Power of Prayer (The Family Unit and Intercessory Prayer)

March 10. 2023

Power of Prayer (The Family Unit and Intercessory Prayer)

What does a biblical family unit look like?

The perfect Bible verse that explain what a family unit should look like is found in 1 Corinthians 11:3, the Apostle Paul states:

“But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”

We can see how the Lord has designed our family unit to be laid out. If you want to build a house it is imperative that you have the proper foundation. God is the head of Christ, Christ is the Head of man, the man is the head of woman, and then the woman is the head of the children. That is what God intended the family structure to look like. When things are out of this order, it can create chaos in the household.

Let’s take a look at the roles that the family members play. God’s Word describes them in Ephesians 5:22-26:

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.”

We see the role of the children also in the book of Ephesians. Ephesians 6:1-3 details:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

Dissecting these powerful verses of Scripture out of the book of Ephesians we can gain an understanding of the roles that each member of our family should play.

Husband’s role

One of the key factors that we can see over and over again in Scripture pertaining to the man’s position in the household is displaying love. Some examples of these passages are:

Colossians 3:19 “Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.”
Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”
Ephesians 5:28 “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.”

These are just a few examples found in the Word of God regarding a husband loving his wife. Paul also mentions how the man is the one to wash his wife with the Word of God. In other words he is the one that should be setting the spiritual precedence. He is reading his word, praying, fasting, and seeking the Lord on behalf of his family.

Another important role that a father plays is in intercessory prayer for his household. He is the priest of the house, the watchman on the wall, and the first line of defense against the invasion of the enemy. Often times we underestimate the need to have the husband as the head or “covering” over the family unit. The devil cannot stand the powerful prayers of a God fearing man because he knows how effective they are!

Additionally, the role of the husband is to be a provider 1 Timothy 5:8 states, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” The word “provide” also means to take thought of or to care for. This doesn’t necessarily just pertain to providing the means for the family financially but also emotionally, and spiritually.

Wife’s role

The Apostle Paul describes in Ephesians 5:22 through the leading of the Holy Spirit that wives are to submit to their husbands as they are submitted to Christ. He is the head of the household and the wife is his helper, Genesis 2:18. Submit is often times seen as a negative word but really what it is in reference to is yielding to one’s advice. It has to do with allowing your husband to lead the home as the priest or leader of the household.

Another important role of the wife is to intercede for her husband and her children in prayer. A woman has a compassionate and emotional side to her that she can release during praise and worship that is powerful. Some of the most effective prayers that a wife can pray are to incorporate Scripture in your daily prayer as well as pray in your heavenly language in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the most significant verses of Scripture in regards to a virtuous wife are found in Proverbs 31:10-31. Inspired by the Holy Spirit you can see the importance that the wife plays regarding the entire dynamic of the family.

Child’s role

We can see a child’s role laid out in Ephesians 6:1-3. They are to honor their mother and father to the best of their ability. There is a promise made by the Lord that if they fulfill this mandate, they will live a long life. Of course there are certain circumstances surrounding a child obeying their mother and father. The key words in these verses of Scripture are “in the Lord.”

Two passages of Scripture pertaining to raising the child in the Lord are:

Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

God’s plan for His children is that they are trained according to His principles found in His Word. There are so many reasons why and I go into detail in my series on the spiritual laws of God: The Spiritual Laws of God-Having an Understanding, The Spiritual Laws of God-The Power of Your Tongue!, The Spiritual Laws of God-The General Principles, The Spiritual Laws of God-Restoration, The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 1, and The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 2.

One thing that we can conclude without a shadow of a doubt is that there is so much power in a family that understands effective prayer. I am going to go over some ways that you can intercede for your family. The devil cannot stand a family that has the father and mother as active contributors interceding in prayer.

We are up against an adversary that wants to steal and destroy us by any means necessary, John 10:10. We have to remain prayed up and suited up in the full armor of God all day, every day!

I am going to go over some of the ways that you can understand the power of intercessory prayer!

Being able to hear the voice of God

John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to tell us things to come. However, it is almost impossible for that to happen if you are not in tune with God’s Spirit through the power of prayer. Every member of the family should develop their own prayers and designated prayer time with the Lord. I can’t express how significant it is to maintain that open communication with your Heavenly Father.

One example I have regarding listening to the voice of God is when I came across a friend that was getting herself involved in things that I know would open up very strong demonic doors to the enemy. The Lord placed a strong urge in my spirit to warn her of the dangers of what she was doing which I did with love.

She was not receptive to heeding my warnings but that doesn’t eliminate me from praying for her continually. The Lord will place people on your heart to pray for and intercede for especially when it comes to your family. In order for Him to give you necessary information you have to have that intimacy developed with Him in prayer, fasting, praise, worship, and praying in your heavenly language.

That way you can hear that still small voice when He speaks to you. You will be able to discern whether it is His voice speaking or the voice of the enemy coming to you as an angel of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14. You best believe the devil will try to steer you in the wrong direction if you don’t know the voice of God.

Understand that life is spiritual

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

One of the main things that we want to get an understanding of is that life is spiritual. Here we can see where the Apostle Paul is telling us that our battle is not against flesh and blood or in other words the battle is not with: your spouse, your children, your co-worker, your neighbor, your family, or your friends.

Not even close! In fact, your fight is with the demonic spirits that the enemy is using to entice them to act a certain way. Once you can gain that knowledge and view your circumstances from that viewpoint, your strategy will be so much more effective.

For instance, let’s say that you are having an issue with your spouse and he or she is coming at you completely sideways: yelling, screaming, and saying things to get a rise out of you. Rather than lash back out at him or her in the same manner; recognize that this is spiritual warfare and the devil is trying to get you to display adverse emotions that have repercussions attached to them.

Moments like this, you want to take the situation up in prayer interceding on behalf of your spouse. Pray against the tactics of the enemy that he is trying to use to cause division in your household. Recognize his schemes and begin to fight back in the spirit realm. We have the ability to stop the devil from escalating the situation to another level creating problems within the marriage which is what he wants to do. His goal is to steal, kill, and destroy, John 10:10.

Warfare is an everyday reality but we have the authority through the Name of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to take control of any situation. Fight in your prayer closet and never underestimate the power of prayer. Intercede for your family, friends, and whoever else the Lord puts in your heart.

Understand that your intercession is for the future

Proverbs 11:21 “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.”

If you stop and analyze how the world is today versus when you were growing up, there is a significant difference. The enemy is on a prowl today more than ever before and his number one target is our children. He is no longer discreet, he doesn’t care what it takes, and he wants to corrupt the minds of our children by any means necessary.

That is why it is so important that we continuously pray without ceasing. This proverb written by King Solomon is so profound because it discloses two promises made to the believers of God. The Lord is saying that it doesn’t matter how many wicked people in the world want to join hands in an attempt to prevail, they will be punished.

His second promise to us is that the seed or children of the righteous (believers in right standing with God) shall be delivered. What are they going to be delivered from? They will escape from the wiles and the schemes of the devil. Proclaim the Word of God over your children as often as you can, speak life over them, and refrain from speaking negative things over them.

The Bible is clear when the Lord states in Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” God literally means that we carry life or death in the words that we speak. We can never forget it is our responsibility to intercede for our spouse and children. You need to have their back behind their back in and out of season.

It is so important that we train our children in the way that they should follow the Lord and lead by example. If we don’t someone else will. This will not only affect our children but it will have an effect on our children’s children. As Christians we have the power to break generational curses that have been running in our bloodlines for generations. It is up to us to use the authority that the Lord has given us! You are the bondage breaker!

Conclusion

One of the biggest threats to the kingdom of darkness is a strong Christian family unit. The devil cannot stand it! Every person that is within the family has a special role that they play in order for the household to run successfully. When things get out of line as far as the foundation of the family, problems can occur. The Lord specifically designed and structured it for a reason.

One of the biggest weapons that a household can utilize is the power of unified prayer. As families we need to make it a priority to set aside time with the Lord: reading His Word, praying, fasting, praising, and worshiping. I went over some examples when it comes to intercessory prayer within the family unit. One thing you never want to do is underestimate the importance of having communication with our Heavenly Father, it is a daily necessity.

Also, don’t forget to check out my other blogs:

Power of Prayer (Praying in Your Heavenly Language)

Power of Prayer (Principles of Prayer)

Power of Prayer (Praying the Scriptures)

Praise His Name

The Power of Praise

The Dangers of Pride

The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 1

The Spiritual Laws of God-Poverty Part 2

The Spiritual Laws of God-Restoration

The Spiritual Laws of God-The General Principles

The Spiritual Laws of God-The Power of Your Tongue!