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A young man graduated from Seminary and pastored a church in a small town. During the first year of pastoring, only one person made a commitment for Christ and baptism. But that person was already in progress with Bible studies when he arrived. It seemed that for the year that he was pastor of this church, there was almost nothing to show for a year's work. He had been so busy with all the activities that had to be done--visitation, board meetings, sermon preparation and research, not to mention the host of other work that needed to be done at home that he neglected to pray. Realizing the missing ingredient in his life, he decided to set aside ten minutes--just ten minutes--everyday for nothing but intercessory prayer. He knew that there was no merit in merely 'putting in time', but he decided to do it anyway as there was nothing to lose. But as he took time interceding in behalf of specific people in his congregation, his prayers became more earnest. Soon ten minutes passed very quickly, and he started spending more and more time on his knees in intercessory prayer. Here's what he said: "I began to notice a change in my ministry. The people I studied with began to respond. Lives changed; people made decisions for Christ. At the end of my second year, I could look back on 13 baptisms." Later, in a new district, pastoring a different congregation, he was able in six months to have more than 60 people attending Bible Study groups in preparation for baptism. "I believe the reason God has blessed so richly," he said, "is that I finally discovered the importance of intercessory prayer."  Have we discovered the importance of intercessory prayer? Does the Bible say anything about intercessory prayers? It certainly does for Jesus is the Mighty Intercessor and Petitioner. In Mark 1:35 we read: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Luke 5:16 reads: "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed." Jesus petitioned the throne of grace in behalf of others. "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:32. In John 17:20 we find more precious words: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." In the agonies of the crucifixion, Himself burdened with the awful weight of the sins of the whole world, He prayed for His revilers and murderers, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34.' --Patriarch and Prophets, Page 140. The Mighty Petitioner taught a very vital principle: "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Luke 11:9. The implication of this text is that if we don't ask, we will not receive. If we don't seek, we will not find, and if we don't knock, it will not be opened unto us. The Apostle Paul in his first epistle to Timothy wrote: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." --1 Timothy 2:1-6. A quotation from the book, Ministry of Healing, page 58, follows: "In a life wholly devoted to the good of others, the Saviour found it necessary to turn aside from ceaseless activity and contact with human needs, to seek retirement and unbroken communion with His Father. As the throng that had followed Him depart, He goes into the mountains, and there, alone with God, pours out His soul in prayer for these suffering, sinful, needy ones." Jesus was a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. Day by day, He supplicated the throne of grace in behalf of the sinners He came to save. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus poured out His heart longings for His disciples, that in the hour of the power of darkness their faith might not fail. Jesus, the Mighty Petitioner, is our pattern in prayer. His experience is to be ours. Have you not heard of family members praying for the salvation of loved ones, and after many, many years, the prayer was answered? Their loved ones surrendered to the wooing of the Holy Spirit of God, and they accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. The Marked Bible is a story of a loving mother who gave her son, a sailor, a Bible before leaving on his ship. She lovingly marked important passages hoping that he would read them and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. For several years, the Bible was left untouched, unread, ignored. But the faithful mother's intercessory prayers continued to rise to the throne. One day, the marked Bible was discovered. The son dusted the covers of the Bible, opened and read it, noting carefully the marked passages penned by a loving mother. He studied the passages and contemplated upon the lessons taught. After a while the Holy Spirit of God brought a deep conviction to his heart, and he surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are some comforting and encouraging thoughts for mothers as they labor and pray for their children: "The prayers of Christian mothers are not disregarded by the Father of all...He will not turn away your petitions and leave you and yours to the buffetings of Satan in the great day of final conflict. It is for you to work with simplicity and faithfulness, and God will establish the work of your hands." --Child Guidance, page 526. "The influence of a praying, God-fearing mother will last through eternity. She may die, but her work will endure." Testimonies to the Church, Volume 4, page 500. "With joy unutterable, parents see the crown, the robe, the harp, given to their children...The seed sown with tears and prayers may have seemed to be sown in vain, but their harvest is reaped with joy at last. Their children have been redeemed."--Child Guidance, Page 569. George Mueller, known for the amazing answers to his prayers, agonized in prayer and labored for years for the salvation for one of his friends. He didn't see the answer to this prayer, however, for it was after his death, that his friend surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, how we need to agonize before God and pray in earnest for the salvation of our friends and loved ones. "God will be to us everything we will let Him be. Our languid, halfhearted prayers will not bring us returns from heaven. Oh, we need to press our petitions! Ask in faith, wait in faith, receive in faith, rejoice in hope, for everyone that seeketh findeth. Be in earnest in the matter. Seek God with all the heart..." --Our High Calling, page 131. "When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that he is about to answer our prayer 'exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.'" --Christ's Object Lessons, page 147. Little Jimmy was only ten years old when he gave his heart to the Lord. He loved to go to church and invited some of his friends to go with him. Some went with him; others didn't for they would rather play ball or ride their bikes to the park than go to church. Jimmy prayed for his friends who didn't go to church. He prayed that they, too, would come to know and love Jesus. Jimmy made a prayer list, and everyday he prayed for his friends on the list. When a friend gave his heart to the Lord, he would check off his name. Soon, all except one name, were checked off. Oh, Jimmy prayed hard for this one friend--Tony Davis--still out of the fold. It seemed that Tony didn't care one way or the other whether he knew the Lord or not. Jimmy was sad, but he continued to pray for Tony. Day after day, he prayed for his friend. Sometimes he prayed with tears in his eyes. Then Jimmy became sick, too sick to even go to church. There was a revival meeting at his church one night, but poor Jimmy was too sick and too weak to even get out of bed. An older sibling went to the meeting. After the meeting, she related to Jimmy all that went on at the meeting--what the preacher talked about; she started naming some of the people who responded to the invitational appeal to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Interrupting, Jimmy asked in a weak voice: "Did Tony accept Jesus?" "Why, yes, Jimmy, he did. Tony Davis gave his heart to the Lord!" she responded with exuberance. With a satisfied smile on his face, Jimmy laid his head back on the pillow to rest, too weak to sit up in bed. The excitement was just too much for him. A week or so later, Jimmy passed away. His family was shocked and numbed with grief. Soon after Jimmy's passing, Mother was cleaning out his bedroom and found a notebook marked and underlined: My Prayer List. She opened it as tears welled up in her eyes. Inside was a list of dozens of names, Jimmy's friends, all had check marks after their names except one name--Tony Davis. The intercessory prayer of Christ for His disciples, as recorded in John 17, contains important lessons for every Christian today. This prayer is written for our instruction. "Neither pray I for these alone," Christ says, "but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." What a wonderful God we have! Our Mighty Petitioner, the Lord Jesus Christ, included us in His intercessory prayer to His Heavenly Father two thousand years ago. We were embraced in His wonderful love--loving us even before the foundation of the world was laid. Oh, how we couldn't help but love Him too! 1 John 4:19 states: We love Him because he first loved us. "Christ desires His followers to reveal in their lives His character. In His intercessory prayer for His disciples He declared: "The glory [character] which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me" (John 17:22, 23). --God's Amazing Grace, page 322. The Lord is pleased when we importune Him for His grace and His favor not only for ourselves but for those who are in need of help. And, oh, how many of our friends and loved ones are not walking with Him and are sorely in need of divine grace? We must be faithful and earnest in our supplication in their behalf. The Lord is our God, the strength of our soul. We must take hold upon Him, Jacob-like, and wrestle and agonize before Him for the salvation of our friends and loved ones. Intercessory prayer changes people. Intercessory prayer changes things and circumstances. Intercessory prayer works! While trave'ling o'er life's rugged way, That I may true and faithful be, And live for Jesus every day. Refrain I want my friends to pray for me, To bear my tempted soul above, And intercede with God for me; I need the prayers of those I love. I need the prayers of those I love, To help me in each trying hour, To bear my tempted soul to Him, That He may keep me by His pow'r. I want my friends to pray for me, To hold me up on wings of faith, That I may walk the narrow way, Kept by our Father's glorious grace. A dear, loving Savior, though earth friends be few; And now He is watching in tenderness o'er me, But oh that my Savior were your Savior, too. Refrain For you I am praying, For you I am praying, For you I am praying, I'm praying for you. I have a Father; to me He has given A hope for eternity, blessed and true; And soon He will call Me to meet Him in heaven, But oh that He'd let me bring you with me too! I have a robe; 'tis resplendent in whiteness, Awaiting in glory my wondering view; Oh, when I receive it, all shining in brightness, Dear friend, could I see you receiving one, too! When Jesus has found you, tell others the story, That my loving Savior is your Savior, too; Then pray that your Savior will bring them to glory, And prayer will be answered--'twas answered for you! Will you remember me? I need help every day, this is why I pray Will you remember me? When you pray, will you pray for me For I need His love and His care When you pray, will you pray for me Will you whisper my name in your prayer. At the close of the day, when I kneel to pray I will remember you You need help every day, this is why I pray And I will remember you. When I pray, I will pray for you, For you need His love and His care When I pray, I will pray for you I will whisper your name in my prayer. --Words & Music By: Audrey Mieir  
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