Season of prayer

God is calling the church to a season of prayer intercession.  Indeed, nothing of spiritual import can be accomplished without prayer.  There's a stanza in a poem on prayer that goes like this:
"There's no weapon half as mighty
  as the intercessor's bear
  nor a broader field of service
  than the ministry of prayer"

Prayer is certainly a weapon of warfare which touches both heaven and earth.  Jesus told his disciples, "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19 (NKJV).  The keys of the kingdom have been given to us through the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 14:14).  We cannot possibly bind the forces of darkness because they are spirits; only God can do that on our behalf.  When our prayers ascend to heaven from earth it would be acted on by Christ.  However, we have to ensure that we do not ask amiss and are abiding in Christ (Ja 4:3; Jn 15:16).  Not all prayers uttered in the name of Christ would be answered in the affirmative.  It is our personal relationship with God that matters (Ac 19:13-16).


In heaven, Jesus is our great High Priest who always lives to make intercession on behalf of the saints who draw nigh to Him (Heb 7:25).  He is also the Lamb of God who offered His blood on the altar of sacrifice in heaven to atone the sins of people who would come to Him in faith.  Notice firstly that Christ is very much alive and not dead.  Secondly, He is engaged in an activity which many may find boring on earth, that is, praying. He prays on behalf of those who draw near to God.  This should cause us to pray more.  When we cry out to God for grace and mercy on earth, Christ takes them and intercedes on our behalf in heaven.   God the Father sees the blood of Christ (not us who are sinful) and acts on the intercession of His Son.  


Prayer is hard work and knows no boundaries.   We can pray for the needs of people half way around the world or we can pray for as many people as possible within a short time.  Such is the extensiveness of prayer, where it's impact and influence can be the whole earth.  Paul says that even though he is being chained, the word of God is not bound (2 Tim 2:9).  Likewise, genuine prayers that are uttered in prison or in the most horrid places of the earth would make it into the intercession throne room of heaven.  We don't even have to utter a sound; prayers from the heart would do (1 Sam 1:13-17).  Alternatively, we can pray in tongues, the language given by the Holy Spirit, who aids us in our intercession on earth (Rom 8:26).


Keep on praying - whether individually or corporately.  As you draw near to God, He will draw near to you.  That's His wonderful promise to all of us (Ja 4:8) and nothing is too difficult for Him (Jer 32:17).