The power of intercession can be scientifically, scripturally and specifically attested.

Intercession and its positive results in answers received, just like any other thing, can be scientifically tested. Such a test proves it to be what Dr. Thomas Payne called prayer: "the greatest force on earth". There is more scientific evidence for answered prayer, than any scientific statement that is capable of proof. History abounds with such proof. That "God answers prayer" is abundantly evident to the intercessor. A diary faithfully kept over only a few months will show many thrilling, and positive God-given answers to specific petitions.

There is also the evidence of remarkable changes in both the intercessor and the ones interceded for. No-one can spend regular and prolonged times in intimacy with God and remain unchanged. Intercessors present valuable proof that faith pleases God, and that "... He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).

Let everyone who regularly intercedes for others and their needs, keep systematic records, and from time to time have a special thanksgiving meeting with God for all the factual things received. Joyfully reading to God the diary accounts of these answers will not only be a great faith builder, it will also be a rich time of worshipful appreciation of your loving Father, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

The abundant evidence of successful intercession found in the scriptures attests to its power: Abraham asked, and the Lord healed a whole household.

Genesis 20:17 "So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children."

Eliezer asked and the Lord gave Isaac a wife:

Genesis 24:12,15,58 "Then he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah ... came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go.""

Isaac asked, and the Lord gave children:

Genesis 25:21 "And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived."

Moses asked, and the Lord rained plagues on Egypt:

Exodus 9:28,29 "Entreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's."

Moses asked, and the Lord opened a way through the Red Sea:

Exodus 14:15,21,22 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left."

Moses asked, and the Lord gave an antidote to heal Marah's bitter waters:

Exodus 15:25 "And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet ..."

Joshua asked, and the Lord stayed the sun and moon:

Joshua 10:12,13 "Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies."

Elijah asked, and the Lord stopped the rain for three and one half years:

James 5:17 "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months."

Elijah asked, and the Lord gave the rain:

James 5:18 "And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."

Daniel asked, and the Lord muzzled the mouths of the lions:

Daniel 6:11,20-22 "Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. ... O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, ... My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths."

Early Christians asked, and the Lord answered mightily:

Acts 12:5,17 "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him ... (Peter) declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison."

The Bible gives scores of testimonies to the power of intercession.

General requests can be disappointing - there is no way of checking the answers. Specific intercession results in a collection of specific answers. For example, to pray "God save souls", sounds good, but it is not easy to check if the prayer is answered. Intercession is pleading and obtaining answers one step at a time. Now, a soul-saving prayer could be tackled more like this:

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Step One

"Lord, I want to be used to reach my neighbours for You - help me to establish an acquaintance with them." (Prayer answered some days later by the neighbour asking for a lift to town as their car had broken down.)

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Step Two

"Lord, help me to strengthen my contact with my neighbours." (Prayer answered by the neighbours accepting an invitation to come to afternoon tea.)

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Step Three

"Lord, make it possible for me to invite my neighbours to our Sunday service, and give me favour in their eyes so that they will accept." (Prayer answered by neighbours asking: "What are you doing on Sunday?" You talk about your church and ask them to come with you, and they accept.)

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Step Four

Praying for their conviction by the Holy Spirit and that they will accept Christ as Saviour and Lord. (Answer to your intercession - they respond positively to the gospel invitation.)

Such specific praying results in 4 specific answers to prayer. If you want specific answers you must pray specific prayers. Can you, right now, write down two or three specific answers to prayer and prove that intercession works? Most intercessors can!