INTERCESSION; THE HIDDEN SECRET OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH (DAILY DIET E-BOOK SERIES 01 DAY 14)

Let's look at more scripture where Paul said something about prayer. Paul at Prayer Second Corinthians 1:11 isn't exactly his prayer for the Corinthians, but Paul is asking their help in prayer: "Ye also helping together by prayer for us...." Paul already had said in the 10th verse, concerning his difficulties, "Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will deliver us." And then he said, "Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf" (v. 11). 

He is talking here about the prayer of the church "helping together." The church had prayed for him, hadn't they? The Bible says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). We are encouraged to pray one for another. When people are in trouble, or if their lives are in danger—like Paul's was—we need to remember to pray. 

In Second Corinthians 9:14, Paul said, "And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you." Here he is talking about other people in his company who also had prayed for the Corinthians. They prayed one for another; they were concerned one for another. We are selfish many times in our praying. Really, we should put others first in our prayer life. Most of the time, all we do is pray for ourselves and our own little group or family—our own needs. We are much like the farmer who said, "God bless me and my wife, my son John and his wife, us four and no more."

We wouldn't say it that way, but if you analyze it, that's about the extent of many of our prayers! For an individual to grow spiritually, he's going to have to reach out and help others. You can't put yourself first. For a church to grow and develop, it's going to have to do the same thing. In Philippians, Paul makes mention of praying for the Church at Philippi, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you..(Phil. 1:3). This is quite a statement, isn't it? Do you remember what happened at Philippi? Do you remember when Paul first went down there? In a night vision, a man stood up and said, "Come over to Macedonia, and help us " (Acts 16:9). 

                                                                                 ...To be continued

FFT: The mastery of all ministries is the ministry of intercession.

ACTION POINT: Join yourself to this chariot of intercession ministry today!

INTERACTIVE SESSION: Are you an intercessor? (share your experience and testimony below)