Breakthrough, Inc. Intercessors

1 HandbookforIntercessorsBreakthrough, together anonymouslythose needing prayer and Christians willing to pray for them;calling, equipping and encouraging people for this Marshall Lesourd andLeonard LeSourdPO Box 121 Lincoln, Virginia 20160 Prayer Fax Line: (540) 338-1934E-Mail: , forIntercessors BreakthroughIntercessory Prayer MinistryAll material Breakthrough, Inc., Lincoln, VA 20160 Table of ContentsScriptures cited are in the New KingJames Version of the Breakthrough Works .. 5-9 Message Insight Form .. 6 Principles of Intercession .. 10 Additional suggestions .. 11 Helps for Intercessors .. 13-22 Dry Periods .. 14 Scriptural Help for .. Quieting Your Mind .. 15 Spiritual Warfare .. 16 Praise .. 18 When I Don t Know How to Respond .. 20 Overwhelmed .. 21 Prayers for Intercessors .. 22 Message Insight Scriptures .. 25-49 Recommended Reading.

2 50 Mission Statement .. 53 Statement of Faith .. 53 SECTION ISECTION IISECTION IIISECTION IV4 - Handbook for Intercessors Since Breakthrough s founding in 1980,thousands of people all over the world havesubmitted prayer requests to this prayer request is prayed for by sixintercessors for a prayer period of 21 days. In April of 1981, Breakthrough began apublication called The Intercessor toadvance the prayer ministry. Each issuecontains teachings about intercessoryprayer, encouragement for intercession, andstories by the Intercessors themselves. Theministry offers additional help throughother publications, book reviews and conference on intercessory prayersponsored by Breakthrough is held annu-ally. Speakers are available for churchesand prayer groups interested in the subjectof intercession. Breakthrough is a family; we learn fromyou and you learn from us. Intercession isnot easy.

3 As Intercessors , we are literallyputting ourselves in the place of another,taking on his or her conflict or condition asour own concern. This handbook contains suggestions tohelp you. When you volunteer your time tobe a Breakthrough intercessor, you aretouching God on behalf of for Intercessors - 5 Breakthrough provides as much ano-nymity as possible to persons requestingprayer. A requester s identity is protectedto the degree that the intercessor is givenonly the individual s first name and thestate or country where he lives. Every prayer request that arrives atBreakthrough is read a minimum of threetimes during processing by staff do not pray over stacks of mail; wepray for individuals and their specificneeds. This is the part that makes Break-through unique. Those seeking prayercome to know that they are part of our family. Each prayer request is processed in thefollowing way:1.

4 Someone, whom we call the re-quester, notifies us of a need or A staff member reads the request and acomputer file is made for that person, ifone does not already BreakthroughWorksSECTION I6 - Handbook for Intercessors Those needing prayer benefit greatly byhearing from their Intercessors . When youreceive your prayer assignment fromBreakthrough, pray and ask God to revealinsights from scripture to help lead yourprayers according to His will. Write yourscripture insights on your prayer list. It is best not to try to evaluate or inter-pret what you feel God is saying becauseHe might be revealing something just toUsing the MessageInsight Form3. Another staff member reads the letteragain, and each prayer request ishighlighted with a red A notice is sent telling the requesterthe date of his three-week prayer The Breakthrough staff then enters therequest on the computer file and preparesprayer sheets to go to the The request is then sent to six interces-sors for a three-week prayer period.

5 Nointercessor will receive a request fromsomeone in his or her own geographicalregion, further assuring When the 21-day prayer cycle iscomplete, the intercessor is asked toforward any relevant scripture insights tothe office. These verses are then for-warded on to the for Intercessors - 7 Why the Three-WeekPrayer Period? We ask our Intercessors to pray for aperiod of three weeks for the petitions theyreceive from us. Daniel 10:2 states: In those days I, Daniel, was mourningthree full weeks. Daniel also fasted from certain food anddrink during this time. At the end of thethree-week period, he had a vision (Daniel10:7) in which a heavenly messenger spoketo him and said: ..Do not fear, Daniel,for from the first day that you set yourheart to understand, and to humble yourselfbefore your God, your words were heard;and I have come because of your the Prince of the kingdom of Persiawithstood me twenty-one (Daniel10:12-13).

6 Daniel prevailed in prayer for21 days until God answered his at this stage. If after several days, youcontinue to receive the same scripture andfeel that God wants you to pass it along tothe requester, send it to Breakthrough onthe Message Insight Form. It is not neces-sary to write out the whole scripture. Justnote the - Handbook for IntercessorsTime and Place If you have answered God s call tointercession, we encourage you to set asidea special time each day to pray in a com-fortable place free from a specific place where yourBible, journal, prayer requests, a notebook,and pencils are readily available. As an intercessor, you will probablyprefer to pray alone, as Jesus often did. Again, a second time, He went away (Matthew 26:42) Now in themorning, having risen a long while beforedaylight, He went out and departed to asolitary place; and there He prayed.

7 (Mark 1:35)How Responses AreHandled1. When Breakthrough receives a response(an answer to prayer) from the requester,that response is forwarded to the When Breakthrough receives a messageof insight from an intercessor, that scriptureis forwarded to the requester. These steps make communicationbetween intercessor and requester possiblewhile both parties retain their for Intercessors - 9A Note About Fasting Fasting, like prayer, should begin withGod. You may be led by the Holy Spirit tofast. Seek the Lord s direction as towhether or not you should. It is wise toalso consult a physician. Jesus made several points about fasting:He said, ..when you meaningthere was no question about the need tofast. He also cautioned not to seek praisefrom men (Matthew 6:16). In other words,we are to fast quietly or in secret. Fasting is done unto God (Zechariah7:5). When Joel cried, Consecrate afast, he meant set it apart for God.

8 An-drew Murray put it this way: Fastinghelps to express, to deepen, and to confirmthe resolution that we are ready to sacrificeanything to attain that which we seek in theKingdom of God. 10 - Handbook for Intercessors1. Make very sure your heart is cleanbefore God by giving the Holy Spirit timeto convict in case there is any unconfessedsin. (Psalm 66:18)2. Acknowledge that you can t reallypray without the Holy Spirit.(Romans 8:26)3. Die to your own imaginations, desires,and burdens for how you think you shouldpray. (Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 28:26)4. Ask God to bear positive witness withyou by the Holy Spirit, and then thankHim in faith for doing so.(Ephesians 5:20)5. Praise God in faith for the remarkableprayer time you are going to have. He is aremarkable God and will do somethingconsistent with His Deal aggressively with the against him in the all-powerfulname of Jesus Christ, and with the swordof the Spirit.

9 (James 4:7)Principles ofIntercession by Joy DawsonHandbook for Intercessors - 117. Wait in silent expectancy. Then inobedience and faith, utter what God bringsto your mind, believing His Word, Mysheep hear My voice. Don t move to thenext subject until God is through with Always have your Bible with you in theevent God wants to give confirmation ordirection. (Psalm 119:105)9. When God ceases to bring things toyour mind for which to pray, praise Himfor what He is doing. Remind yourselfthat to God alone is the glory. (Romans 11:36) As you prepare to pray, quiet your heartand mind by reading scriptures (see page15). Do not presume that a request is notworthy. Only God knows the completesituation. Your obedience to pray is thevehicle through which God s love willflow. Try to put yourself in the place of theperson for whom you are praying. Attemptto feel his or her needs and ask God to giveyou the compassion of Jesus.

10 When youhave offered your petitions, wait in silenceto see what He may want to say to you. Besensitive to any scripture verse that comesto Suggestions12 - Handbook for Intercessors After you have prayed, release yourprayers to God. Do not try to carry theburdens on your own shoulders, and donot let the petitions drag you down, eitherspiritually or emotionally. Know thatGod already knows all the needs you laybefore Him and awaits your prayers torelease His answers. Praising God forthe answers to your prayers will increaseyour faith to pray. Should you at any time feel the needof a rest or sabbatical from this work, justinform us and you will be put on inactivestatus until you let us know differently. Remember as you pray that ultimatelythe effectiveness of your prayers dependsupon your relationship with the Lord; theprayer method is between you and for Intercessors - 13 HelpsHelpsHelpsHelpsHelps for for for for forIntercessorsIntercessorsIntercessorsI ntercessorsIntercessorsIntercession is often hard work.