Hi readers!
Here’s my step by step guide on how to intercede for people. This post starts out with some background info and then at the bottom I take you through the steps!
Introduction – The Court of Heaven
Intercession involves activity in the Courts of Heaven with God as the judge to set in place some kind of protective order that will not allow the devil a right to interfere, hurt, destroy or touch what belongs to God. (Myles 2019, pp.13-14)
The Court of Heaven is real, we see it in Daniel 7:9-10 [NLT]:
“[9] I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, [10] and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened.”
We know from Revelation 4:4 that there are 24 elders who sit on 24 thrones there:
(Revelation 4:4 NLT) “[4] Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.”
In the Heavenly Court is the throne of God where literal righteouness and justice flows out:
(Psalm 89:14 NLT) “[14] Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.”
The Heavenly Court operates a similar way to human court in that there is an accuser – in heaven this is Satan – and a defendant – in heaven this is always the humans.
Divine Restraint
Before you can operate in your spiritual authority as an intercessor in the Courts of Heaven you need to make sure that you are adhering to whatever Divine Restraint God has set in your life.
What is Divine Restraint? The key to spiritual authority. It is impossible to have authority or retain it without a Restraining Principle. Look at the Garden of Eden.The bible says in Genesis 2:15-17
(Genesis 2:15 NLT) “[15] The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”
Which establishes God as the source of Adam’s authority and the reason for the authority. Adam needed authority in order to manage the Garden of Eden. God however gave him a Restraining Principle:
(Genesis 2:16-17 NLT) “[16] But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden– [17] except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.””
It is the same thing as if you have a maid and you say to the maid “don’t let anybody in the house while I’m at the office”. Think about what you have done to your maid. You have given her authority over anybody who wants access to your house and at the same time restrained her activities at the same time.
Adams authority, like the maid in the story above was rooted in his ability to adhere to the Restraining Principle God put him under. The consequences of violating the Restraining Principle were made clear to Adam in Genesis:
(Genesis 2:17 NLT) “[17] except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.””
In other words, true spiritual authority dies when the Restraining Principle is broken. Before we can enter the Courts of Heaven as an intercessor and start to intercede for people you need to ensure that you are adhering to whatever Restraining Principle God has put you under (Myles 2019, pp.28-30).
We all have one even the Lord King Jesus Christ, the most powerful and revered one to ever walk this earth as a human being had a Restraining Principle on His life it’s in John 5:19 which says:
(John 5:19 NLT) “[19] So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”
The Restraining Principle was that Jesus was only allowed to do what He saw God the Father doing. Unlike Adam, who chose his own will over the will of God and violated his Restraining Principle by eating the forbidden fruit in Genesis, Jesus Christ said in Luke 22:42:
(Luke 22:42 NLT) “[42] “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.””
Adhering to the Restraining Principle of His life and ministry
They say history has a habit of repeating itself – look at how the first Adam wrestled with a serpent in a Garden and the second Adam wrestled with the same serpent in a Garden, over the same issue, thousands of years later…(Myles 2019, pp.36-38)
The Throne of Grace
The same way there are different kinds of courts in human courts there are different courtrooms in the Heavenly Court. One of the most well known of these is the Throne of Grace. This is where we appear when we are overcome with personal sin and weakness but we are advised in Hebrews to approach this court with boldness
(Hebrews 4:16 NLT) “[16] So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
knowing that we will obtain mercy and find grace in our time of need (Myles 2019, p.43).
The 6 Lifestyle Requirements For An Intercessor
1. Put on the mind of Christ
Zechariah 3:5 shows us an example of activities in God’s courts and the requirements God has for people operating within His heavenly courts. In this story Jeshua, a high priest was in the court of heaven on trial:
(Zechariah 3:5 NLT) “[5] Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the LORD stood by.”
The putting on the turban is a prophetic picture of putting on the mind of Christ and God sanctifying your mind. God requires your mind to be in a place where it is usable and attractive to God.
2. Be clothed in righteousness
We also see in this verse that God required Jeshua to have clean clothes.
(Zechariah 3:5 NLT) “[5] Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the LORD stood by.”
This is a metaphor for clean living. Your lifestyle must match the standards of God.
3. Walk in the ways of the Holy Spirit
Zecharia 3:6-7 goes on to say:
(Zechariah 3:6-7 NLT) “[6] Then the angel of the LORD spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, [7] “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.”
This shows that Jeshua was also required to be led by the Holy Spirit in everything he did. (Myles 2019)
4. Observe the covenant of total obedience
We see in v.7:
(Zechariah 3:7 NLT) [7] “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.”
We can interpret this as a direct reference to the importance of obedience in order to operate in the Courts of Heaven.
There is protocol in the Courts of Heaven. We cannot present legal cases before the Courts of Heaven in disobedience, as this puts us under the dominion of Satan. When we live in disobedience we compromise our legal standing and jurisdiction in the Courts of Heaven. Satan then uses our own disobedience, which he would have encouraged us to do, as a legal threshold to resist our petition before God. Basically, you should repent of anything you think you have done and for things you don’t even realise you have done before even attempting to intercede for someone else.
5. Lay down your own life as a living sacrifice
Die to self and make sure you follow God above everything and everyone.
(Revelation 12:11 NLT) “[11] And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.”
and
(Jhn 12:25-26 NLT) [25] Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. [26] Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
Clearly God must come first.
6. Walk in humility
Humility robs Satan of any legal footing to resist our legal authority and standing before the Courts of Heaven. Also the Bible states that God resists the proud in James 4:6. Pride is the quickest way to get the Holy Spirit to resist you. (Myles 2019, pp.54-61).
Case Study Zechariah 3
Background
(Zec 3:1 NLT) [1] Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua.
Jeshua who was a high priest (modern day equivalent would be the Archbishop of Canterbury) was on trial. Jesus (the Angel of the Lord) was his defence attorney, as Jesus is our advocade due to Him dying and raising again. Satan was the prosecution. This is what happens in the heavenly court for real. Satan has actual legal standing for his accusations against us and acuses us day and night before God with irrefutable evidence.
Legal Standing
Even the Supreme Court of the United States of America will not hear a case without standing. If Satan is before the highest court, that is God’s court, he will have already proved standing. In the case of Jeshua, as Jesus and Satan were both in the courtroom they both agreed that there was enough evidence to put Jeshua on trial.
Redeeming Principles From Jesus
The trial starts with Jesus rebuking Satan and lays out 2 redeeming principles as grounds for a verdict favouring Jeshua.
- Jesus appeals to God the Father to consider His predetermined purposes for Isreal and Jeshua as a high priest when He says:
The Lord chose Jerusalem
- Jesus used His status as our kinsman redeemer (an ancient tradition where a family member who was more well off was able to redeem something for another family member who was less fortunate). This was an appeal to the mercy of God the Father through Jesus.
Satans Evidence
(Zec 3:3-4 NLT) [3] Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. [4] So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”
- Satan presented evidence of Jeshua’s dirty clothes, which represented unclean living or self-righteous living, however Jesus said take away the dirty clothes. This is made possible today by the death and resurrection of Jesus. At the Crucifixtion took our sin upon Himself and the punishment for that sin as well. In exchange, we get to identify to God the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus as someone whose debt is already paid and the sin and judgement, Jesus had already taken away.
- Things family have done was also evidence presented against Jeshua that was what “iniquity” means but Jesus not only replaces the old clothes (sin/lifestyle) with clean clothes (a good lifestyle) but removes the charge against Jeshua’s bloodline.
- A dirty mind and other unhelpful mindsets was another piece of evidence Satan brought against Jeshua in Zecharia 3:5:
(Zec 3:5 NLT) [5] Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the LORD stood by.
However, Jesus removed this, with the instruction of the placing of the clean turban. This is possible through salvation.
- Not walking in the ways of God was evidence Zec 3:6-7:
(Zec 3:6-7 NLT) [6] Then the angel of the LORD spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, [7] “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.
- Jeshua was clearly making up things as he went along and Satan knows that God does not anoint our agenda. Only His perfect will. This verse also shows that not living according to the commandments of God (the Word of God or the Bible) was used as evidence against Jeshua. However, through Salvation and inviting the Holy Spirit into ones life and living in Covenant with God, according to the Word of God, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, this was addressed.
By the end of the trial not only did Jesus got Jeshua through salvation (modern day equivalent of this is the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus), clean living, obedience to the Word of God and a holy mind. Jesus also made Joshua a judge in the courts of heaven Zechariah 3:7. Judges were people like Samuel see the book of Judges.
Please note that Jesus had words with Jeshua about his lifestyle. This is important because without the lifestyle you do not get the standing with God in the Heavenly Courts. Jeshua’s standing, as someone able to operate in the Courts of Heaven was dependent upon his ability to fulfil the requirements of his position (Myles 2019, pp.69-78).
Ok got all that? Now here’s my step by step guide for an intercession session in the Holy of Holies, the Heavenly Courts!
aaand now for the step-by-step guide!
Step-By-Step Guide On How To Intercede For People
- Make time and find somewhere quiet and private, you can have another person(s) praying with you as well!
- REPENT
- Worship
- Ask the Holy Spirit to take you into the Holy of Holies
- Be still and reverent for a moment
- Ask the court to be seated – Daniel 7:10
- Boldly but respectfully present your precedent for approaching God, I have written out this part for you: (use I or We as appropriate).
Father God please remember what Jesus did on the cross:
(John 10:10-11 NLT) “[10] The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. [11] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
Jesus came to earth and died and You rose Him again so that I/we could be sanctified and atoned to You Father God, so the veil between us and You was torn and I/we could come to You direct through what Jesus did:
(John 3:16-18 NLT) “[16] “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. [18] “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”
I believe in Jesus and that through his death and resurrection my sins are forgiven and I am atoned to you Father God as it says in…
(Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT) “[14] So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. [15] This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. [16] So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
It also says in…
(Ephesians 2:17-18 NLT) “[17] He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. [18] Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.”
Therefore according to the Word of God in (Romans 11:17 NLT), as a Gentile (someone who is not a Jew) I have been
… grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.”
(for the women) – This makes my identity in Christ according to (Song of Songs 7:1 NLT)…
…A queenly maiden.
(for everyone) This makes my identity in Christ part of a…
(1 Peter 2:9 NLT) …a chosen people…royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession….
Therefore, in the name of Jesus Christ, Father God I come boldly before Your throne, justified by Faith in Jesus Christ and the sacrifice that Jesus made to atone me to Yourself, (women only) a Queenly maiden (everyone) of Your Royal priesthood by Jesus’ sacrifice, a Gentile grafted in to Abraham’s family and therefore heir to the promises given to Abraham and Your very own possession, asking You to hear my case as You said in…
Isaiah 43:26 NLT Let us review the situation together, and you can present your case to prove your innocence”
…and furthermore in…
Isaiah 1:18 NLT “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.
I/We can come before you and present our case for you to hear and rule on.”
- Beg for mercy for the individual and present the issue concerning the other person which usually revolves around the following:
- Need to protect territory
- Restrain ungodly and damaging behaviour
- Stop enemies of the Gospel
- Stop the work of Satan in that persons life
- Stop premature death
- Stop a devastating act of nature
- Stop good people from sinning
- Preserve God’s destiny on a persons life
- Stop sexual preditation (Myles 2019, pp.124-136)
- Don’t stop till the Holy Spirit tells you, wait for the Holy Spirit to give you a feeling that you are done then stop.
- Thank God for listening I have written this out for you:Thank you Father God for listening and hearing my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
- Continue to pray about the situation when you feel you should
- Live a holy life so you satisfy the requirements to enter into the Courts of Heaven. These requirements includes the following:
Offer sacrifices at the alter the sacrifice must be a “…broken Spirit…”
(Psalm 51:16-17 NLT) “[16] You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. [17] The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”
A holy atmosphere must come into your house/life/workplace through you that will counteract the evil taking place around you, when you do that God will accept you and His Spirit will inhabit your life. This is only achieved through obedience to God’s Word:
(Ezekiel 43:22-27 NLT) “[22] “On the second day, sacrifice as a sin offering a young male goat that has no physical defects. Then cleanse and make atonement for the altar again, just as you did with the young bull. [23] When you have finished the cleansing ceremony, offer another young bull that has no defects and a perfect ram from the flock. [24] You are to present them to the LORD, and the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering to the LORD. [25] “Every day for seven days a male goat, a young bull, and a ram from the flock will be sacrificed as a sin offering. None of these animals may have physical defects of any kind. [26] Do this each day for seven days to cleanse and make atonement for the altar, thus setting it apart for holy use. [27] On the eighth day, and on each day afterward, the priests will sacrifice on the altar the burnt offerings and peace offerings of the people. Then I will accept you. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!””
This is also achieved by accepting, proclaiming and teaching the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross:
(John 17:15-20 NLT) “[15] I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. [16] They do not belong to this world any more than I do. [17] Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. [18] Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. [19] And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. [20] “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.”
Loving one another:
(1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 NLT) “[12] And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. [13] May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.”
Respecting those in leadership over you and encourage one another:
(1 Thessalonians 5:12-26 NLT) “[12] Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. [13] Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. [14] Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. [15] See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. [16] Always be joyful. [17] Never stop praying. [18] Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. [19] Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. [20] Do not scoff at prophecies, [21] but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. [22] Stay away from every kind of evil. [23] Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. [24] God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. [25] Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. [26] Greet all the brothers and sisters with Christian love.”
Obedience to God, doing good to others, proclaiming, teaching and accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and obedience and respect of spiritual leaders (officers of the church, e.g. pastor, deacon etc):
(Hebrews 13:11-17 NLT) “[11] Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. [12] So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. [13] So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. [14] For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. [15] Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. [16] And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. [17] Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.”
Ooook happy interceding!
xxx
Bibliography
Myles, F. 2019. Issuing Divine Restraining Orders from the Courts of Heaven. Courts of Heaven Series. Destiny Image Publishers Inc USA
