One of the most effective methods of making intercession, is to pray with others in small groups. The Lord gave us His word on this in Matthew.

Matthew 18:19, "20 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

When we look at these verses in their context we see the power of them, and what is more, how a prayer partner is brought into an agreement that receives from God mighty answers to requests. Again in Matthew, instructions are given about what to do with a brother who sins against you.

Matthew 18:15-17 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

Then Matthew asserts that discipline put upon an unrepentant person is binding.

Matthew 18:18 "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Now notice that the binding and loosing is explained in Matthew 18:18 as being brought about by agreement together, in Matthew 18:19. Agreement on earth has results: "...it will be done for them by My Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19 NKJV). The relationship of the next verse to the agreeing together is very important.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

To be gathered together in His name, is to be consciously met by the Lordship of Christ. The Lord is present, bringing about agreement by the Holy Spirit. Such agreement of two or three, brought about by the Lord the Spirit, will effectively bind in heaven and on earth, and loose in heaven and on earth. We understand therefore, that the agreeing together is a supernatural agreeing that has supernatural results.

Groups praying in the Spirit are brought into the harmony and symphony of agreement, that is into the mind of the Holy Spirit upon the matter being prayed for, and what is being asked will be done by the Father. As a result of this teaching of our Lord in Matthew 18, the following method or procedure is suggested for partnership groups meeting for intercession.

1. The group should not be more than three or four people, and let a leader of the group be appointed who will guide them through the following steps.

2. The leader prays for guidance from the Lord about what the group should pray for, then asks the partners to wait on the Lord quietly, expecting Him to burden them with something specific to bring before Him in prayer. After two or three minutes the leader asks each one to share what the Lord has impressed upon them to pray about. These items should be listed in order of importance.

3. The group waits on the Lord to receive anything He wants to reveal as to how they should pray for the first item. Let this time of waiting go on for about five minutes.

4. Let the group, in turn, share anything the Lord has impressed by the Spirit upon their minds, relative to the item to be prayed for. Some may have scripture verses that give enlightenment or direction. Others may receive a sentence of prophecy; others a single word that demands to be said; yet others a picture or a vision.

5. The leader now sums up the things said, that appear relevant to the topic of prayer, and indicates the direction the praying should take.

6. The group now prays fervently along the lines indicated. Soon someone in the group starts praying under a clear anointing of the Spirit on the matter, fitly and fervently, and conclusively praying it through. There is a spirit witness by all, with what the anointed one is praying. Let another second what has been prayed, by a prayer of agreement, and let the whole group express fervent agreement: "it will be done for them by My Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19 NKJV) said Jesus.

One of our intercessory groups had been led to intercede for a young couple who had moved into the area, and were temporarily living with friends. The need was a house. At that time houses were not readily available and for weeks they had searched in vain. The group was led to pray for the release of a house, and then to pray for a specific estate agent to phone the young couple that morning, and offer them the house the Lord had released. This was prayed under an anointing and all came into joyous agreement. The group believed it was done in heaven, and therefore on earth.

Two hours later, news was received that the couple had been phoned by an estate agent and offered a very suitable house, and that they were moving in at the weekend. This led the group to claim houses for all those in the congregation who, at that time, needed houses. Within a month all were housed. Praise the Lord!

It is wonderful to share in partnership intercession. Many who find it hard to go it alone as an intercessor, become released and effective in a group. It is good that groups relate closely with their pastor. There are some very good reasons for this.

1. By the submitting of their group intercession to the pastor, they are strengthened and supported.
2. Their intercession becomes a body ministry, functioning for the good of all.
3. By the group reporting on the items of intercession, the pastor is able to encourage the intercessors, and bring confirmation to them when other groups have been praying in the same way.
4. When some items have seemingly not been prayed through, the pastor can get other intercessors involved.
5. The pastor has knowledge of those who are available at short notice, who can pray urgent matters through.
6. The intercessory group can be kept from becoming an inward-looking, exclusive club, by being linked up with the whole congregation through the pastor, and therefore function as a vital ministry of the church.
7. Their submission and obedience to God's appointed leader, keeps them free from a spirit of independence and pride that would render them powerless with God.

1 Peter 5:5 "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

These are wonderful days in which to be servants of the living God. Partnership intercession among the people of God is being realized as what has been called "the greatest force on earth". Reader, the purpose of this book is that you may, with understanding, become an active participant in intercession.