The ministers water down their messages to meet their personal agenda. How many ministers have stood before their congregation and told them that God is not concerned about their sins as long as they give their tithes?

I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. – (Ezekiel: 22:30)

Welcome to the month of Intercession. I am trusting that God will give you enablement to intercede this month because we are all products of intercession. I remember Reinhard Bonke sharing with us in 1989 in Warri, Delta State Nigeria, during his Fire conference a story about intercession. He told us how he went to Zimbabwe for a crusade and how the stadium was filled to capacity with about 150,000 people. He said even though he normally sends an advance prayer team, he was convinced that what he was witnessing was beyond that team's prayer! He now narrated how his assistant read one of the books of Mongo Park. And where Mongo Park said ‘we came here we interceded and we have no converts, but we are confident in one hundred years to come this land will come to the knowledge of God.’ In other words the intercession of the likes of Mongo Park hundred years before Reinhard Bonke was instrumental to not just people coming for the crusade but many people who gave their lives to Christ.

With terrible happenings worldwide; Ebola virus killing thousands in West Africa, militant terrorists beheading people, National leaders devising all manner of ways to loot their nations, uprising of men and women targeting Christians in some nations and forcing them to convert to their believes against their wishes, young men and women now thoroughly confused with the issue of marriage, young men and women finding every reason not to go to church and embracing eastern religion and New age movement, senseless shooting, unimaginable corruption in and out of government circles, many people going to hell without knowing Jesus and the church seems to be hiding like Gideon or sleeping like the disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane. It is time for us to go back to the basics - intercession.

What is intercession? Why should we intercede? For whom do we intercede and how do we intercede? These are the areas I want us to look at so that we can intercede again with accuracy and have results. It is a common saying that if there are people to pray there is a God to answer. I believe if there is someone to intercede there is God to answer, as a matter of fact God says he is looking for intercessors: I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one (Ezekiel 22:30). It is a long time God has been searching; let Him find you this month.

What is Intercession? Intercession is prayer that pleads with God for your needs and the needs of others. But it is also much more than that. Intercession involves taking hold of God's will and refusing to let go until His will comes to pass. Intercession is warfare not welfare, the key to God's battle plan for our lives. But the battleground is beyond the physical. The Bible says, "We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and spiritual powers in the heavens above" (Eph. 6:12). Intercessory prayer takes place in this spiritual world where the battles for our own lives, families, friends and our nation are won or lost. Intercession according to Isaiah “They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago.

They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations.” Isaiah 61:4 Intercessions is simply standing in the gap for someone. Everyone who has done anything to assist a newborn baby has stood in the gap. Whether you fed the baby or changed the diapers. When you went shopping for an old person, you stood in the gap and closed it. When you stood or knelt before God in prayer for someone else, you were standing in the gap. You were fulfilling a need for someone who may have been unable to fulfill it themselves. Standing in the gap is our duty, our calling as Christians. God is looking for those who are willing to stand for those who cannot stand for themselves – are you willing? Intercession is a form of petition It is petitioning God in the place of another person (see Ezekiel 22:30, 13:5; Psalm 106:23. Intercession often is the difference between life and death, war and peace, healing or sickness, success or failure, the saved and unsaved, the breakdown and the breakthrough, good governance or bad leadership.

Why must we intercede? Intercession may be the ultimate ministry in God's plan of salvation. Jesus forever lives to make intercession for us (Heb 7:25). He lived a simple life in Nazareth for thirty years and had a public ministry for three years. And now He has been interceding for us for almost two thousand years. That may tell us something of the inestimable importance of intercession. People are going to hell every second! We are commanded to intercede. “The harvest is plenty pray ye the Lord of the harvest to bring labourers.” Lk 10:2 We are in terrible times. The devil is raging, not just raging the devil is rampaging! It is in our times you see nations through judiciary redefining marriage. It is in our times you see high powered prime ministers and presidents born of women using their positions to advocate and promote everything that is against nature. (Rom 1:24-32). It is in our times you see the governor of central bank becoming a whistle blower and instead of listening to him and finding out lost money, governments take pride in sacking him. It is in our times that ISIS is beheading people anyhow . It is in our times that Boko Haram is kidnapping our girls and selling them off for cheap marriage. It is in our times that even the ministers have compromised their positions as described by Ezekiel in the time of old “Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the clean and unclean; and they hide their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”Ezekiel 22:26. Let me explain to you what God is saying about His prophets, His priests and His ministers.

The ministers deceive and lie and thus mislead the people. The ministers water down their messages to meet their personal agenda. How many ministers have stood before their congregation and told them that God is not concerned about their sins as long as they give their tithes? How many ministers have stated to their congregation that “life-style” choices are acceptable to God because we must be a people that accept everyone and everything? Today the church is polarized Instead of the church raising disciples and proclaiming Jesus with power and integrity they are busy raising millionaires. Today Christians do not value Sundays any more, it is just another day. So it is okay to skip Church to go to the football game or watch soccer on smart phone and large screens. It is okay to skip Church and sleep in. The word profane means “show disrespect or contempt for sacred things; to treat with irreverence or contempt.” This is how “God’s representatives”, the ministers, are treating Him. Can you imagine a society where those who represent God treat Him with contempt? We are living in one. That is why there is a need for intercession for the church of God and his servants. Who can intercede? You the reader! If you are born again, you are God's son or daughter (John 1:12). As His child, you have a direct "hotline" to God. At any time, you can boldly come into His presence (Heb. 4:16)

This incredible access to God is the basis for intercession. Once you are in God's presence, you can now discover His battle plan for the situation you are facing. And you can be an advocate and petition heaven for your people and nation. “And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”Jer 29:7 NLT Who should we intercede for? For all men who are not saved.

We held the International Gathering of Eagle’s conference in some Asia countries from the first of October to the 24th Specifically we were in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. My experience is like that of Paul in Athens - billions of people serving the unknown God, (Acts 17:16-34) worshiping cows, monkeys and over 3 million gods. On a particular occasion, I saw about ten men close to Salem in Tamil Nadu state carrying a statue. I asked my host ‘What is the meaning of this?’ he told me ‘That is their god.’ Psalm 115 says they have gods that cannot talk, see, and walk. How can you be carrying your gods on your heads! Intercede for 1.2 billion people in India, 250 million in Indonesia, 1.4 billion in China, 750 million in Africa, 42.5 million in Europe, and 528.4 million people in North America! Intercede for leaders - ‘For all men, kings, and those in authority,’ Intercede for the government of your nation, state, county, The Parliamentarians, The Congress, Senate, Members of the House of assembly, Local Government Chairmen, The Judiciary, pray for them to legislate well, to rule with the fear of God, not to be corrupt, not just to serve their terms but to serve their people! Intercede for ‘them that despitefully use you (your enemies).’Intercede for ‘the peace of Jerusalem,’ Intercede for - laborers are needed for the harvest. Intercede that ‘you enter not into temptation’ that you will end well. Intercede for all the saints, The sick, The orphans, The motherless, The fatherless, destitute, One for another (bearing each other’s burdens). Intercede for your unsaved family members. I believe it was the result of intercession for a brother who had a dinner party for me in Sri Lanka on my birthday when his sister in-law and her two daughters gave their lives to Christ when they saw the power of God manifested! It must have been intercession that helped us to lead two taxi drivers and two street girls to Christ in the streets of Singapore!

Intercede for the Pastors, Ministers, GOs, Bishops, Prophets, Evangelists and Teachers that they will lead the church and their congregation well, in righteousness, holiness and integrity. We are tired of hearing of pastors sleeping around and divorcing or being engaged in unwholesome activities. Pray for your church members that are week in faith. Pray for young and old converts we have too many liabilities on the church pews, pray that they will mature and fulfill God’s commission Intercede for your daily needs, Jesus said ‘give us this day our daily bread’ You do not need to be a fraudster, or a yahoo boy or a public fund embezzler. Intercede for your spouse instead of abuse and divorce! Stand in the gap for your children, no matter what they are going through and their poor choices. I tell people I am a product of parental intercession. When growing up I was rascally, my parents would say in anger ‘Dele- yio dara fun e bi moti nwo e yen’ (meaning Dele it will be well with you the way I am looking at you!) Intercede for ‘unity in the Body of Christ.’ Intercede for those that are persecuted for their faith in Christ around the world.

How do we intercede? Intercessory prayer is a serious matter. And just like soldiers who are preparing for battle, we cannot take on the enemy if we leave our weapons behind. That's why we must go into "battle" armed for spiritual conflict (2 Cor. 10:3, 4). Plead the blood of Jesus on yourself. You don’t go to intercession casually otherwise you will be a casualty. No soldier goes to war dressed like a civilian. Fortify yourself, particularly if you will be dealing with national matters and territorial strong holds. Put on "all the armor God gives" (Eph. 6) so that you will be ready to fight with God's weapons. Recognize that Jesus is in control of the situation. Jesus "rules over forces, authorities, powers, and rulers ... over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well" (Eph. 1:21). Prayer is to be made to God. Pray with Faith.Quality rather than quantity is stressed. Be specific. There is what is called informed intercession. Pray with intensity. Prayer is not successful because of “much speaking” Empty repetition is forbidden, but earnest repetition is not. Pray with understanding (in a known tongue) and in an unknown tongue. Pray in the Spirit in tongues. Intercede according to the will of God. Pray in secret. Pray always. Pray continually without ceasing. PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens.) Intercede to the Father in the name of Jesus. Pray with a watchful attitude: Pray using the example of the model prayer in Matthew 6:9-l3.Pray with a forgiving spirit. Pray with humility. Sometimes accompany prayer with fasting. Intercede fervently. Pray with submission to God. Use the strategies of binding and loosing in prayer. Pray strategically. Pray prophetically. Pray like a man with authority not as a beggar.

Friends let us go back to intercession. Nigeria will be going for general elections in 2015, it is time to intercede for that nation that God will give us leaders that will develop our nation, so that we shall no more be a laughing stock amongst the comity of nations.

Pastor Amos Dada is the District superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church Bethel Toronto and Convener of The International Gathering of Eagle’s conferences around the world.