40 Day Stand - Week 4
Stand in Blessing & Intercession
Day 22-28 (Sunday June 13 to Saturday June 19) Kingdom Reflection:
Our goal for this fourth week in our 40 day fast will be to stand in blessing and intercession. This is a beautiful theme as it reflects the calling of believers as priests of God. (1 Peter 2:9). We have the great privilege and responsibility of representing God’s heart and intention toward people. Blessing and intercession are ministry works of the priesthood. When we are blessed by God as his priests, it is with the intent that we will be a blessing to others. Author Dallas Willard wrote this about blessing others: “Blessing is the projection of good into the life of another. It isn’t just words. It’s the actual putting forth of your will for the good of another person. It always involves God, because when you will the good of another person, you realize only God is capable of bringing that.” As you contemplate what it means to bless others this week, understand that it be expressed in words, actions and even intentions toward others.
Where does intercession come in? We know that there is often a gap between God’s good intentions and the realities that people face. Intercession happens when we pray and partner with God in eliminating the separation between the two. This desire begins with God as he searches for people who will understand his heart and will respond in intercession. We see this in Ezekiel 22:30. It says “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for [the sake of] the land, that I would not destroy it, but I found no one [not even one].” As intercessors, we have the tremendous privilege of responding to God’s plea for good on behalf of this world. Similar to blessing, intercession is a comprehensive and powerful priestly act. It involves our will, our words, and our works. We believe for God’s perfect intentions for a person or in a situation, we boldly speak those things into being, and then we work toward seeing those things realized and accomplished. Now beginning this week of prayer and fasting, do your best to set your heart toward blessing others. Also consider how God is calling you to stand in the gap for those in situations that do not reflect God’s intention.
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Scriptures for Meditation & Prayer
After reading each scripture, practice praying its primary theme and focus. Suggestions are included after each one.
Number 6.23-27 NIV
23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
The revelation of who God is and his good intentions toward people are often missed and misunderstood. Pray this as a prayer over your family, church, and community. Pray for God’s grace and peace to flood over this world.
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Ephesians 1:3-14 NIV
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship [c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s posses- sion—to the praise of his glory.
Read this scripture and then write out the many blessings God has blessed you with in Christ.
Which of the truths that you have written stand out to you the most?
Pray a prayer of thanksgiving and declare those blessings over your life and the body of Christ, thanking God for his wonderful gifts.
Ask the Holy Spirit if there is someone God is asking you to share this verse with or pray these blessings over?
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James 5:14-16 AMPC
14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders (the spiritual guides). And they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord’s name. 15 And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
Our prayers are far more powerful than we imagine. Is there someone God is asking you to intercede for? Pray for the healing power of God to raise up those who are suffering with illness.
Pray for the entire body of Christ to grow in humility and to realize their need for God and one another. Is there a sin or fault God is asking you to confess so that you might find greater freedom in Him?
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Exodus 17:9-12 NIV
9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
Consider how prayer helps others who are in a battle. Pray for the leaders of your community to overcome the various battles they may be facing.
When we intercede we may grow tired and need the support of others. Moses had others to hold up his hands as he interceded. Is God calling you to hold up the hands of a leader? Who can you be an Aaron or Hur to? Do you have an Aaron or a Hur in your life? If you’re, then then ask God to reveal that person to you.
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Ezekiel 22:30 AMP
I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for [the sake of] the land, that I would not destroy it, but I found no one [not even one].
When God reveals an action of judgment that he is about to take, the call of intercession is to pray that he doesn’t have to make that decision. Stand in the gap for Canada and bring our various leaders and people before His throne of grace.
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Genesis 18:16-33 NIV
16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.[c] 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. [d] 23 Then Abraham ap- proached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[e] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” 29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” 33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
How does this scripture reflect God training Abraham in intercession?
What does it speak to you about the power of prayer and standing in the gap for the sake of others?
Pray as the Holy Spirit leads you in regard to your community and nation.
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1 Timothy 2:1-6 NIV
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
Pray as the scripture and the Holy Spirit leads you.
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Additional Scriptures & Personal Prayer
Psalm 134:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, and Colossians 1.9-14
In closing, pray anything else that is on your heart. If you choose, you can record your reflections from the Word and the Holy Spirit in a prayer journal.
Consider inviting others to pray with you in online formats such as zoom.
Share this prayer and fasting initiative with other believers so they join you in taking a stand.