Intercession and other types of prayer

 BY Argie Simonis  

There are different types of prayer, depending on their purpose:

1. Praise and Worship.

This prayer acknowledges God for what he is by showing the love, respect, and admiration we have for Him. A very good picture of such prayers is found throughout the Bible and especially in the Book of Psalms of David.

2. Supplication

This kind of prayer is to ask the Lord for something, with sincerity and humility:

Moses asked to see the glory of God (Exodus 33:18)

Hannah asked for a son (1 Samuel 1:11)

Hezekiah asked God to extend his life (2 Kings 20: 1-3)

Esther asks for the release of the Jews (Esther 4: 15-16)

Jesus asked for power on the cross and power for the faithful (John 17)

3. Thanksgiving

This is when we express gratitude for having food, shelter, family, friends, work, health, victories, and all the goods the Lord offers us. This kind of prayer Paul urges us to do constantly, regardless of the circumstances around us:

"Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1Thes. 5:17-18

"Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" Eph. 5:20

I leave this for last (but not least) because I want to talk a little more extensively:

4. Intercession prayer - Spiritual Warfare

This prayer is for others, where with the guidance of the Holy Spirit we pray for the needs of other people who seek our support and agreement, because  prayer in agreement and unity has power:

"Again I say to you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." Μat. 18:19

This prayer is also directed for people who either do not know how to pray or for some reason can not pray themselves. In addition, the prophetic prayer is included, where the Holy Spirit gives us words of knowledge and words of wisdom to pray for people in need and have not set it as a request.

Intercession prayer is directly related to spiritual warfare. In spiritual warfare we engage in battles within ourselves and others and use the power and authority given to us. We speak protection against ourselves and others from demonic attacks, we cancel satan's plans, we speak the blessings of God upon our lives, we speak life upon ourselves and death in everything hostile that comes against us or against others.

We rebuke and silence the spirits of deception, fear, lies, etc. that attack us or others, so that the truth of the Gospel may shine and people may come to the awareness of the truth.

To enter into such a prayer you must acknowledge and believe that the Lord has given you authority:

"Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke 10:19

"For truly I say to you, That whoever shall say to this mountain, Be you removed, and be you cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he said shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he said. Therefore I say to you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them." Mark 11:23-24

"Truly I say to you, Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Μat. 18:18

"No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house." Mark 3:27

I will close with this. We have been empowered by God to be tools in His hands, and the closer we come to the Lord, the more the power of our prayer and the power of our words is revealed within us, and the more miracles we will experience in our lives. I wish the Lord's Spirit of Truth and Revelation to enlighten us all.