Intercessory Prayers!

In his own words, Amos was no prophet, nor was he a son of a prophet, but was a sheep breeder and a tender of sycamore fruit (Amos 7:14).  He was from Tekoa, a small town in Judah, the southern kingdom.  But God chose Amos to deliver His warning messages to the northern kingdom and the surrounding nations.  Amos went to Bethel from Tekoa, delivered his message, and returned to his business!  The Lord showed Amos some visions of His impending judgment in the event Israel did not heed His warnings, repent and return to Him.  What is amazing about Amos is his intercessory prayer.  Amos not only delivered God's message to the people but also interceded for them.  The Lord showed Amos that He would send locust swarms to devastate the crops to punish Israel.  Immediately Amos prayed, "O Lord GOD, forgive, I pray!  Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small.”  (Amos 7:2).  The Bible says the Lord relented.  Again God showed Amos a vision of fire of destruction, and Amos prayed, "O Lord GOD, cease, I pray!  Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!" So the LORD relented. (Amos 7:5-6).  

The intercessory prayer of Amos was very effective!  As children of God, we are not only called to bring warnings and teachings from the Word of God to the people around but also to intercede for them.  Praying for the whole world is possible only in a general way.  But we can intercede with a burdened heart for those we are in touch with.  When we commit ourselves to intercessory prayer, the Lord brings people who need our prayer.  And the greatest encouragement is God answers our prayers and works miracles in their lives!  The Bible says, "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months" (James 5:17).  That is the confidence with which we can approach the Lord's throne of grace!  There are many living testimonies of answered prayers!  God wants us to be such prayer warriors!

My friend, you may think you cannot speak or go to a mission field.  The challenge God gives us today is that we can be prayer warriors wherever we may be.  When we pray for others, God will bless us also, for the Bible says in Job 42:10, "And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends."

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