Be Still Series

series: Intercessory Prayer Training

Topic: Intimacy with God

Twelve Biblical Steps to Intercession

This is a training course in intercessory prayer. It is a prayer strategy based on 12 Biblical Steps of Intercession. This intercessory prayer time is to be divided into two parts: INTIMACY and then INTERCESSION.

INTIMACY WITH GOD

It begins with your relationship to God in “INTIMACY.” Daniel says, “They who know

their God will be strong and do exploits.” (Daniel 11:32b)

a) Gen 4;25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son

b) The word know refers to spending many hours alone with God.

This intimacy begins with the simple discipline of "being still" and grows from there.

We start with learning to be quiet in God’s presence and so, to hear His whispers.

a) Not getting things from God.

b) It is about relationship,

c) It is about seeking his presence not his presents

It might take you awhile. It took me a long time to learn to be still. I still struggle with it. We are not used to being still or listening to God’s whisper. It takes time. It takes patience, but you can learn it. Begin with one step, the first step. It is extremely important to spend adequate time in preparation for intercession since that is the discipline most often neglected or missing altogether in our times of intercession. It is important because God says it is

12 Step Prayer Guide

INTIMACY INTERCESSION

Focus on God Focus on Others

1. Be Still 7. Pray for Souls

2. Be Thankful 8. Pray for Saints

3. Be Worshipful 9. Pray for Sickness

Focus on You Focus on the World

4. Confession 10. Pray for Minister

5. Clothe Self in Armor 11. Pray for Missionaries

6. Cast your care 12. Pray for the nation

Step 1 – BE STILL

Without a doubt the most difficult step in intercessory prayer is this one – keep silence, be still. Learn this step and you will transform your prayer life. Remember, your mind is like an undisciplined child running constantly and refusing to be dominated. It wants it own way. It is like a wild stallion that does not want to be tamed, bridled or ruled. It wanders wherever it wishes. It clamors for its own way. It speeds ahead to its own agenda. It refuses to be brought under control. But God says it must be bridled. Peter urges us to“gird up the loins of your mind.” (1 Peter 1:13) Paul says, “Bring every thought into the captivity of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

A Secret

There is a secret that God reveals to his servants that is hidden from all other men. It is the secret of his presence. He delights to walk and talk with us but he will only do so in the “Secret place of the Most High.” (psl 91;1-16) Therefore David exalts the mystery of that secret retreat with God alone where God shadows over his own with his protective presence. Jesus said that the secret place for believers is the “closet of prayer” in Matthew 6:6.

The Greek word translated in KJV is “tameion” which means a closet, secret or inner chamber, or a storehouse – thus “a closet.” He is very specific about it.

‘When you have entered into your “tameion” (secret chamber), shut the door…and pray in secret!” God longs to have that romantic secret chamber of interlude with each of us.

Deut 29;29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever

Psalms 139;15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Psalms 45;3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

Amos 3;7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Math 6;6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

A Command (not a suggestion)

God has given his people express commands governing the turbulence of their own heart sand the peace that he offers and expects. None stands out so markedly as Isaiah 30:15 "In quietness and confidence will be your strength and you would not..." It declares that the Lord's purpose is for his people to return to Him to find quietness and confidence before Him. The indictment was that his people "WOULD NOT," therefore they had no peace.