Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things,
but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits (Romans 12:16).

Did you ever read in the Bible where Jesus cursed a fig tree
because it had so many figs on it that some of them fell off and rotted?
No, of course you didn’t. It doesn’t say that. He
cursed the one that would not produce (Matthew 21:19).

God expects us to be fruitful, to produce enough to meet our
own needs and the needs of many others. This is good
stewardship of God’s resources.

We must come before God in prayer, being honest with
ourselves and with Him about our needs. It takes time with
the Lord to know what the key issues and real needs are.
Many times it’s important to know the difference between
needs and wants.

Our wants are also very important to God. Our heavenly Father
is not against our wanting. What He is opposed to is our
seeking after things to promote and exalt ourselves. There
is nothing wrong with our being exalted—if we are exalted
by God and not by ourselves. The Bible says, “Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

God does not mind our being exalted over the devil and over
his demons. Jesus did that for us. It is when we exalt ourselves
over other people that we get into trouble. According to Romans 12:10,
we are to prefer one another in honor. Then in verse
16 we are told not to become conceited. If we are running after
money, property or anything else that will make us bigger in our
own eyes and in the eyes of other people, it is wrong.

There is not a thing wrong with wanting to have enough money
not only to meet our own needs, but also to finance the work
of the Lord. That is rightly stewarding God’s resources.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt
thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good,
and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister
of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be
afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the
minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that
doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for
wrath, but also for conscience sake (Romans 13:3-5).

Here is one place where most Christians have not acted in
honor. They have quit praying for the police officer, who is a
minister of God. He is often treated like a dog the way the
drug crowd treats him as though he doesn’t belong. He and
the dangerous life he faces are often ignored, as though he
were a second-class citizen or less.

However, in Little Rock, Ark., Pastor Happy Caldwell and his
church are changing all this. They divide up the names of all
the officers in the police department and the sheriff’s office
all the civil authority in that city. The names are handed out
to people in the church who take those law-enforcement
agents before God in prayer. The believers intercede and make
supplication in the spirit for the law officers in that area. The
names are rotated, so there is a different person praying for
each one of them on a regular schedule.

These prayer warriors have had a grand influence on that city
and its crime level.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

So when they had further threatened them,
they let them go, finding nothing how they
might punish them, because of the people:
for all men glorified God for that which was done.
For the man was above forty years old,
on whom this miracle of healing was shown.
And being let go, they went to their own
company, and reported all that the chief priests
and elders had said unto them.
And when they heard that, they lifted up
their voice to God with one accord, and
said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in
them is: who by the mouth of thy servant David
hast said, Why did the heathen rage,
and the people imagine vain things? The
kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers
were gathered together against the Lord,
and against his Christ. For of a truth
against thy holy child Jesus, whom
thou hast anointed, both Herod, and
Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the
people of Israel, were gathered together, for
to do whatsoever thy hand and thy
counsel determined before to be done. And now,
Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant
unto thy servants, that with all boldness they
may speak thy word, by stretching forth
thine hand to heal; and that signs and
wonders may be done by the name of thy
holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed,
the place was shaken where they
were assembled together; and they
were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they
spake the word of God with
boldness (Acts 4:21-31).

In this day and time, united prayer is
seldom discussed. But in most instances in the
Bible involving a body of believers, we
find them praying in a united manner.
In many of our churches today, however,
someone usually leads in prayer. Very little is
taught from the Word about praying together
out loud.

The previous scripture is the basis
for united prayer. Peter and John had been
arrested and appeared before the religious
council. Their lives were threatened if they continued
to preach in the Name of Jesus.

They went back to their own company
and told everyone what had happened.
When they heard, they all prayed.
A tremendous amount of power is
involved in united prayer.

What were the results of this prayer?
Acts 5:12 says, “And by the hands of the apostles
were many signs and wonders
wrought among the people….”
Their one request was answered exactly the
way they prayed. The political system of
the day tried, but could not stop the
power of God in operation.This united
prayer was offered accurately according to
the Word of God.

As the Body of Christ,
we need to get in one accord on the
Word of God and expect results.
It will cause things to change!

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

The prayer of intercession is prayed in behalf of others.
Through His Word, God has called the Body of Christ to the
ministry of intercession.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for
kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this
is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who
will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

During a time of fasting, God revealed to me that He is calling
the Church to rally around the prayer of intercession. We
are to call on Him to pour out of His Spirit in these last days
in great, unusual manifestations of His power. God is about
to bring forth the grand finale. It will be the greatest production
by the Spirit of God in the history of the human race.
We are the most privileged generation to have ever lived on
this earth. We are blessed not only to witness these manifestations,
but also to be the vessels through which His mighty
power will flow.

The miraculous things that occurred in the early Church,
as recorded in the book of Acts, will be common among us in
these last days. Intercessory prayer is the tool that the Spirit
of God will use to bring them into manifestation.
We are entering into the most exciting move of the Holy
Spirit the Church has ever experienced. I believe this is the
last big thrust to harvest the souls of this world into the kingdom
of God.

Why are we called to intercession? Because God does not
do anything in the earth without the cooperation of a man.
He intends that we work together with Him to accomplish
His will. Man is still in authority in the earth. God put him in
that position.

I believe we are the generation that will usher in the coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church. Before He comes,
the Spirit of God will be poured out upon all flesh. James 5:7
says, “Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit
of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive
the early and latter rain.” John 15:1 tells us the husbandman
is the heavenly Father. The fruit of the earth is the harvest of
souls (Matthew 9:37-38). The rain is the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit (Hosea 6:3).

Intercessory prayer causes the rain of God’s Spirit to bring
the harvest of the human race into the family of God. Right
now, all over the world, God is bringing the Body of Christ
into unity. As rivers of living water, believers joined together
will cause a flood of God’s power in the earth.

Because of the crucial time we are living in, this move of
the Holy Spirit is causing believers everywhere to respond to
the call to intercession. This world will not take much more
sin! Romans 8:22 says all of creation groans for the manifestation
of the sons of God. Heaven is reverberating 24 hours a
day with the intercession of God’s people.

We are at the end of what began on the Day of Pentecost.
The Apostle Peter said:

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet
Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith
God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and
your young men shall see visions, and your old men
shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on
my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of
my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will show
wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth
beneath… (Acts 2:16-19).

The result of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit is: “And it
shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be saved” (verse 21).

In order to be saved, one must be born into the family of God.
Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom
of God” (John 3:3). He was speaking of the spiritual new
birth. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit” (verse 6). Intercession is giving birth
in the realm of the spirit.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries

The words petition and supplication are defined as “a
formal request addressed to a higher power.” This prayer
changes things. It is based on Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for
nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

To illustrate, suppose you obtained an audience with the
governor of your state. After you went through the proper
channels, would you then enter his office without being
prepared? Of course not! You would have your ideas formulated
and the arguments settled in your mind long before you
obtained an audience with him. Shouldn’t you handle yourself
in the same way when approaching God? Hebrews 4:16 says,
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace….”

Do not go into the prayer of petition and supplication
without knowing what you want to say and how you want
to say it. Enter the throne room with your petition drawn up
according to God’s Word. Ask yourself these questions: What
happened at Calvary? How did the substitutionary sacrifice of
Jesus affect this trial I am facing? Then, find out what God has
already done regarding your situation. If you need healing,
look up those scriptures pertaining to healing. Present your
petition. No matter what your situation may be, God has provided
an answer for it in His Word. The Cross paid the price
for your deliverance.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries