3 Dimensional Prayer: The Prayer Movement Edition

By Grace Swift

Learn the Strategies of Prayer and affect all three realms: things in heaven, things on the earth, and the powers of darkness. Help launch your prayer life into a powerful new dimension.

Answer such questions as: How often should I pray for the same thing? Why aren't my prayers answered? What is the difference between intercession, warfare, travailing, wrestling, and groaning?

Three-Dimensional Prayer is an excellent source for Bible study, new Christians, Youth meetings, prayer groups, and corporate prayerfilled with daily prayers and proclamations, and totally scriptural.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449734329

Grace Swift

For the past thirty-five years Grace Swift, mother of five Christian sons, has been recognized as an anointed prayer intercessor.  Her Prayer ministry includes serving twelve years as a prayer partner for WJEB, (Jacksonville Educators’ broadcasting), Channel 59, (an affiliate of TBN), The Branch Christian Fellowship of Indianapolis, IN, and she is the founder and president of the Prayer Movement. Her devotion to prayer has resulted in a series of children's bilingual Bible story books, The SonShip Series, written in English and Spanish. She spends much of her time in her native home town of Franklin, Tennessee, but resides in Jacksonville, Florida, with her sons and grandchildren.  

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgements

Dedications

Foreword

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Acknowledgements

My mother, Marie Geneva Swift Cager, whose last prayer for me was that I would have a desire to please God, in memoriam.

Billie Adams, who was my friend and mentor, the Prayer Warrior, who taught me to pray the Word of God and the importance of using the Word in prayer, in memoriam. To Jane Milligan, whose hands God used to anoint me. Suzanne Hinn, who saw me as an Intercessor who is called of God.

Special Thanks to: My five brothers

Richard, my Hero, Viet Nam War Veteran,

Jerry and Greg, US Air Force, and JC, (Jimmy, in memoriam),

Sarah Barnaby, Marsha Yarbrough and WJEB, Channel 59 (TBN),

Jacksonville, Florida, Prayer Partners Ministry,

Nancy Bardwell, Susan Hendel and John Campbell

Dedications

To my five sons:

Benjamin, Son of my right hand

Garrett, mighty in Word and Deeds

Ryan, the Most Capable one, and his wife, Lorrie Ann.

Kenley, the Peaceful man of God, and his wife, Sharrona

Javan, the Wonderful one, full of life and love

My 12 Grandchildren:

Bryan Gregory, Monique Lorriann, Stephen Michael,

Jasmine Renay, Alexandria Marie, Benjamin Jr.,

Corrie Kashawn and Corben Elshawn (twins)

Jessica Lynn, Kamron Isaiah,

Kenden Swift, Kimora Shaley

Great-Grandchildren:

Saniah Marie, Nekia Richelle, Sydney Janae,

Briana Gabrielle, Knoah Darwell

Foreword

Are you still struggling with the will of God for your life? Are you still waiting for the funds to do a special project; a musical performance, release of your very own record, write the next best selling book, or perhaps build a ministry facility? Are you still waiting to obtain what is necessary to do what you feel God has called you to do?

If so, then the wait is over! Look no farther! In this book you will find the will of God, and the least expensive way to occupy until Jesus comes right where you are through the Ministry of Intercession.

Intercession requires no money, or any special equipment. No building or costly overhead is required, yet it is one of the most powerful ministries and the most vital of all the occupations in the entire Kingdom of God.

Every operation in the ministry depends upon prayer. Whether you are in a multimillion-dollar facility your car, your closet, church, your job, in a public or private place, you can be powerful and accomplish mighty works in the Kingdom of God by interceding in prayer.

Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,

Behold I have put My words in your mouth. I have this day appointed you to the oversight of the nations and of the kingdoms, to root out and pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant. I am alert and active watching over my word to perform it.

Jeremiah 1: 9-10

Introduction

Imagine this with me, if you can. An angel of the Lord ushered me through heaven in a vision. In the distance I saw Jesus coming toward me with outstretched arms.

I’ll take over from here, He said, as He opened a door in the floor of heaven.

I looked on in amazement as He explained the things that I saw. Colorful lights were beaming up into heaven.

They flashed continually from one side to the other in shades of purple, blue, pink, yellow and red, from pastels to neon bright.

These are the prayers of the saints. He said, Each color represents a type of need, the brightness signifies the severity.

When I could contain myself no longer I had to ask, What is that lightning which streaks out so sharp like a laser, beaming so bright between the beautiful colors?

He turned to me with a smile on His face and said, Oh, those are the Ones which pierce through dense darkness. Those are the prayers of my intercessors that go straight to the Fathers throne.

The way you approach God in prayer could make the difference in the length of time you spend waiting for your answer.

One would think that the creator of the heavens and the earth would either be too busy or just plain out of man’s ability to reach or communicate with on any level. Yet each evening, in the cool of the day, the Creator would purposely seek out man and fellowship with him. Perhaps when man would hear God walking he would come out in haste to meet Him. One day God, the Creator, wasn’t met by His man as usual.

So, searching high and low, among the trees and animals, He calls out, Mankind, wherefore art thou?

What is man that You are mindful of him . . .Psalms 8:4a

Chapter 1

The Call of God

But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear (Isaiah 59: 2).

Men’s hands were defiled with blood and their lips were speaking lies and perverseness. No one wanted truth. They trusted in vanity and mischief. There was no peace or justice anywhere. Those who sought peace or justice stumbled around in darkness, unable to find their way.

And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor, therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him (Isaiah 59:16).

Is there yet an intercessor for these last days? Will you answer the call of God to stand in the gap for those who grope in darkness looking for God? Will you make up the hedge between God and man?

God is calling you to act as His Holy Arm and bring salvation to the people; to set the captive free, to restore sight to the blind, to bring deliverance to the captive, healing and peace of mind to those who are sick and in torment.

Oh, sing unto the Lord a new song; for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm has gotten Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation. His righteousness has He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He has remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (Psalms 98: 1-3)

God is seeking intercessors today, just as in the days of Isaiah.

An Intercessor is one who stands in the gap and makes up the hedge, praying on behalf of others. Because of intercessors, God reaches man and man can receive from the hand of God.

Intercession is praying beyond one’s self to surpass earthly elements and it reaches into the heavenly realm. It also has an astounding effect on the powers of darkness.

Intercession can be done privately (in the closet), secretly or with others corporately with any number of other intercessors.

Whether intercession is done in a physical group gathering, telephone, or via internet miles apart, the effect is still powerful. Everyone who has received Jesus as Savior should intercede for others just as you pray for your own personal needs (I Timothy 2:1-4).

Your commitment to God and time with other intercessors forms the ministry and make you accountable to pray. Every believer should take part in prayer and intercession with others, often because the effect is more powerful when two or more pray together (Matthew 18:19-20).

Characteristics of the Called

You will be drawn to and inspired by others who are involved in the prayer ministry. You will remember them and their ministry, vividly. Your prayer time either, in private or with others, will be of utmost importance to you. Sermons or literature on prayer will captivate you and inspire you spiritually; perhaps years later you will recall the lasting effect intercessors had on you.

I still remember the first day I met Billie Adams. She was one of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s first intercessors. She was with them even before they were popular on radio and television. Although it was the late 1970’s, I still vividly remember the Women of the Word (W.O. W) Conventions where she shared how she first prayed on behalf of the Copeland’s Ministry. She held the congregation spellbound at every church and W.O.W meeting that I attended. I sat mesmerized on the edge of my seat as she walked across the platform.

The Word of God poured from her mouth when she prayed. I traveled from coast to coast listening and learning from her ministry and prayed earnestly to God that I could pray as she did.

When I knew I had traveled as much as my finances and my husband’s business would allow, Billie, Germaine Copeland, and I prayed together that I would be able to attend the August, San Bernadino, California W.O.W. Convention.

Our prayer was answered before I arrived home from that meeting. My luggage was lost for three days, as a result the airline gave me a Free Round Trip Ticket to fly anywhere in the United States. People who are called to the same ministry have a way of drawing from, inspiring each other.

Do intercessors inspire you while praying? Do you spend more time praying for others than for yourself? Do the prayers that you pray on their behalf seem to receive answers before those you pray for yourself? When you finish praying do you still feel it is not enough? Do you find yourself still silently praying within when others have finished? Do you feel deeply moved or feel burdened, responsible to pray for other people or situations even when no request has been made to you? Does prayer linger on continuously? Do you feel it stirring within you? These are common occurrences within an intercessor or those who are called to prayer.

The Bible says, you are first of all to pray. If you are searching for your place in the ministry then pray until that place is made known to you. Whether you are praying in a church or you have no local church home yet, perhaps you are at home praying privately in your closet. You will still be effective and powerful just by accepting the call of God and making a commitment to regularly intercede on behalf of others.

Just as Moses was blessed by interceding on behalf of the people in his day, your life as an Intercessor will be blessed with the same rewards. All those benefits are extended to you now in this generation. See Chapter 12 for the Benefits and Rewards of Interceding in prayer.

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. (1Timothy 2:1-4)

No One Is Exempt

Do not feel that you have to be perfect, free from all difficulties or a long-time Christian before you can respond to this call. Never hesitate to respond to any call from God because at times He’s even chosen the foolish, weak, or unimportant, to do His great works (I Corinthians. 1:26-27).

Certainly, pressing situations will arise to hinder you. Satan will show you every reason why you cannot accept this call from God. But,