Last week, I shared a post about going deeper with God. Today, my good friend, Glenda Kimrey, is going to share with you about going deeper with God in intercessory prayer, something she has been studying and going deeper in this past year. I pray you will not only be blessed, but also be encouraged to seek the intimacy with the Lord that will take you deeper in intercession.

Who Do You Say That Jesus Is?

Can you just imagine the talk of the people during the time that Jesus walked on the earth?  “Who is this guy that is casting out devils?”  “What about all those miracles He has performed?”  “Where did He come from?”  “I sure would like to meet Him,” or maybe, “I sure hope He doesn’t come to our town.” 

In Matthew chapter 16, Jesus and His disciples came on the scene at Caesarea Philippi, where apparently everyone had been talking about Him, because Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”  They responded with, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (NKJV).

People today are still trying to figure out who Jesus is.  The people in Caesarea Philippi had, no doubt, never met Jesus, so they were having to go on what they had heard about Him to figure out in their own minds who He was.  So Jesus then said to His disciples, who had been with Him since the beginning of His ministry, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter spoke up and proclaimed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter did not have to think about it or question it.  He KNEW who Jesus was because He had been with Him.  Jesus told Peter that He was blessed because His Father in heaven had REVEALED this to Him.  It was not “flesh and blood” (a person) that he heard it from.  He KNEW who He was for himself. 

We can learn from Peter the importance of knowing the Lord for ourselves, not based on who our pastor says He is, who the Bible teacher says He is, who our friend says He is, or who our parents or grandparents say He is.  When your life is built on the knowing of Who Jesus Christ is, you will be confident that He will take care of everything that concerns you. 

So the question to ask yourself today is, “Who is Jesus to me?”  Is He my Rock on which I stand through every storm of life?  Is He the Rock of my salvation?  Do I trust Him as my Provider, my Healer, my Savior, my Deliverer, my everything?

Authority Through Intimacy

After Peter boldly proclaimed who Jesus is, Jesus spoke metaphorically, and told Peter that on that rock (strength of knowing who He was), He would build His Church, and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. 

A gate is synonymous with power.  It is on the solid foundation (rock) of knowing Jesus Christ as the Son of the living God that His Church is being built.  He is a sure foundation that you can trust, and the gates (power) of Hell will not be able to overcome it.

“Stripping the rulers and authorities of their power, He (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by means of the stake (cross).”

Colossians 2:15, CJB (parentheses added)

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He stripped the devil of all the power he had gained in the garden when Adam disobeyed God.  We regain the authority and power that the enemy has over us through intimacy with Jesus Christ and the revelation of who He is.

A Position with the Father

Jesus went on to tell Peter in Matthew 16:19, “And I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven” (NKJV).  Wow! Through intimacy with Jesus Christ and truly knowing who He is, we are given free access into heaven, into His throne room, a position with God.

“He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:6

In this position with God where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God and pleads (intercedes) on our behalf (Romans 8:34), we join with the Great Intercessor, Jesus Christ, and use the authority that we have as His children.

 “Whatever we bind (forbid) on earth shall be bound (forbidden) in heaven and whatever we loose (allow) on earth shall be loosed (allowed) in heaven.”

Matthew 16:19 (parentheses added)

Intimacy Brings Intercession

Intercession is the highest means of releasing God’s power. There is no other means in God’s kingdom through which He releases His power that is more effective or that He uses more often than intercession. Intercession binds Satan’s power on the earth and looses (releases) the Father’s power in the earth.  

As intimate worshipers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have authority over the principalities and powers and rulers of darkness.  As you position yourself with Christ in the heavenlies, you then have the power and authority to bind the spirits of darkness that are on this earth and loose the spirit of God to rule and reign. 

It is in this intimate place with Christ that spiritual warfare is fought and won, that kingdoms are brought down, and that kingdoms are raised up.  It is there that you take back what the enemy has stolen from you.  The keys to the Kingdom of heaven belong to you, child of God. Take your place.

PRAYER:

“Lord, thank you for the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  I take my seat in heavenly places in Christ Jesus at the right hand of God.  Teach me to use the authority that I have been given by Jesus Christ to bind all the powers of darkness on this earth and loose the spirit of God.  Thank you for the position that I have with you through a personal intimate relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”  

Post written by Glenda Kimrey. You can follow her ministry of intercession on Facebook.

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