ELEVEN PRINCIPLES OF INTERCESSORY HELP

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray
for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches
our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for Gods people in
accordance with the will of God.
The following eleven principles are some of the reasons to help us understand why some
people get their prayers answered and others do not.
1. ABIDE IN HIM - The Holy Spirit helps us teach some people the necessary conditions for
answered prayer. Jesus said, "If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My words
remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it will be done
for you." (John 15:7) Ask God to help you live IN Him with all of your heart, soul, strength and
mind, so that you can see more of your prayers answered.
2. CONFESS ALL SINS - The Holy Spirit shows us how to encourage people to confess their
sins of omission, commission, disposition and faulty perceptions. David wrote, "If I cherished
sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." (Psalm 66:18) Ask the Lord to encourage
people to confess ALL of their sins before the Lord.
3. PRAY WITH PROPER MOTIVES - The Holy Spirit instructs us in what to ask for and how
to pray with proper motives. James wrote, "You do have because you do not ask. You ask
and yet, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives that you may spend it on
your pleasures." (James 4:2,3) Ask God to help instruct you in what and why to pray
regarding all facets of your ministries.
4. PERSEVERE THROUGH SUFFERING - The Holy Spirit guides us in persevering through
suffering in order to see ALL prayers answered in Gods time. James wrote, "You have heard
of Jobs perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of
compassion and mercy." (James 4:11) Ask God for a persevering heart, mind and body
enabling you to see the full fruition of Gods answers to prayer in relationships & tasks.
5. WALK BY THE SPIRITS PILOTING - The Holy Spirit fills us with a Christ like perspectives
so we are able to avoid walking according to our own selfish impulses. Paul wrote, "Walk in
the Spirt and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16) Ask the Lord to help you to
walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord in all respects so that He is able to make you fruitful
in every good work and prayer.
6. BE INSPIRED BY THE SPIRIT NOT THE WORLD - The Holy Spirit works in and through
you to do Gods work by supplying us with the desire to obey the Lord in every aspect of our
personal lives and ministries. Paul wrote, "God is at work in you, energizing and creating in
you the power and desire both to will and to do His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13) Ask the Lord
to create in you an abundant source of inspiration to help you accomplish His complete will.
7. LET THE SPIRIT SUPPLY YOU WITH EVERY NEED - The Holy Spirit steers us to and
supplies us with the best fields that are ripe for harvesting the seed we sow. Paul wrote, "God
is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you
need, you will abound in every good work... Now he who supplies seed to the sower and
bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of
your righteousness." (2 Cor. 9:8-10) Ask the Lord to lead you to the fields, relationships and
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ministries that are ripest for the harvest.

8. LET THE SPIRIT TEACH YOU - The Holy Spirit educates us in the best ways to pray in
the Spirit on all occasions. (Eph. 6:18) Ask the Lord to teach you how to pray most
appropriately in all situations according to the greatest needs represented in your groups,
ministries and situations.
9. BE EMBOLDENED BY THE SPIRIT - The Holy Spirit emboldens us to pray with
confidence, courage and certainty that God will answer our prayers. The writer of Hebrews
wrote, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace that
we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need
(appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it most). (Heb. 4:16Amplified) Ask God for a holy boldness to approach the Lord to things that others may be
afraid to trust God for.
10. LET THE SPIRIT CORRECT YOU - The Holy Spirit rebukes, corrects and chastens us
when we are praying out of the will of God. Hezekiah prayed, "The Lord said to Hezekiah,
Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover. Hezekiah turned
his face to the Lord and prayed, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully
and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes. Then God said, "I
will add fifteen years to your life... But Hezekiahs heart was proud and he did not respond to
the kindness shown him; therefore the Lords wrath was on him and on Judah and
Jerusalem." (2 Kings 20:20,21 & 2 Chron. 32:24,25) Ask the Lord to help you to avoid asking
for anything that is not in the perfect will of God for your life, your relationships or your
ministries.
11. LET THE SPIRIT TEACH YOU THROUGH PEOPLES LIVES - The Holy Spirit helps us
learn from Godly people the best ways to pray and see positive results. Samuel wrote,
"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. He cried out to God, Oh, that you would bless
me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will
be free from pain. And God granted his request." (I Chron. 4:9,10)
Application: Ask the Lord to bless you in GREAT QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ways
according to the grace that God has given you in your personal gifts, abilities, and directions.

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