How To Lead An Intercessory Prayer Group

An Intercessory Prayer Group or Prayer Team is any group of believers in your church who prays together for a particular matter. The issues they pray for could include anything under the sun. A prayer team does not necessarily have to be a formal ministry department, though some or most churches make it one. In those churches without prayer teams as a formal ministry, it simply consists of believers who have the heart to pray.

Father in heaven, open our eyes to the importance of prayer, the power of the prayer team’s prayers, and their impact. Just as other ministries are essential, remind us how important intercessory prayers are. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What Does An Intercessory Prayer Group Do?

A prayer team or intercessory prayer group is a group of believers who gather to pray together. What they do is not just gathering and praying together, like a devotional: their prayers are specifically for intercession. In layman’s terms, intercession means intervening regarding a particular matter through prayer. For example, perhaps the state government is about to pass a law to further allow and even encourage abortion. Intercessory prayer groups could intervene/intercede on that matter by praying that the bill shall be abolished, that the people who have the authority to approve and enact the law reject it, and that the fear of God and the common sense of morality shall be present, along with any other prayer point that addresses the matter.

We do not intercede only for Christian matters but also for underground churches in dangerous countries, for ministers doing the work of God, church ministry initiatives, the spiritual well-being of the congregation, etc. We should also intercede on matters outside the church. In (I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.1 Timothy 2:1-4), it is written that we are to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving for all people. That includes people in the government, Hollywood, tech, healthcare, and every walk and sector of life and society.

Do intercessory prayer groups make an impact? They do! One may wonder if a group of 8 believers gathered together to pray regarding significant matters happening in the world or even the universal church could actually make a difference. However, the Bible tells us in (Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16) that the prayers of the righteous, those who are in Christ, have great power and are effective. God has ordained our prayers so that He can bring about His will. Certain things can only happen if we pray, though that does not mean that God’s sovereignty is limited. We sometimes do not have something because we do not ask for it (Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:2). We must pray because we bring about God’s will through prayer.

 

In the end, as intercessory prayer groups pray, their ultimate prayer is for the world to know Christ. We can pray many things to hinder the evil things that are prospering in the world right now, advance the ministry of churches, or for their spiritual well-being. However, it is pointless without Christ and the Gospel, in which all things are centered. Therefore, all intercessory prayers should point to Christ. For Christ should be known to the unbelievers and always be the center of life for Christians.

How To Lead An Intercessory Prayer Group?

If you are leading an intercessory prayer group and there is something that you as a team have to pray for, the first thing to do is settle on what you will pray for. For example, when an ungodly bill is about to be passed as a law, what prayer points can you pray as a group as you intercede in the situation? That is one of the things you can settle first.

The next is something you can do more flexibly. You can set a time and place where you will gather together to pray and intercede, or if the matter is urgent, for example, if you know of a fellow missionary who was just imprisoned, you may utilize technology, like group chats, where all the intercessory prayer group members can be present and send the prayer points for them to pray right away. Of course, it must be clear to the group that whatever prayer points are given there should be handled with discretion and have the integrity and commitment to pray for them.

The key here is to prepare and disseminate the prayer points so that the prayer group can intercede properly for the matter.

Heavenly Father, I come before Your throne of grace to ask for the grace and mercy I need to be a wise leader for our intercessory prayer group. Give me understanding and wisdom so that I may administrate things better. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Intercessory prayer is not a boring ministry. You are involved in the matters of the world, and what happens in the world is impacted by your prayers. Regardless of the results of interceding as a group, our comfort is that God remains sovereign no matter what happens, and His reign is never disrupted.