This is the 2nd night of Intercession training, designed to empower you all with a fresh teaching and activation as we continue to transform into the image of Christ Jesus.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Empowerment in the areas of:
– When/How to Pray
– Warfare Prayers
– Discernment
NOTE TO READER: My apologies, but this page is currently not fully optimized for mobile devices. Best to read on desktop, or flip your device horizontally. Thanks for understanding.
About the Host: Celina Garcia is an incredible woman of God whom He has equipped for powerful intercession. She is a ROAR Academy Alumni & ROAR Collective Member and is the head of ROAR Intercession. Celina has worked in Corporate America working in Treasury and Finance, and is a business owner, advancing the Kingdom in businesses, non-profit organizations and ministries. She’s been in the realm of prophetic intercession for 10+ years and is the Prayer & Leadership Development Lead for Generals International, as well as the head of ROAR Intercession. She is a wife of 30 years and has 3 children and 4 grandchildren.
Celina Garcia will be continuing to equip us tonight about additional topics of intercession. It’s time for us all to step into a victorious life. Let’s get excited about prayer and about breakthrough, because anytime we encounter truth – breakthrough is on the other side. Tonight’s session covers when and how to pray, warfare prayers, and discernment.
KEY THOUGHT:
We’re on the brink, on the precipice – the Lord is setting everything up around us for our Victory. There are tests that are coming, and when we pass these tests we’ll take what God has promised us, and yes, things will get better for He guides us into battles He knows we will win!
The Fuel for prayer is LOVE! Everything flows from the love of God within us. Our only motivation for prayer is God Himself. It stems from this relationship and intimacy from Jesus through our daily devotion, for He is the true lover of our soul, and He comes first before anything else. It’s a true lifestyle that brings us into fullness of maturity.
The purpose being: to serve Jesus and transform the world Around us, for it begins with the transformation within us first.
Psalm 27:4 “I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with Him in His house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate His beauty; I’ll study at His feet.”
“God is looking for a heart that is completely His. He wants to love us more than He wants to use us.” Tony Kim, ROAR
WHEN WE PRAY: The outflow of this intimate relationship and communion with the Lord is friendship (spiritual identity) because He trusts us. We must first know who we are before we know what we can do. When we step into identity we know that we are Children of God; divine beings. The manifest presence of God is in us and on us therefore when we pray, we’re saturated with heavenly power.
Some expressions of prayer are: saying, listening, soaking, meditating. Saying expression can include declarations, agreement, prophetic decrees, worshiping, and acknowledging who and what God is. Other forms include praise, thanksgiving, repentance, contending (persistent unrelenting prayer), travailing, groaning, praying scriptures, praying verses over our situations or people and/or assignments.
Meditating can also be praying in the spirit (tongues), decrees, prophesies, and spiritual warfare (coming into agreement with Fathers heart and His will). All throughout different expressions of prayer, our hearts are tuned and listening to His gentle voice as we soak in Holy Spirit’s presence.
Another form of prayer includes asking; which can be petitions, requests, intercession (asking on someone else behalf), and supplication (asking on behalf of ourself). We are accessing heaven’s authority for intercession on earth (1 Thes. 5:17 “…praying all the time, never ceasing…”). Different expressions of prayer hold the same power.
When the church prayed for Peters release (when he was in prison), they were fervently praying on his behalf to God. Prayer is so powerful it can change Gods mind. The widow was persistent and got the justice which she cried out for.
Prayer paves the way for the power of the Kingdom to come (Acts 1:14), then in Acts 2 they received the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
What if circumstances are not changing? Is God not answering prayer or are we actually the enforcers and in charge to what happens on earth? Yes, its us in charge, His Children and ambassadors. It’s not that God isn’t moving or that His will isn’t being done on earth; its not because He’s not doing His part – since we’re in charge, the question is, “are we in agreement?..doing our part?..praying His will?.. Partnering with Holy Spirit?”
Genesis 1:26 “God blessed them saying:
“Prosper! Reproduce! Fill the Earth! Take charge!”
As we pray, we fulfill our heavenly call as divine Kings and Priests (seated in heaven in Christ). A King rules, represents, releases rule and authority and the will of God from Heaven to earth. A King is God centered (declarations, decree, binding, loosing). Priests serve, ministering to God and people, releasing love, mercy, grace. Priesthood is human centered and intercession oriented.
The Lord is calling us to shift from asking to decreeing, always in partnership with Holy Spirit, never praying our own fleshly will.
A Decree is an official order, a decision that has the force of law; has the weight of kingdom authority behind it.
A Declaration is an announcement or a formal statement.
A Proclamation is the process of binding and loosing
God rules through His words and so must we! This is true power and life, His words never are voided nor do they fall to the ground without harvest. We have been given keys of the kingdom authority to bind, loose, forbid, allow, close, open – we stand at the gates, we decree what must come out or what is allowed in – and this is power.
HOW DO WE PRAY: private prayer is displayed in public power
Praying in private: private prayer is displayed in public power – our personal lives display our lifestyle of prayer, reflecting our private communion and intimacy with the Lord.
We pray from relationship – we have such a tightly cultivated relationship with the Lord, born out of intimacy (otherwise we’ll feel frustrated, feel like we’re striving and eventually failure in prayer)
In Jesus’s name – He finished the work of intercession which provided us legal access to confidently draw near to the throne of God (John 13:13-14 Ask in Jesus name and Glory will be brought forth)
From Victory – our Spiritual identity and authority has told us so; as ambassadors we are to enforce Christ’s finished work on calvary: the victory and authority over the powers of darkness (praying from heaven to earth). The battle HAS been won! Jesus beat death and sin, and we have been redeemed by the work of the Cross.
We make petitions and requests as Jesus is ever standing at the right hand of the Father, ever interceding for us.
Praying the Word and the Will of God (Col 3:16 “…let the word of Christ richly dwell within you..”). This WORD must fill all of us, for we are the temple. It’s embedded in our heart, and we are welcoming in the word of God to every aspect of our heart, and His word must have access to every inch within our heart (like a house has different rooms, closets, compartments).
The Word releases power in prayer:
Weapon: Jeremiah 23:29 “is not My word like a fire?..declares the Lord, and like a sledgehammer which shatters a rock?”
Life Giving Seed: (with reproductive and creative power) Isaiah 55:11 “So will the words that come out of My mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.”
Righteous Meditation: Joshua 1:8 “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.”
Persistence: Psalms 1:2 “…his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.”
Understanding: Daniel 9:2-3 “…I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord… So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”
Benefits of praying the word:
1 – releases fresh revelation
2 – increases confidence and authority
3 – brings spiritual alignment
4 – ignites passion for Jesus
Holy Spirit reveals the Son of God through the words of scripture. When God is revealed to us, our hearts burn with passion. Praying in faith is essential to see answered prayers. Believe that I have received it and it’ll be mine! Do I believe He hears and will answer the impossible? Faith gives substance for what we hope for. Hope is the climate in which faith works, and faith is what actually brings those things we hope for into our life.
Hebrews 11:1-2,11 “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved… Even Sarah considered that the One who had promised was faithful.”
Faith is simply believing in God’s goodness and believing that He rewards the people who seek after Him; it’s taking His word as truth, and it’s for RIGHT now. Faith is confidence! Faith is operating as if it’s so before it actually is.
When we don’t have faith we are saying 1 of 2 things: (1) – God cannot answer this prayer (questioning His sovereignty and power) OR (2) – God will not answer (questioning His goodness).
To pray in faith means I believe He can and will because it’s consistent with His word, because He’s that good; it’s in HIS ability to do, not in our own ability, creativeness, or solutions. Faith centered on a Powerful Person: Christ’s limitless ability to do so!
Prayer of faith – faith finds out what the Word has to say and prays in accordance with that word, Believing, regardless of outside circumstances.
James 2:17: “..faith must produce good deeds, otherwise it’s dead and useless…faith that doesn’t involve action is phony…isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense!”
Faith from a place of surrender for God isn’t moved by our neediness or toil, rather only by faith, which is a product of our total surrender to Him rather than our strivings. Surrender: how is our intimacy with the lord? There shouldn’t be any striving since He is all powerful and good to giving answer to our prayers, so long as they’re in accordance with His word and heart.
Jesus lived with the heart at Rest; eternal security because of the greatness and goodness of His Father, therefore He could sleep through a storm. Christ invites us to abide in the vine (John 1:15) and yes, we will have different seasons of abiding in the vine in different types of life circumstances.
We pray in agreement, with a clean heart, with love and compassion. We all need a confidant (for we all need heart checks when we’re on assignment in our work places. Do a heart check with someone we can trust who can hold us responsible and accountable, who won’t be offended).
The greatest single key to great intercession is learning to cooperate with Holy Spirit, allowing Him to be in our lives through prayer, allowing Him to be all that He was sent to be. He’s not an object, but a friend, an actual person. Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God, thus we cannot pray apart from Holy Spirit as He assists us in prayer.
Benefits of praying in tongues:
1) allows us to pray even when we don’t know what to pray
2) allows us to speak directly with God, that is our lay-language (It’s ok to ask the Lord for the interpretation and Holy Spirit will tell us)
3) keeps us in tune with Holy Spirit
4) strengthens our spirit
5) a weapon against the work of the enemy (against fear, depression, etc)
SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE :
When we just go in prayer with some righteous violence, attacking the enemy violently, passionately, for God is looking for an army that will enforce victors (Joshua 1:3 “…every place your foot treads (where you’re willing to load your weapons and take) I have given to you as I given to Moses (I am willing to give to you)…”
Durok = to tread, bending the bow, load your weapons.
It’s already given to us (the victory) but we must practice in faith to attain the legal and make it literal and official. God made His promise and we’re called to obey Him in order to secure it.
Are we floating through, or forcing a way into the kingdom of God? Spiritual warfare is about positional authority (how do we position ourself?) What we have been given and know, must be Used! We are responding, partnering with God, making literal what God made legal. Our best position is waiting on God’s rest (that’s faith) letting Him fight the battle for us.
Tensions in the kingdom that we must learn how to navigate through them (this may be different, I’ve never felt this, etc). Are we seeking the Lord how to position ourselves from a place of victory? In order to position ourself rightly we must be led by Holy Spirit to rule.
Bless the situation, not curse it with your tongue
Affirm the victory of the cross
Release God’s Word into the situation
Stay fixed in peace
Remaining in Joy through trials, especially when we feel like all is lost, hopeless, and not at peace.
SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT: the ability to judge well; the gift of recognizing the moral and practical consequence of our decisions.
The spiritual gift of discernment (discerning of spirits) is distinguishing between spirits.
What’s it for? It has the ability to aid the church, set people free, protect the integrity of what God is doing (this is a big one) and help us overcome in spiritual warfare. (If we’re a prophetic intercessor, moving in intercession to cover a person who is moving in high levels, we are to protect the integrity of that person – keep that discerned info private, for God is trusting us with the heart of that person).
Discernment of spirits measures spiritual realities not apparent to the natural senses; the God given sense to recognize the source of spirits (angelic, demonic, human spirits, etc). Gut instincts can be warnings from God
Discernment gift is a gift of love; we must steward it wisely. Just because we can see it and the other party can offend us, we are prone to give into that offense.
Let the first question always be “God, what is your heart for that person? What are you showing me and what do you want me to do with it?” (Ask the Lord; get into the habit of asking)
Don’t judge the people when God shows you a secret – it’s a gift of love
There’s a misconception with this gift, as if it’s only to discern the demonic realm – this is not true. It’s to see what God is doing and for us to ask Him what to do with that revelation/knowledge.
We’re like the watchman on the wall seeing things before others do – seeing what is coming, what God is doing, what hasn’t came yet but we see it on the horizon..its not just the demonic realm.
We can effectively shift spiritual atmospheres when we sense a presence, wherever we are. We are to be thermostats and not thermometers in the spirit.
Set the atmosphere, do something about it. When negative things come in and when we pickup things in the atmosphere, don’t let the devil lie to us as if it’s us that are carrying the negativity. Use our authority over it, don’t just believe it’s “mine”.
How to grow the gift of discernment
Intimacy with Father
Sensitivity with Holy Spirit, which produces clarity
Praying in the spirit to increase my ability to hear God’s voice and intensify my connection with Holy Spirit
We have to use it, don’t hold back, don’t believe we’re going crazy just because we’re picking things up in the atmosphere around us
Remember, God’s heart is always to redeem and to restore (even the demonized).
Senses with the gift of discernment (practice navigating our senses):
Seeing (on people, in places, in situations)
Hearing (we can hear heaven and hell)
Feeling (feeling atmospheres that something isn’t right)
Tasting (sweet, bitter, spiritual or physical)
Smelling (we might smell sin on people sometimes)
Practical tips in growing in discernment:
1) commune consistently with God
2) Know God’s ways from God’s word (while everything is shaking around us, we will NOT be shaken)
3) live a holy life in the fear of God (am I living a holy life the best I can, am I consecrating myself, become more healthy, taking care of my temple)
Smith Wigglesworth – “to discern spirits we must dwell with Him who is Holy“
4) live in love. Phil 1 9-10 “we cannot have that cloud of unforgiveness, bitterness..” Practice quick forgiveness, keep my heart clean so that my discernment isn’t tainted or biased
5) invest in others – heed the call of God to intercede for those who are distracted and deceived, the unsuspecting, those who annoy and agitate us
Don’t run from this gift. Sharpen it, utilize it, find others who can help you grow in it.
7 SPIRIT OF GOD:
Thank you for visiting this page and further learning about the foundations of intercession. The call is to now “keep growing in Christ through intimacy” and from this place we can fully march in holy confidence for His authority is given to us, and it’s His power that performs what must be performed as we align ourselves with Him. “An intercessor is a man, woman, or child who fights on behalf of others. This is an activity that identifies us most with Christ – to be like Jesus for HE ever lives to intercede!”
I encourage each of you to pray the 7 Spirit of God over yourself on a consistent basis and see how it changes your life:
7 SPIRIT OF GOD:
the spirit of the Lord Yahweh shall rest Upon me,
the spirit of Extraordinary Wisdom shall rest Upon me,
the spirit of Perfect Understanding shall rest Upon me,
the sprit of Wise Strategy shall rest Upon me,
the spirit of Mighty Power shall rest Upon me,
the spirit of Revelation shall rest Upon me,
the spirit of the Fear of the Lord shall rest Upon me!
MAY THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH ALL OF YOU.
WRITER – FATHER – SON