Intercession for Revival

World Harvest Church 21 October 2011 Speaker: Rev. David Wong Kim

Revivals since the 17 century, from England to America, Asia and Africa were fruits of sustained intercessions.

§ Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah, the most sinful places in the ancient world (see Genesis 18:16-33)! When God agreed to relent from the intended judgment if 50 righteous people were found, Abraham persisted to drive the number lower and lower to 10.

1. What is an intercessor

The basic Hebrew work for intercession is paga,

You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned—in these ways we continue; and we need to be saved (Isaiah 64:5 NKJV).

§ Paga means ‘to meet’, as in meeting with God for the purpose of reconciliation. Intercession creates a meeting between two parties. An intercessor seeks God’s forgiveness on behalf of the people who or the nations that need a reconciliation with Him.

And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep (Genesis 28:11 KJV 1900).

§ Paga also mean ‘to light upon’, as Jacob was in ‘darkness’ of his life. God is ready to aid us in our ‘darkness’ and desperation, moving us from the natural to the supernatural and from finite ability to the infinite ability, taking over our situation to accomplish His will. An intercessor seeks divine intervention for a breakthrough on behalf of those who are trapped in darkness.

And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died (2 Samuel 1:15 KJV 1900).

§ Paga also mean ‘to fall upon, attack, strike down, cut down’. An intercessor must have the readiness of a soldier to fall upon or attack the enemy at the command of his Commander.

He covers His hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark (Job 36:32 NASB95).

§ Paga means to strike the mark. An intercessor releases the glory of God to flash forth into a situation and ‘strike the mark’ with His brilliant presence.

And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ... And he bare the sin of many (Isaiah 53:6,12 KJV 1900).

§ Paga means ‘to lay upon’. Jesus fully identified with us when He carried all our sins for generations past, present, and future. By intercession, we pick up the burdens of others and deposit them before the throne of grace to obtain help for a time of need (see also Hebrews 4:16).

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one (Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV).

§ An intercessor is a ‘go-between’ or a middleman for God to show His love and mercy to the people or the place.

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 NKJV).

§ Jesus, our High Priest, who sacrificed His own life to redeem us from death, is the foremost intercessor. He interposed Himself between sinful humans and the justified wrath of His Father, and He still intercedes for us day and night.

§ Intercession is not a spiritual gift; it is the birthright of every believer. We must take our rightful position seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenly places looking down upon the affairs of humanity (see Ephesians 2:6).

2. Four roles of intercessors

An intercessor claims promises, vindications, protections, and mercy on behalf of others.

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25 NASB95).

§ An intercessor is one who reminds the Lord of promises and appointments not yet met and fulfilled.

Yes, truth is lacking; And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey. Now the Lord saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice. And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede (Isaiah 59:15–16a NASB95).

§ An intercessor is one who takes up the case of justice before God on behalf of another.

O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord (Ezekiel 13:4–5 NASB95).

§ An intercessor is one who builds up the wall of protection against the demonic forces in time of battle.

“I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. “Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,” declares the Lord God (Ezekiel 22:30–31 NASB95).

§ An intercessor is one who stands in the gap between God’s righteous judgment, which is due, and the need for mercy on the people’s behalf.

3. Three stations of the watchmen

Watchmen who are positioned on the walls of the city to keep watch of its security as used in the Old Testament (see Isaiah 62:6-7), picture intercessors today.

§ God has called some spiritual watchmen today to be watching the Church for the movement of the King and to make a way for Him.

§ Watchmen who are walking about in the city (see Songs of Solomon 3:3) are intercessors called to watch, discern, and report to the pastoral leaders of local churches any demonic activity they see approaching.

§ Watchmen who are on the hills or in the countryside (see Jeremiah 31:6) are intercessors called to roam around as field scouts in the world, able to spot the rise of cult, political wrong maneuvering, injustices in the place, or a persecution against the Church.

§ Some watchmen are given the ‘eyes’ (anointing) to see both inside and outside of the Church.

4. When and where to intercede

Intercession is intensive and focused prayers done regularly until answers come or changes take place.

Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service (Acts 3:1 NLT).

§ The apostles, Peter and John, joined other believers in the corporate hour of prayer.

But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice (Psalm 55:16–17 NLT).

§ King David released the sound of agony in the morning, noon, and evening.

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God (Daniel 6:10 NLT).

§ Prophet Daniel lifted his voice to God three times a day.

§ The 24-7 format of International House of Prayer is the most organized and intensive intercession.

The children of Israel circling the city of Jericho is an on-site locational prayer.

§ On-site intercession is targeted at a place, city, nation or region with research done on the purpose for which the place was founded, major wars or battles fought, any destiny declared by the founding fathers, major offenses and sins committed, and so forth to break the bondage of curses incurred.

§ On-site intercession is prayer for a preset period of time to counter the current condition.

§ On-site intercession in the very places are expected to be answered.

§ On-site intercession is prayer with insight from the Holy Spirit. Research and geographical identification are combined with dependence on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The gifts of revelation of the Spirit are employed and God’s wisdom is sought.

§ On-site intercession is not a replacement for normal in-house prayer meetings.

5. Intercessors make history

We must arise to our priestly and kingly destiny (see Revelation 1:6) to shape history before the throne of grace of the Almighty God.

§ Intercession is one of the core values of our existence as a church. We must get on with God’s original program of extending the rod of His Kingdom authority (see Revelations 2:26-27) into every sphere of life to overcome the ruling spirits behind the seven cultural mountains (art & entertainment, media & information, education & schools, family & relationships, business & economy, government & legislative, church & religions) with history-making prayers.

History-making intercessors must also contend for two kinds of promises.

§ The promises recorded in the Bible, which are yet to be fulfilled.

§ The prophetic promises given to us in our day through the voice of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are yet to be fulfilled (see 1 Timothy 1:18-19).

History-making intercessors must contend with a heart of God’s love.

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (1 Timothy 2:8, NKJV).

§ Connect to the perfect love of God and you will have a loving heart to intercede (see also 1 John 4:17-19).