives us an “inheritance” in the people and places that we pray for. This inheritance begins in this
age and continues in the age-to-come.
J. Intercession makes a long term impact (far beyond our immediate time frame). Our prayers for people and cities
continue to have an impact in the age-to-come. Prayers from history are stored in a bowl near God’s Throne
(Revelation 5:8; 8:1-6).
K. Intercession positions us to receive freely from God rather than earning us God’s power. All spiritual disciplines
(prayer, fasting, meditation on the Word, etc) are ordained by God as a necessary way to posture our heart to freely
receive more grace. Analogy: we put our cold heart before the bonfire of God’s presence by seeking Him in the Word
and prayer. God gives more to our heart but does not love us more when we live in spiritual disciplines.
L. Intercession positions us to hear from God so as to obey His voice that we may experience more of His presence
and walk in our calling and destiny.
M. In intercession, we hear from God so that we know the destiny of a person, city or nation to contend for.
Intercession changes the spiritual atmosphere of cites and nations and thus prepares the way for the presence of God,
powerful labor and anointed living to be released in that region.
N. Summary: Intercession is God’s brilliant strategy for including the saints in ruling with Him in power. It draws us into
intimacy with God as it protects with humility, transforms our heart, and unifies God’s people in community while it trains
us to operate in His wisdom.
IX. PERSEVERING WITH GRATITUDE IN THE DAYS OF SMALLNESS
6 This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit…7 who are you,
O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with
shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"…10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice
to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, which scan to and fro
throughout the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:6-10)
A. This prophecy was given to Zerubbabel the governor of Jerusalem during the years of rebuilding. He despised the
weakness and smallness of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem that was to be used to worship God. God rejoiced to see
the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. It was to have prophetic significance to him. A plumb line is only used while a building
is in its early stages, or in other words, long before it is completed. A plumb line is used to ensure that one builds
according to a specific blue print. God has a strategy in these days that is different from man’s.
B. A plumb line prophetically refers to seeing the big picture of what God is building worldwide. We must contend to
see the release of the fullness of God’s power in His worldwide plan. This offends many yet is essential to bring forth
sustained intercession. The plumb line also prophetically refers to seeing the value of small things that currently exist in
God’s worldwide building program of the Church as a House of Prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7). We must not be
offended by the smallness. God rejoices when He sees the plumb line in our hands.
C. His eyes rejoice with us long before our work is complete. He sees the details of our need and of our labor, tears,
sacrifice and deficiencies. All the houses of prayer are currently incomplete. He wants us to feel His pleasure in the days
of smallness while contending for fullness. We must be grateful while desperate for more. God wants eye contact with us
during the process so our eyes are on Him instead of how small the work is, how slow it grows, and what men say about it.