Paul here stresses the importance of travailing prayer both to bring people to Christ and again, to see them into maturity in Christ.

During intercessory prayer for people we must be led by the Holy Spirit. He will often speak to us in our hearts and guide us as to how we are to pray for someone.

During intercessory prayer, we intercept satan's assignments and works from being carried out. Then we pray for people at their point of need. We must never give up until the answer comes.

Sometimes as we pray for the lost and hurting of this world, God allows us to momentarily feel their lostness and their pain. This can bring about a groaning and travail in spirit. 

 

Also, at times we may feel an unction to pray for someone at a certain time. We may or may not know who or what we are praying for or about. Millions of lives have been saved in this fashion by allowing God to use us in this type of intercession for others.

 

God also says in Ezekiel 22:30  "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."

As Christians, we are to stand in the gap and interceed for our nation as well. How many of you pray for your country everyday? That is what we are supposed to do. We are to pray for leadership on all levels. Read 1 Timothy 2:1-3

 

Our nation of America is in real trouble and we need to cry out to God. Lets look at the 29th verse of Ezekiel 22 for one of the reasons America is in trouble and in dire need of prayer and repentance today.  "The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy; yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully."

When the people of God forget the poor and needy; God takes it personal. This is a very serious matter. I personally believe that one reason [among many] why the selective judgement of God is coming to America is because of the false prosperity gospel we have given to the world.

Instead of telling the world of their need for salvation through the Blood of Christ; we have been preaching a message of greed. We now have a nation of pillow prophets speaking soft words that appeal to the greed of the sinful nature of fallen man.

 

All of us who truly love God and our nation had better begin to fall on our faces and cry out in repentance to a Holy God. Amen.  

 

Lets look at Ezekiel 22:31 and see the results if we fail to do so. " Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God."

 

American Christian-- It is time to pray.