For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NKJV)
Many people talk about ‘spiritual warfare’. To me, this is the ability to come before the Lord in prayer, receive power, and then get out there to where the action is. In order to do this we need to know who we are in Christ, and what authority and power we have. If we are going to respond to the enormous challenge which is facing us today, we need fewer words and more action. We need intercessors. Generally, these are assumed to be the ones who stay at home and pray - and there is a need for this, after all Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses while the Israelites were in battle (Exodus 17:12), and I could’t do what I do without all the people who pray at home. But I also read from Scripture that intercessors like Moses and Elijah were renowned for their action. They had the ability to confront the enemy where he was. Whether you are called to be at home or on the front line, get into action. God has called us to advance, not retreat.
An intercessor is one who stands before God on behalf of an individual or a nation in prayer and takes responsibility of ‘making it happen’. In Numbers 14 we see Moses’ power with God. Probably one of the greatest dialogues ever recorded between man and God is this one commencing with verse 11, where God speaks very directly to Moses, complaining of the lack or response and the disobedience of Israel. Their lack of faith prompts God to say: “How long will they not believe Me, despite all the signs which I have worked amongst them?” As a result, he threatens to destroy the whole nation. But in verse 13, in one of the most amazing scenes in Scripture, Moses dares to argue with God. He says: “If You do so, then the Egyptians will hear and tell the other nations, all of whom have heard and seem the miraculous deliverance and mighty signs which You have worked in their midst. They will not blame Israel for their lack of faith and disobedience, but will blame You, saying You did not have the power to deliver them.” Then Moses demonstrates he has power with God as an intercessor, saying: “Pardon the iniquity of this people!”
It’s according to your praying
God answers: “I have pardoned, according to your Word” (v20). Do you see what the intercessor has done? Moses as the intercessor, who knew the very character of God (v19), used this knowledge, and challenged God so that instead of turning His back on His people because of their weakness and their sin, God renews His Covenant. Then the Lord declares: “All the earth shall be filled with My glory!” (v21).
You can have power with God
Do you understand that we can have power with God, even as fallible men here on earth? In James 5:16-18 we read: ‘The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elijah was man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.’ Elijah was no different to you and me; he had the same feelings and emotions, he struggled with the same issues we do, yet he knew something we don’t - he knew how to get dramatic answers to prayer.
The ‘secret’ of Elijah’s power in prayer
What was Elijah’s secret? Firstly, he knew God and he knew who he was in God - the Bible declares we are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). And he knew how to stand on the promises of God. He knew that God had decreed through Moses that He would withhold rain when the Israelites rebelled, and he knew God would send rain when they obeyed (Deuteronomy 11:13-17). All Elijah had to do was pray in accordance with the Word of God: “Let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your Word!” (1 Kings 18:36).
Put God in remembrance of His Word
If you want an answer to prayer, you must find an appropriate promise in the Bible, and then put God in remembrance of His Word. Pray according to the Promises of God. How did Jesus resist the devil, by saying, “It is written…” Then after Jesus was tempted, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. When He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…’ And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21). Jesus always spoke and prayed in accordance with the Scripture. And when He did, miracles happened.
"Put Me in remembrance…" (Is 43:26, NKJV)