Your Breakthrough Is in Someone Else’s Prayer
As I prayed about today’s message, one thought burned in my heart: prayer.
Prayer is the lifeline of every believer, but more than that, it is how we become more like Jesus and continue His work on the earth.
Too often we think prayer is just about asking God for things for ourselves. But today I want to show you a deeper truth: true prayer is intercession.
The Parable in Luke 11:5–8
Jesus tells a parable about a man who goes to his friend at midnight and knocks on the door, asking for bread. But notice this: he is not asking for himself. He is asking on behalf of a friend who is on a journey and has nothing to eat.
Jesus says:
“Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs.” (Luke 11:8 KJV)
This parable is not about nagging God until He gives us what we want. It is about knocking on heaven’s door for the sake of others. Intercession is at the very heart of Jesus’ ministry.
Why Intercession Matters
Think about it, Jesus rarely prayed for Himself. The only time we see it clearly is in Gethsemane, where He asked if the cup of suffering could pass from Him. Yet even then, the Father did not change His will.
Instead, we see Jesus retreating to pray for His disciples, for their safety, their faith, and their future. He still intercedes for us today at the right hand of the Father.
If Jesus lived to intercede, shouldn’t we?
The Power of Selfless Prayer
Many times our prayers are not answered because we are asking God for things He has already given us. We say, “Lord, I need peace,” and He says, “I’ve already placed My Spirit within you.” We say, “Lord, I need provision,” and He points to the tree full of fruit and says, “Take and eat.”
But when we pray for others, something shifts. As Job 42:10 says:
“The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.”
When you pray for someone else’s healing, breakthrough, or salvation, God releases that same blessing into your life.
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Intercession
Romans 8:26 says:
“The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
When you pray in tongues, you allow the Holy Spirit to take hold of your prayers and direct them exactly where they need to go. Just like a multivitamin nourishes the body in ways you don’t fully understand, praying in tongues nourishes the Body of Christ in ways you cannot see.
This is why praying in the Spirit should be part of your daily walk, whether you are walking, driving, cooking, or working.
Becoming a Prayer Warrior
Many ask, “Pastor, how can I serve God?” The answer is simple: pray for people.
Being a prayer warrior is not about praying for yourself, but about battling in the Spirit for others: family, friends, the lost, leaders, even nations.
When you intercede, you take up the cross for someone else. You become part of Jesus’ ongoing ministry of love and sacrifice.
A Call to Action
My encouragement for you today is this:
- Pray less for yourself and more for others.
- Pray in tongues daily.
- Write down names and needs, and persist in intercession until you see results.
I promise you this: if you start interceding for others, your life will change. Testimonies will follow. Blessings will overflow. Because as you water others, you yourself will be watered.
Final Prayer
Father, I thank You for raising up intercessors in this generation. May we be found faithful in prayer, knocking on heaven’s door not for ourselves, but for our brothers and sisters. Fill us with the fire of the Spirit, and let our prayers shake the heavens and transform the earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
