The Power of Prayer and Intercession

Once in my life,I had experienced how great the power of prayer is and it was a phenomenal one.I was interceding with a churchmate during a youth camp when a heavy rain fell.We don't have an umbrella and we didn't expect rain to come by that time. Then, I was led by the Spirit to pray and challenge God that my companion and I won't be wet by that rain as we comeback to our assembly hall.Big raindrops falling on the roof of the prayer cell we are in hinder our hearts to be at peace in prayer so we prayed harder and heard the noise of the rain started to fade .I was really in tears on how God has moved as He allowed us to walk out of the prayer cell towards the hall without a single drop of rain falling in our heads.

Since then, I paid high regards to prayer and intercession and I know God has revealed such thing to me so I can minister to others through prayer as well.

Other instances of prayer and intercession in the bible were proofs that God honors the prayers of those who are dependent on His power and of those whose hearts are devoted to know His will.

The disciples and the early believers.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles." (Acts 2:42-43)

As they met and devoted time for prayer and other spiritual disciplines, they were led to selfless ministry of sharing, even selling possessions to help others; to praise God with the fellowship of believers, and to spread the gospel of Christ to unbelievers.

"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."(Acts 4:31)

This was the scenario when​ the believers prayer together as they sought help and asked God to give them boldness to speak of His works so His words will be spread to the nations amidst persecution the believers faced. God revealed His power through a shake and poured out His Spirit in them so they can do what they've prayed for-preaching the gospel to people.God eagerly waits for those who want to experience His power.And just as the early church was eager and zealous to do His will,He showed them that He can do far beyond what they asked for and that He is the Only One who answers to prayers.

The church praying for Peter

"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." (Acts 12:5)

Peter was put to prison because of preaching about Jesus and His resurrection.He was chained to guards and was about to be put to trial the next day.But the church prayed for him.The passages didn't state what their specific prayer is. Then, the Lord responded to their prayer. He released Peter by sending angels to free him.

"Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished."(Acts 12:13-14,16)

As we pray, we should be expectant of astonishing, great and marvelous wonders He will be revealing to us for He is the only God who can do such.

The jailed Paul and Silas

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25)

In spite of being in jail and of being in chains for the cause of Christ,Paul and Silas still managed to pray and to thank God.At this, the Lord worked by answering their prayers and sending and earthquake to free them from their chains.This opened the door for the jailer guarding them to know and to believe Christ.

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:29-31)

These are only a few among numerous events that displayed the power of prayer and intercession.It is when we bow down, when we seek God's forgiveness, and when we acknowledge our nothingness before His greatness that we can spiritually discern and marvelously experience His power in our prayers.