The Place of Intercession in the Healing of the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Intercession is not a one off event. It is an ongoing activity that you continue doing until the will of God is established (Isaiah Chapter 62 verses 6 to 9).

The basis of intercession is the word of God therefore every intercessor must know and understand the word of God and desire that the word of God takes root in the hearts of people so that their lives are transformed to Christ-likeness. Intercessors respond to situations according to the Word of God – God heals all diseases so they pray for healing. Jesus is the savior so they pray for people to be receptive to and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, pray for Christians to mature in Christ Jesus.

Intercession is a work of the Holy Spirit therefore no one can lay claim to being an intercessor. This is because intercession is the work of the Holy Spirit and because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ (Romans Chapter 8 verse 9), intercession is an ongoing work by both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Please see Romans Chapter 8 verses 34, 26 to 27, Hebrews Chapter 7 verse 25, and Isaiah Chapter 59 verse 19. He is the one who lifts a standard and that explains why intercessors have to keep asking God for mercy because only Christ who died for the redemption of man can actually condemn (Romans Chapter 8 verse 34a and if Christ who paid the supreme price for the redemption of man through the shameful death on the cross is always interceding and not condemning, we have absolutely no right to judge and condemn.  Rather, we should request grace from God to intercede because God wants all people to come to repentance and life in Christ Jesus. Please see Matthew Chapter 18 verses 11 to 14, 2^nd Peter Chapter 3 verse 9, 1^st Timothy Chapter 2 verses 1 to 6, James Chapter 5 verses 19 to 20, Jude 22 to 23, 1^st John Chapter 5 verses 10 to 21.

Intercession should not be made for sin leading to death (2^nd Timothy Chapter 4 verses 14 to 15, 1^st Thessalonians Chapter 4 verse 8, Romans Chapter 8 verses 1 to 32, 2^nd Thessalonians Chapter 2 verses 1 to 12, Hebrews Chapter 6 verses 1 to 8 and 2^nd Peter Chapter 2 verses 1 to 25.

The Place of Fasting and Prayer in the Healing of the Nations 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

King Hezekiah also fasted when Sennecherib threatened the destruction of Jerusalem (Isaiah Chapters 36 verses 21 to 22, 37 verses 1 to 21). God responded to the cries of His people for deliverance and dealt hard blows to Sennecherib and his army (Isaiah Chapter 37 verses 35 to 38).

King Jehoshaphat also proclaimed a national fast to ask help from God when Moab, Ammon and the inhabitants of Mount Seir allied themselves against Judah. As usual and this is quite instructive, God always responds to the cries of His people to Him. God responded and instructed the Judeans to march to the battle front but not with spears and swords or bows but with instruments of praise to offer quality praise to God. As they praised God, the three enemy nations turned against each other; first Moab and Ammon against Mount Seir and thereafter Moab and Ammon against each other. The Bible records that not one of them escaped and when they were done slaughtering each other, the Judeans took three days in carting off the loot the enemy nations left behind (2^nd Chronicles Chapter 20).

Ezra the teaching priest proclaimed two different fasts and prayers. The first was to seek divine direction, favor and protection as they journeyed from Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and Jerusalem (Ezra Chapter 8 verses 21 to 23). God answered their prayers. The second fast and prayer was in repentance for violation of the commandments of God concerning marriage to the people God instructed Israel not to intermarry with. Particularly dreadful was the fact that the leadership, especially some of the Levites were the worst offenders. Immediately Ezra commenced fasting and praying for repentance (Ezra Chapters 9 and 10). The men guilty of this trespass repented and the nation was forgiven, healed and restored.

The Place of Fasting and Prayer in the Healing of the Nations 1

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Fasting and prayer are major components of healing the nations. Fasting and prayer should always be accompanied with genuine repentance.

The prophet Jonah was asked by God to deliver a judgmental prophecy of God’s intended destruction of Nineveh on account of their wickedness. Initially, Jonah disobeyed God but as Jonah obeyed God and proclaimed the message, the people of Nineveh were convicted of sin, turned to God in repentance through fasting and prayers for forgiveness of sins. The Bible   records that God pitied them and relented. It is significant to note that it was not the mere act of fasting that made God pardon them. It was the state of their hearts – they turned from their evil ways. Additionally, they humbled themselves through the fast. That explains why the Bible instructs believers not to rend their garments but their hearts and return to the Lord. This was exactly what the people of Nineveh did. Please see Joel Chapters 2 verses 12 to 13, 1 verse 14 as well as Jonah Chapter 3 verses 5 to 10.

It is also instructive to note that this was what Daniel did. Daniel accompanied his intercession for the restoration of Israel with prayer and fasting. Please see Daniel Chapter 9 verses 1 to 3. Nehemiah also fasted and prayed when he learnt about what had befallen Jerusalem – the distressing state of the survivors coupled with the broken down walls and burnt gates (Nehemiah Chapter 1 verses 1 to 4). The Old Testament prophet Samuel also led the people of Israel fasting and prayer as they returned to the Lord after practicing idolatry. Please see 1^st Samuel Chapter 7 verses 1 to 17. Quite instructive is the fact that as they fasted and prayed, the Philistines attacked them but God gave them overwhelming victory.

The Role of Prayer Cells in the Healing of the Nations

                                                Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

 Mary the mother of John Mark remains a woman of unrivaled beauty to me. Why, you may ask? She made available her home a place of prayer. Please see Acts Chapter 12. Many women whether believers or unbelievers make available their homes for unprofitable time wasting activities such as gossiping, sexual immorality as in the case of Potiphar’s wife,  centers of cannibalism as in the case of the foolish woman who agreed to kill her son for food and later regretted it because the person who urged her to do so refused to kill her own child; dens for trafficking and other forms of criminal activities.

But Mary used her home for divine purposes. She made it a place where the Church gathered together to intercede for the deliverance of Peter from the hands of untimely death through the evil intent of Herod who had found a new past time in killing the servants of God. God honored the prayers made in this home and Peter was released from the prison by an angel of God.

A prayer meeting can be held in any home that is made available for such a purpose and God will honor the prayers prayed in that home irrespective of the size, grandeur, opulence or insignificance and plainness. What is significant is the desire of the owners of the home to use their home as an altar of prayer to God; the hearts and the willingness of the people to pray. God is faithful and will always be present where two or three are gathered together in His name (Matthew Chapter 18 verse 20).

Thank You

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

This post is to appreciate the contribution of everyone who participated in Healing the Nations Campfire 2016. I am grateful first to God who enabled you to do of His good pleasure and to you all who honored God and prayed through for the healing of the nations. God bless you all and meet you at the point of every need in your life in Jesus mighty name. May He also enlarge your coast and make you as prosperous as you desire in Jesus mighty name.

Beloved, the healing of the nations is not an event; that is to say that it is not a one off activity. It is a continuum – prayers, intercession, prophetic declarations, and activities such as prayer walks, praise and worship sessions, adoration and thanksgiving to God, celebrating the awesome sanctifying, healing and protective presence of God in the people and in the land.

Healing the Nations Campfire is an annual event, a one off prayer activity every year. But the bulk of the work, the real intercession for the healing of the nations is in the daily intercessory meetings for the healing of the nations; the lead up activities such as prayer and fasting, confession of sins, praise and worship, prophetic declarations to the one off annual event. The healing of the nations is therefore a daily activity – constant prayer as exemplified in Acts Chapter 12 where the Church gathered in the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark to pray for the release of Peter.

The Contributions of Exceptional Mothers to the Healing of the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

There are several dimensions to healing the nations. One of them is godly parenting that incorporates the fear of God and respect for other people into the consciousness of the child.

The Mother of King Lemuel Proverbs Chapter 30 verses 1 to 9

Though her name is not mentioned in the Bible, the name of her son, King Lemuel is mentioned, significantly in connection with what his mother taught him (Please see Deuteronomy Chapters 6 verses 6 to 9, 4 verses 5 to 10). The Bible states that King Lemuel’s mother instructed him to practice justice and equity in his domain, to open his mouth for the speechless, that is to speak for those who  had no voice in the society, intervene in cases of people sentenced to death, to plead the cause of the poor and needy.

King Lemuel was instructed by his mother to speak up at all times and judge righteously as a King. This instruction is in keeping with the word of God in Proverbs Chapter 16 verse 12, 20 verse 8, 29 verses 4 and 14.

To rule effectively, and to dispense justice in the land, King Lemuel’s mother cautioned her son not to engage in that which destroys king which she enumerated as – give his strength to women, drink wine or intoxicating drink. She noted that when kings multiply women against the commandments of God (Deuteronomy Chapter 17 verses 14 to 20) and rise to drink wine and intoxicating drink, they forget the law and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. She therefore instructed her son quite early in life not to engage in such destructive activities.

The mother of King Lemuel was an exceptional mother, in point of fact, one of the mothers to be celebrated. She had a godly view and understanding of kingship – to rule in the fear of God and be a blessing to humanity. She is different from the likes of Jezebel and Athalliah who used positions of power for oppression; and for promoting the practice of idolatry in the land.

The Place of Praise in the Healing of the Nations

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Praise unlocks divine blessings. Divine blessings are myriad and diverse. You can unlock divine blessings through praise; I mean quality, genuine and glorious praise of God and to God. The praise to God and for God flows from your heart in appreciation of who God is to God and for God. Such praise is not designed for showmanship that you are the best singer or the one who knows how best to praise God. No. such praise is your acknowledgment of God’s supremacy, sovereignty, Lordship and headship over you, that He is your Creator and you are grateful to Him for who He is. In essence, you celebrate God for who He is and not necessarily for what He did or what He will do for you. You celebrate Him because He is God.

God appreciates such praise and inhabits such praises – meaning that if you always praise God, you will always be filed with the indwelling presence of God. Please see Psalm 22 verse 3.

Praise is also a worthy sacrifice to God (Psalm 50 verse, Jeremiah Chapter 33 verse 11 and Hebrews Chapter 13 verse 15) and if offered from the depths of the heart with genuine and best intent, praise becomes a precious seed (Psalm 126 verses 5 to 6) that always yields bountiful harvests of joy, peace, increase, salvation, deliverance, abundance, protection, celebration, victories and promotions (Psalm 67 verses 1 to 7).

The Place of Restitution in the Healing of the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Sometimes, restitution, the practice of restoring whatever was taken illegally by force of arms, subtlety or deceit is necessary for the healing of the nations, communities, organizations, families and individuals.

In the book of Genesis Chapter 12 verses 14 to 20, the Bible records an interesting story of what transpired between Abraham and Pharaoh. Until Pharaoh restituted Sarah back to Abraham, the lawful and rightful owner of Sarah, the Bible records that God plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because he took Sarah, Abraham’s wife as one of his wives. King Abimelech of Gerar also took on Sarah as one of his wives but God rebuked him and asked him to return Sarah back to Abraham. Thereafter, he and his household were restored. Please see Genesis Chapter 20 for full details of this very instructive story.

The Israelites under King David experienced and suffered famine for three years and when eventually King David went to  inquire of the LORD, God revealed that Israel had transgressed through Saul and his bloodthirsty house who killed the Gibeonites, people whom Israel had sworn protection to under the leadership of Joshua. Please see Joshua Chapter 9 for details of the transaction.

Healing the Nations Through Prophesying 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Bible records that the elders of the Jews built and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built the temple and finished it. Please see Ezra Chapters 5 verses 1 to 2; 6 verse 14, Haggai Chapters 1 and 2, Zechariah Chapter 1 verses 12 to 21, What is pertinent is what Haggai and Zechariah prophesied (the content of their prophecies and the Spirit by whom they prophesied). They prophesied by the Spirit of God; and the words which they spoke by the Holy Spirit were life to the people, the words quickened the people and helped them to prosper in the rebuilding of the temple and the temple was completed despite the severe opposition by the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin.

The forms of opposition include false assistance designed to frustrate the work; discouragement; use of counselors to frustrate the work, accusation and force of arms (Ezra Chapter 4 verses 1 to 23). Eventually the work ceased. But because God had spoken His word and His word does not return unto Him without accomplishing what the word was sent to do (Isaiah Chapter 55 verses 8 to 13), He raised the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to speak hope, strength, confidence and restoration to His people. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah continued prophesying to the people in the name of God and the people were strengthened and encouraged to continue rebuilding the Temple (Ezra Chapter 5). As they spoke, the people rose up and began to build the house of God, hugely supported by King Cyrus whom God had purposed to use (Isaiah Chapters 44 verses 26 to 28, 45 verse 13). The fierce opposition to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem by the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin was quashed by prophesying. Additionally, the Bible records that the completion of the temple brought healing and restoration of dignity, true worship of God as well as restoration of all things to Judah.

Prophesying the Word of God into the situation, the people and the land as evidenced in the valley of dry bones when Ezekiel prophesied the Word of God into the very dry bones in the valley certainly brings God’s healing to the nations. The very dry bones represent utter hopelessness – a situation that was probably beyond redemption because the people had lost all hope and believed that nothing could be done to redeem the situation. Apart from being very dry, the bones were also very many. This is symbolic of the mindsets of many people, utter hopelessness for them as a people and a nation.

Healing the Nations Through Prophesying 1

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise [is] health. Proverbs Chapter 12 verse 18.

The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. Isaiah Chapter 50 verse 4.

The city of Samaria experienced and suffered famine that resulted in skyrocketing inflation and cannibalism that was threatening to become the norm in Samaria. The famine was a consequence of the long standing siege by the army of Syria against Samaria.  Bewildered, afraid, the King threatened to kill the prophet Elisha. But Elisha was unperturbed. He prophesied a drastic reduction in the prices of food stuff by the following day irrespective of the fact that the siege was still on, the army of Syria appeared immovable and the people of Samaria had no military prowess against them. Was Elisha playing a crude joke on the nation? Was he insensitive to the plight of the people?