Prayer is Your Place of Safety (Part 7)

The Prayer of Supplication and Intercession

3.1.2020

Review

You never live past your prayer life…

In this series, we are addressing the importance of prayer in 2020, and how your prayer life can become the most important part of your day.

Week 1, we saw that Jesus lived out of His prayer life, and that He spent a lot of time praying before ministry.

We talked about the importance of our praying about everything, and how prayer can prepare us for the things that are in our future.

Weeks 2 through 4, we talked about why we must pray.

We’ve covered why we must pray. God created the earth, placed man here, and set it up in a way that He chooses to go through man before He does anything.

Adam committed a treasonous act and gave the authority given to Him by God to God’s arch-enemy Satan.

Jesus restored man’s original authority, but Satan has a lease on earth that will not expire until Christ’s return.

God cannot legally do anything unless He gets cooperation through His people.

Seven Different Kinds of Prayer

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

I have found at least 7 kinds of prayer.

1. The prayer of faith – (primarily a prayer for yourself)

2. The prayer of consecration (relinquishing personal control)

3. The prayer of supplication and intercession (prayer for others)

4. The prayer of agreement (when your faith needs a boost)

5. The prayer of worship (focusing on God)

6. United praying (tremendous power)

7. Praying in the spirit (beyond your own knowledge)

Follow the rules for each kind of prayer!!

Today: The prayer of supplication

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV)

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Supplication is asking a favor on behalf of another. It is standing in for someone else, asking for help, favor, and mercy.

Unlike the prayer of faith that you pray for yourself, the prayer of supplication is a prayer you pray primarily for others.

Intercession is literally taking another person’s place. We will talk about that later.

Four things to know about the prayer of supplication:

1. You are praying for someone else.

We pray the prayer of faith for ourselves. We pray the prayer of supplication for others.

When I pray for myself and my needs, I pray and believe that I receive. Then I thank God for the answer each time I address the same issue again.

Mark 11:24 (NLT)

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

With the prayer of supplication, we are asking on behalf of someone else.

In fact, the origin of the word in the Greek language leans toward the idea of extending an olive branch to an authority in order to be granted favor.

Greek Strong’s #1162.

δέησις deēsis; from 1189;

a petition: — prayer, request, supplication.

a seeking, asking, entreating, entreaty to God or to man.

Greek Strong’s #2428.

ἱκετηρία hiketēria; from a derivative of the base of 2425 (through the idea of approaching for a favor); intreaty: — supplication.

Authorized Version – supplication; an olive branch for suppliants approached the one whose aid they would implore holding an olive branch entwined with white wool and fillets, to signify that they came as suppliants.

You are approaching God in a humble way to ask a favor for someone else.

With supplication, you must pray more than once!

Luke 11:9-10 (NLT)

And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

This is the imperative present tense, which means there is a continuation of what you are doing. Keep on praying, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.

When we ask on someone else’s behalf, we ask over and over. When we pray for ourselves, we ask one time, and then praise and thank God for the answer that we believe we receive.

2. There is a different application of faith when praying for others than when you pray for yourself, because their will is involved.

It is often necessary to pray over and over again when praying for others. It’s praying with faith, but it is a different application of faith.

God will never override a person’s will.

We cannot force another person against their will to do anything. They must change their will themselves.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (NLT)

Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. (16) For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

(17) “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, (18) then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

(19) “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! (20) You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Our faith and praying work right up to the person’s will. Then they must make a choice. So when we are praying for another person. we must be persistent, and keep our faith that God is working in them strong. Then the person can exercise their will and receive from God.

Paul and Agrippa

Acts 26:24-29 (NKJV)

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

(25) But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. (26) For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. (27) King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

(28) Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

(29) And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

The Rich Young Ruler

Matthew 19:16-22 (NKJV)

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (17) So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (18) He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ (19) Honor your father and your mother,’ and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”(20) The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

(21) Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

(22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Our faith causes God’s power to work right up to a person’s will, and allows His power to remain strong on them, until the person chooses to obey God and accept His help and make the change God is urging them to make.

3. There is a difference in the application of faith when praying for others, because of the hindrance of Satan.

1 Thessalonians 2:18 (NKJV)

Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.

1 Thessalonians 2:18 (NLT)

We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.

1 Thessalonians 2:18 (AMPC)

Because it was our will to come to you. [I mean that] I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered and impeded us.

1 Thessalonians 2:18 (ISV)

That is why we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, wanted to come time and again, but Satan blocked our way.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that Satan and demonic forces hinder us in life.

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12-13 (AMPC)

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. (13) Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

People are also dealing with demonic forces in the atmosphere that seek to keep them from obeying God, and that keep them bound to past generational family issues.

We can with our faith command them to stop in the name of Jesus.

We must do this over and over again because of the constant assaults of the satanic kingdom!

We have the authority to bind and loose in the name of Jesus!

Matthew 18:18 (NKJV)

Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

People who struggle need the help that your prayer life can provide.

4. Persistence is necessary when praying for others because of the obstinate will and the opposition of Satan.

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. (2) “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. (3) A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ (4) The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, (5) but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

(6) Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. (7) Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? (8) I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Example – 1980 – Friend at work.

Action Points:

1. Do I pray differently for others than I do for myself?

2. Do I persevere in prayer for others so they can be free to make right choices?

3. Do I stand against Satan’s hindrances when praying for others?