The Necessity of Intercession in Missions
I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ORCHESTRATING A WORLD PRAYER MOVEMENT
A. God is sovereignly raising up a worldwide prayer movement. This prayer movement is a worship movement, which
is also a prophetic movement. All three dimensions are expressions of the Holy Spirit’s one river.
B. There is significant new interest in prayer in the Body of Christ worldwide. Anyone paying attention to what the
Holy Spirit is saying today can understand that He is restoring prayer, worship and the prophetic ministry.
C. This strategic plan of the Holy Spirit will reach a crescendo before the Lord returns, as the bowls of intercession
will become full in heaven.
The 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden Bowls full of incense, which are the prayers
of the saints. (Rev. 5:8)
D. The worldwide movement is multifaceted, with many expressions of God’s heart. As we celebrate the different
expressions of prayer, we can learn for each other.
II. THREE DIMENSIONS OF MISSIONARY ACTIVITY AND EVANGELISM
A. There are 3 different dimensions of missions work and spiritual warfare necessary to restore the Church and to give
a witness of the gospel to all nations (Mt. 24:14).
1. Preaching (words) – this includes apostolic preaching and church planting, etc., as God’s way to evangelize the lost.
2. Mercy deeds (deeds) – this includes servant evangelism, providing food and clothing for the needy, building hospitals,
orphanages and schools.
3. Intercession (prayer) – changes the spiritual atmosphere of the region where preaching and mercy deeds are done.
B. We must embrace all three dimensions is seeking to serve the Great Commission by warring against darkness
with prayer and fasting. We must be committed to seek to revival, evangelize the lost and serve the practical needs of people.
III. REQUIREMENT OF NIGHT AND DAY PRAYER FOR MISSIONS (LK. 18:7-8)
A. Parable: the unrighteous judge and the cry for justice (NAS) avenge (NKJ).
“…shall not God bring about JUSTICE for His elect, who cry to Him day and night…? I tell you that He will bring about
JUSTICE FOR THEM SPEEDILY….” (Luke 18:7-8; NAS)
“…shall God not AVENGE His own elect who cry out day and night to Him…? I tell you that He will AVENGE THEM
SPEEDILY….” (Luke 18:7-8, NKJ)
B. The two sides of God’s justice (judgment and salvation).
1. Judgment (punishment, vengeance) to the rebellious. God’s justice must be released on the kingdom of darkness to
stop rebellion.
2. Salvation (deliverance, vindication) to the responsive. God’s justice involves the manifestation of His power to
make wrong things right.
C. Examples of God’s justice (judgment/salvation) that makes wrong things right.
1. Healing: God’s judgment on sickness is manifestation of healing power.
2. Revival: God’s judgment on compromise is seen as the Church is revived.
3. Soul winning: God’s judgment on the kingdom of darkness is seen when thousands of new converts come to Jesus
in a city.
4. End-Time judgments: the book of Revelation reveals God judgments against the Antichrist’s systems that do evil
and oppress the righteous.
5. Righteous legislation: God’s judgment on unrighteous abortion laws, etc.
6. Unity (reconciliation): God’s judgment on division (family, society, Church)
7. Holiness: God’s judgment on sin, anger, pornography, drugs and rebellion, etc.
D. Jesus is the ultimate social reformer and king of justice. Jesus was the first man to connect the idea of the release of
justice and social reform to night and day prayer. To seek social reformation through prayer was a new idea that is
unique in the history of social reform.
E. Jesus requires night and day prayer in the cities of the earth as the condition to release “speedy justice.”
Therefore, night and day prayer is a very practical expression of the commandment to love one another in that it
changes the spiritual atmosphere of a region so that multitudes are blessed and delivered.
IV. HOLY SPIRIT IS RESTORING THE INTERCESSORY CALL (ISA. 62:6-7)
A. Jesus will release special grace to establish night and day prayer before His return.
I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace (be silent) day or night. You who
make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and…makes Jerusalem a praise
in the earth. (Isa. 62:6-7)
1. The Lord promises to act sovereignly to ‘set’ watchmen (intercessors) in their place on the wall of intercession to
release justice (blessing) and raise up protection for God’s people. These watchmen engage in worship and intercession
night and day.
2. The “setting of watchmen” is the work of the Lord Himself. This speaks of His activity to call people as intercessory
missionaries to full-time ministry. God is reordering the lives and callings of His servants as He sets watchmen in their
place.
a. Convincing them of their call to embrace night and day prayer.
b. Revealing to them the “when and where” of their calling to prayer.
c. Releasing financial provision to sustain them in this essential occupation.
d. Releasing authority in prayer that establishes justice and changes history
B. The premier example of the watchmen set on the wall in Jerusalem is Anna before the first coming of Jesus. She was
the first evangelist in the New Testament.
Anna…a widow of about 84 years, did not depart from the temple, but SERVED GOD WITH FASTINGS AND PRAYERS
NIGHT AND DAY… (Luke 2:37)
C. The Holy Spirit is restoring the “Anna’s” before the Second Coming of Jesus.
D. Holy frustration – God is allowing intercessors to experience holy discontentment with their present function in the
Body of Christ until they discover their place in night and day intercession and worship that most effectively releases
evangelism.
E. Square peg in a round hole – there are some in the Body of Christ that truly love the Church and winning the lost
but are frustrated UNTIL they find their primary life calling in serving the lost through a lifestyle of worship and intercession.
F. The Lord wants to give you language for your primary passion. You do not have to apologize for your intensity
and passion for prayer and worship. There is power in knowing who you are before God. Intercessors take courage –
the Man leading the Great Commission (Jesus) is an eternal intercessor. He loves prayer and will restore it to its rightful
place of dignity and honor in the Church before He returns.
V. THE IRREFUTABLE LAW OF NIGHT AND DAY PRAYER
A. Night and day prayer changes the spiritual atmosphere of a city. No power can stop speedy justice that flows from
night and day prayer. God does not ask anyone’s permission. Religious leaders and demons working together cannot
stop the inevitable move of the Holy Spirit.
B. There is an irrefutable law in history that revival (justice) is released in a measure whenever night and day prayer
is offered. When night and day prayer has been offered to God throughout history, God released a breakthrough of His
power.
C. Bangor, Ireland, in 555 AD, under the leadership of Comgall and Columbanus. Night and day worship continued
for over 300 years resulting in the thrusting forth of missionaries with apostolic power that touched all of Europe.
D. Clairvaux, France – in 1120 AD, Bernard and 700 monks gathered in Clairvaux (the valley of light) to pray. This
continued 24 hours a day for many years resulting in a dynamic release of evangelism through signs and wonders across
Europe.
E. Herrnhut, Germany, in 1727 AD, under the leadership of Count Zinzendorf. Night and day intercession continued
for over 120 years resulting in the thrusting forth of missionaries with apostolic power that touched many nations.
A. Seoul, Korea, over the last 40 years, under the leadership of David Yonggi Cho. Night and day prayer has been
going for over 30 years.