Church On The Rock-Abilene
Wednesday Night Service 5/14/2025
  • Abide
  • God Turn It Around
  • Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
  • Today’s Text:
    1 Timothy 2:1–2 NKJV
    1 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.
    Introduction
    Intercession is one of those words we here a lot but do we know what it means.
    Today we are going to talk about what it is and what its not.
    Today we are going to talk about the how and why.
    Tonight we are going to learn how to use the faith we have, stand on the word of God, and engage in the prayer of agreement.

    1. What is intercession?

    a.To put it plainly Intersession is praying for others. Our key verse tells us that we should make intersessions (plural, more than one for each person if needed.) Verse two tells us that we should pray for those in authority that we all may lead quiet and peaceable lives- However, for today we would like to talk about intercession and that we are called to do it.

    b. the definition of intercede.

    Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Intercede

    in•ter•cede \ˌin-tər-ˈsēd\ verb intransitive

    -ced•ed; -ced•ing [Latin intercedere, from inter- + cedere to go] 1597: to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences: MEDIATE synonym see INTERPOSE—in•ter•ced•er noun

    c. The definition of intercession.

    Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Intercession

    in•ter•ces•sion \ˌin-tər-ˈse-shən\ noun

    [Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin intercession-, intercessio, from intercedere] 15th century

    1: the act of interceding

    2: prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another—in•ter•ces•sion•al \-ˈsesh-nəl, -ˈse-shə-nəl\ adjective—in•ter•ces•sor \-ˈse-sər\ noun—in•ter•ces•so•ry \-ˈses-rē, -ˈse-sə-rē\ adjective

    d. As we look at intercession we need to know the difference between intercession and interference. Often interference is motivated by fear and intercession is motivated by faith, love and compassion.

    in•ter•fere \ˌin-tə(r)-ˈfir\ verb intransitive
    -fered; -fer•ing [Middle English enterferen, from Anglo-French (s’)entreferir to strike one another, from entre- inter- + ferir to strike, from Latin ferire—more at BORE] 15th century
    1: to interpose in a way that hinders or impedes: come into collision or be in opposition
    2: to strike one foot against the opposite foot or ankle in walking or running—used especially of horses
    3: to enter into or take a part in the concerns of others
    4: to act reciprocally so as to augment, diminish, or otherwise affect one another—used of waves synonym see INTERPOSE—in•ter•fer•er noun
    Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).
    We see very simply that to intercede is to call on The Lord and His will, motivated by faith love and compassion. To interfere is motivated by fear. When we are co-dependent, we often do not understand we are walking and working in the flesh.
    Lets look at an example of how intercession worked in the life of The Apostle Peter, we will see how heaven literaly invaded earth and we will see the power of God working through praying people.

    2. How intercession works.

    Acts 12:1–19 NKJV
    1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” 12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place. 18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

    The Problem: James, of the sons of Zebedee. The first Apostle to die.

    Acts 12:1–2 NKJV
    1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

    (Side Note:) Notice that they put The Apostle Peter in Prison, with four squads assigned to him and chained him between two.

    They cut James head off but they didn’t want a repeat of Jesus!
    The power of Rome, was leveraged against the Church.
    However, the power of any super power is no match for the power of the living God.
    Zechariah 4:6 NKJV
    6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
    Matthew 16:18 NKJV
    18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
    The Lord wants to work in the earth with us. (He works for us so that we understands His heart and how His will [The Word of God] works.)
    Think about this- what happens when you pray? what if you started praying in obedience and watch what The Lord does.

    3. Intercession starts with a burden.

    Acts 12:5 NKJV
    5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
    Romans 8:26–27 NKJV
    26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
    This became clear to me today! God does things by generations.
    God has a plan for us in this generation.
    He calls us to bear fruit.
    He wants us to do things, He also wants us to do things for his glory. While we are doing things we are going to come to obstacles in the path. We are to always remember that God wants to work through us. He does not want us to work for Him. He wants to work in us.

    a. As we have been talking, maybe The Lord has shown you that what you thought of as stressors as a burden for prayer?

    b. God would not give you the burden if He was not going to move in a blessing!

    I wonder what would happen our church would lean into the burden of prayer?

    4. Intercession brings deliverance!

    Acts 12:7–10 NKJV
    7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

    a. Again the Lord sent an angel to Peter. Thant angel woke Peter up- chains fell off- the gates opened of their own accord. God is not moved by level of difficulty as man might be. Not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord!

    Acts 12:13–16 NKJV
    13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

    b. You do not have to have perfect faith for your prayers to work. I am not trying to teach you to doubt, rather,I am trying to get you to jump in where you are.

    Rhoda told the prayer group that that Peter was out side and they said it was his angel and that she was beside herself. They where praying for Peter and did not believe It had been answered.
    Romans 12:3 NKJV
    3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
    They prayed fervently and God answered their prayers!
    Start where you are and ask the Lord to move you.

    c. When praying for God to do something find the promise in the Word of God.

    Hebrews 10:23 NKJV
    23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

    d. The power of agreement.

    Matthew 18:19–20 NKJV
    19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
    Conclusion
    Obstacles are a part of the journey of faith.
    The spirit of God is given to us so that we can continue to walk in the call of God for the Church.
    Sometimes we think we have this faith like a one of the heroes in order to do great things, but even the heroes had to start somewhere.
    What is God calling you to do? What has he given you as a burden that intercessory prayer is going to cause a blessing.
    Have you considered that God is going to use you to do big.

      • 1 Timothy 2:1–2NKJV

      • Acts 12:1–19NKJV

      • Romans 8:26–27NKJV

      • Acts 12:7–10NKJV

      • Acts 12:13–16NKJV

Church On The Rock-Abilene
churchontherockabilene@gmail.com
3256725446
https://church-on-the-rock-abilene-tx.faithlifesites.com
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