Thoughts for Life: #26 Discovering Your Gift of Intercession

C. Peter Wagner shares with us that "Many at this point will be asking, 'I wonder if I might have the gift of intercession?'

If you do have it, remember that it is only because God has graciously chosen to give it to you.

It is not one of those skills such as ballet dancing or playing baseball that you acquire through hard work and persistence. (Google image, Praying with children)

Since God gives the gift, your responsibility is to discover whether or not you have it.

The process of discovering whether you have the gift of intercession is the same as any of the 26 other spiritual gifts.

I have elaborated on this in some detail in my book Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow (Regal Books), so I will only summarize the process here.

Here are five steps you need to take to see if you have this or any other gift.

1- Explore the Possibilities. At this point you need to know that the gift of intercession is one of the spiritual gifts God distributes to the Body of Christ.

All Christians must fulfill their role as intercessor, but some have a gift and ministry far above the ordinary.

2- Experiment with the Gift. Try intercession as much and in as many ways as you possibly can. This experimentation should be long-term and undertaken in a serious way.

Ask God to show you through the process whether you have the gift or whether you do not.

If your gift is not intercession, move on and discover what your gift or gifts are. And still be faithful pray-er."

Today’s post -#26 Discovering Your Gift of Intercession, (my original posting) in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines. (pgs. 56, 57) By Regal Books

Let's pray-

Father, some of us have wondered if we might have the gift of intercession. We know that only You give this gift, and it's not one we can learn from our skills acquire through hard work and persistence.

We find that asYou give this gift, it's our responsibility to discover whether or not we have it. Discovering whether we have the gift of intercession is the same as any of the other 26 spiritual gifts.

All Christians must fulfill their role as intercessors, but some have the gift and ministry far above the ordinary. It is one of the spiritual gifts You distribute to the Body of Christ.

We are encouraged to try interceeding as much and in as many ways that we can. This experiment should be long-term and undertaken in a serious way.

We're asking You to show us through the process of interceeding, whether we have the gift, or whether we do not. If it is not, help us move on and discover what our gift or gifts are, and still be faithful pray-ers.

We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus! Amen.

686-690 one-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

686- Ps. 119:15 "I will meditate in thy prevepts, and have respect unto thy ways."

687- Ps. 106:6 "We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly."

688- Ecc. 3:2 "A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted."

689- Pro. 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

690- Job 23:14 "For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him."

Quotes for today-

Lisa Buffaloe

"Christ Jesus paid the price for our sins and our failures. His unfailing love, grace, and mercy sets us forever free and forever safe.

If you are in Christ…
you are forgiven.
you are eternally secure and soul-safe.
you are free in Christ.
you are never alone.
you are loved now and forever.
you have access to God.
you have hope forever.
and, you always get a happy ending."

~ Debbie McDaniel- "No matter what we've walked through, or where we find ourselves today, be assured that He is Able. He can turn around every wrong road we've taken, and get us back on course, stronger than before. He can use every failure or defeat, and turn it around for good somehow. Because that's just how He works.

Today's Special guest-

Responding To His Presence

Jean Oathout- Our coming before the Lord with thanksgiving, making a joyful noise to Him for His goodness and mercy, is the beginning of a meaningful and intimate time of responding to His Presence.

Upcoming posts:

5/14- Prayers of Praise

Alvin Vandergriend

21st- Suggestions for Your Prayer Role
Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

28th- Prayers of Petition
Alvin Vandergriend