Elder Tim Daniels – March 16, 2025
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INTRODUCTION
Elder Tim Daniels brought us a powerful message on the often-overlooked yet crucial practice of intercession. He reminded us that prayer, though invisible, is just as essential as evangelism and other outward acts of faith. “If you are missing prayer or intercession in your life, your words will fall on hard soil,” he warned, emphasizing that prayer tills the ground for the Gospel to take root. Jesus taught us to pray in secret, promising that “your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
This message challenges us to cultivate a lifestyle of hidden prayer—not for show, but for the deep, spiritual impact it has on our hearts and the lives of those around us. Tim reminded us that we are in a spiritual battle, and intercession is one of the most effective ways we engage in that battle.
OPENING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, seeking to grow in our understanding and practice of intercession. Teach us to pray as Jesus prayed—not to be seen by others, but to truly commune with You. May our prayers be a source of strength, transformation, and breakthrough in our lives and the lives of those we intercede for. Help us recognize that prayer is not just a duty, but a powerful weapon You have given us to fight spiritual battles. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
ICEBREAKER
Think of a time when someone prayed for you, and you later realized how much it impacted your life. How did that experience shape your understanding of prayer?
KEY VERSES
Matthew 6:6
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
2 Corinthians 4:4
“In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Luke 6:45
“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
TAKEAWAYS
- Prayer is the Foundation of Effective Evangelism
Tim emphasized that intercession prepares the way for the Gospel: “If you have a habit of prayer and intercession for the people around you, it’s like tilling up soil so that when your words leave your mouth, it’s like good seed falling on good soil.” Evangelism without prayer is like scattering seeds on concrete—prayer softens the heart and makes it receptive to God’s word. - The Spiritual Battle Requires Spiritual Weapons
Tim reminded us that we live in both a physical and spiritual world, and prayer is a key weapon in spiritual warfare. “We believe in spiritual powers and authorities. There’s stuff that happens that we don’t necessarily see all the time, but we can see the effects of it.” If we neglect prayer, we leave ourselves and others vulnerable to the enemy’s schemes. - The Enemy’s Goal is to Blind and Distract
Satan works to prevent people from seeing the truth of the Gospel. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the Gospel.” Prayer breaks through that blindness, allowing people to see and respond to Christ. - Guarding Our Minds Through Prayer
What we meditate on shapes our beliefs, and our beliefs shape our actions. “Your eyes are the gateway to your mind, and what you allow into your mind is what you will start meditating on.” If we fill our minds with truth through prayer, our hearts and words will reflect Christ. - Tearing Down Spiritual Strongholds
Tim explained that a stronghold is a fortress in our minds where lies of the enemy take root. If we believe the enemy’s lies—such as “God doesn’t care” or “My prayers don’t matter”—we start to live in defeat. But intercessory prayer tears down these strongholds and replaces them with God’s truth.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
- What are some areas in your life or in the lives of others where you see “hard soil” that needs to be tilled through prayer?
- How can you make prayer a more consistent and intentional part of your spiritual life?
- Have you ever struggled with believing lies about God (such as “He doesn’t care” or “He isn’t listening”)? How can intercession help replace those lies with truth?
- Who is one person in your life that you feel led to intercede for? How will you commit to praying for them this week?
- How can our church become more of a “house of prayer” rather than just a place of activity?
CHALLENGE
Tim left us with this encouragement: “I want us to leave here inspired to engage in prayer.” This week, set aside intentional time each day to intercede for someone specific. Find a quiet place, just as Jesus instructed, and commit to praying for their salvation, healing, or spiritual growth.
Additionally, examine your own heart—are there areas where the enemy has built strongholds of doubt or discouragement? Ask God to reveal those areas and replace them with His truth.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, thank You for reminding us today of the power of hidden prayer. Forgive us for the times we have neglected intercession. Help us to be faithful in praying for our families, our church, and the lost. We ask You to break strongholds in our lives and in the lives of those we love. Fill us with faith, and let our prayers be effective in bringing people closer to You. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
SCRIPTURES
Matthew 6:6
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
2 Corinthians 4:4
“In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Luke 6:45
“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
Matthew 6:22-23
“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Final Word
Let’s commit to growing in our intercessory prayer lives! As Elder Tim quote E.M. Bounds, “The church is looking for better methods, but God is looking for better men.” Let’s be those people—people of deep and hidden prayer, through whom God works mightily.