The power of Intercession

Bible text: Luke 18:1-8
Men ought always to pray and not to faint

Dr. Gregory Frizzel is convinced that faithful intercession saved the church he was pastoring in 1984. Surrounded by high crime, gang activity and rapid community decline, the church was deeply divided and embroiled in a catastrophic legal battle. Fees totalled more than two million dollars. As if that was not enough, the church was plagued with a huge public moral scandal of such severity that they were in the news everyday for five years.

As a 26 years old fresh from seminary Frizzel knew that neither he nor his church had any chance of survival (Much less growth) unless God powerfully intervened.

For years, he and his staff did everything humanly possible yet nothing changed!

The first turning point came when God led them to organise the church intercessors and began services time of calling God. Eighty people committed to at least 30 minutes a day of personal prayer. They all prayed the same specific point of focus; conversion of those without Christ unity into the church, financial miracles and for the church to be cleared of all false charges. The prayer warriors met once a month for a three hour prayer rally.

The second turning point came when the church established a prayer group that focused on evangelism and revival. This group consisted of ten people who met once a week to intercede for two or three hours

They adhered to the following schedule

- 30 minutes time alone with scriptures designed to cleanse the heart and make confession of their sins before praying
- 20 minutes group worship and exalting God
- 70 minutes focused on intercession upon salvation of the unconverted people; deep unity and revival in the church and God sending labourers to grow the church.

Four months after the weekly prayer revival group was formed, 45 of the 60 unconverted people had been saved. Several of these were hard cases for which people had been praying for years.
Explosive growth occurred in the church with new people continually visiting them and becoming members. 
A miraculous unity filled the church drawing congregation and leadership together in harmony
The church attorneys who were not members of any church or committed to the faith forgave the church a million dollar debt. Ultimately the church was cleared of all accusations.
Pastor Frizzel believes that his impossible situation proves there is hope for any church that commits itself to an organised and focused network of intercessors dedicated to serious prayer