Interceding For Others - Don't Take No For An Answer

Posted by Rev. Mark Slay

True intercessors by the Holy Spirit know how to not take no for an answer in the spirit in a graceful way so as to not offend the Father. We need to learn that this is what true intercession is about. The things that God desires to happen do not happen in automation. They don’t happen just because He wants them to. We have to do our part. Let’s look at something Jesus said in Matthew’s Gospel.

Matthew 9:37-38 - Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.

We’ve read this Scripture before and made this point: If it’s His harvest, and He wants the workers out there, why do we have to beseech the Lord or pray for it to be done? It’s clear that’s what He wants; so why do we have to pray? Why doesn’t He just do it?

There are requirements that have to be met to see answers to prayer. I’m not one to give up, and I simply teach you what I know works: don’t take no for an answer when you’re interceding for other people. There are times when the answer is just no. There’s been very few cases in the last 35 years that the Lord has just flat out told me no and my interceding did not make a difference. Most people don’t have enough sense to get themselves out of hot water and if you don’t intercede for them, they will not be helped.

I could give example after example of times when the Lord has used me in prayer for other people. One example that comes to mind is this: There was the time that I had gone to an event and ran into a fellow I hadn’t seen in years. I didn’t have to time that evening to do anything other than shake hands with him and say hi, but later that night after I was home I was just sitting there and all of the sudden the Holy Spirit came upon me. I knew I had to pray and I had to pray right that second. It was that strong and I just took off praying in other tongues.

Now, the first 30 minutes or so of praying I had no idea what I was praying about. None. In fact, in my head I’m thinking well I’m probably praying for so and so, a man who had come up to me at this event and spoke with me about a Word of Wisdom I had given him two years prior regarding a recession that was coming. See, he was a business owner and was contemplating a business endeavor and had asked me for some advice. Well, he listened to me and now he was asking me if I knew when the recession would be over. So I’m assuming that the Lord was having me intercede regarding this man and this situation, but it wasn’t him at all. It was this other man that I had just shaken hands with earlier in the event, but had not spoken to. The Lord began to tell me that they were backslidden and other things about his situation. Later on I was able to talk to him and he listened and he was helped.

Luke 22:31 - “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

The Holy Spirit intercedes THRU people. He cannot do it on His own. He want’s to use you to change somebody’s destiny. So when you do intercede for others you have to have the boldness, not arrogance, before the Lord and do not take no for an answer.