Graham’s death should put an urgency in the hearts of intercessors far and wide to pick up the slack, stand in the gap, make up the hedge—and pray for our nation.
Billy Graham, America’s pastor, graduated to heaven—and only God really knows how many people he took with him. What many may not immediately consider is Graham was as much an intercessor—especially in the later years of his life—as he was an evangelist.
I was having breakfast in North Florida when I got the news of Graham’s death. Immediately, I was hit with the spiritual implications of his graduating to glory. Immediately I understood that his powerful prayers—that his intercession for our nation and even world leaders—would be missed.
James 5:16 (AMPC) tells us, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” Graham’s prayers were heartfelt, continued and powerful. He understood the power of prayer.
Cliff Barrows, a long-time musician and program director for Graham’s ministry—once said, “When Billy Graham was asked about the most important steps in preparing for an evangelistic outreach, he always answered that there were three things that mattered most: Prayer, prayer and prayer.”
Consider what the man of God had to say about prayer I discovered through the Billy Graham Library.
“In the morning, prayer is the key that opens to us the treasures of God’s mercies and blessings; in the evening, it is the key that shuts us up under His protection and safeguard.”
“True prayer is a way of life, not just for use in cases of emergency. Make it a habit, and when the need arises you will be in practice.”
“Have you ever said, ‘Well, all we can do now is pray’? … When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.”
“We are to pray in times of adversity, lest we become faithless and unbelieving. We are to pray in times of prosperity, lest we become boastful and proud. We are to pray in times of danger, lest we become fearful and doubting. We are to pray in times of security, lest we become self-sufficient.”
“This should be the motto of every follower of Jesus Christ. No matter how dark and hopeless a situation might seem, never stop praying.”
I always loved Graham’s heart for prayer—and intercession. He prayed for presidents. He prayed for churches. He prayed for America in times of crisis. His son, Franklin, said he was mentally alert right up to the end. I have to believe he prayed right up to the end.
How great could the void in the spirit be from one man’s prayers? You’ve probably read the prophecies from Benny Hinn and Kim Clement about Graham’s homegoing. I won’t rehash them here.
Neither am I exalting a man, but I do believe Graham’s death should put an urgency in the hearts of intercessors far and wide to pick up the slack, stand in the gap, make up the hedge—and pray for our nation.
Who will pray? If you’re an intercessor, I want to hear from you. God is moving through prayer in an unprecedented way. To learn more, visit AwakeningBlaze.com, a prayer movement God launched on Pentecost Sunday in 2017.
Thank you Apostle Jennifer for alerting the intercessors it’s time to pray the more. I wasn’t aware of Grahams home going, although I couldn’t explain what I felt in my spirit. I say yes Lord with the help of Holy Spirit I want to take up the mantle of prophetic intercession. This is what is required of us today.
God Bless you, Grace and peace be with you always,
There is never a vacuum in the house of our Lord. God’s children are there to pray and to pray always. The work of God must be intensified despite the death of Bill Graham.
when I was in my prayer time yesterday morning, the Holy Spirit had me pray for Franklin and Ann Graham Lotz for their ministries. I did not know at this prayer time that their father had died, so the Holy Spirit will be revealing to Christians to take up the priviledge of prayer.
As I listened to his life story commentary, I found that many of Grahams thoughts and prayers towards directing people to the CROSS were as my own.The lost, the hurt, the broken and wounded. I wept to know and be assured of the common thread through the Intercessor’s prayers, it is the CROSS of JESUS!
Several years ago I prayed Psalm 2:8: Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Thy possessions. One of the “nations” was the USA! The other nation was Israel!
I will pray.
I am and have been intercessor for some time. My daily prayers go beyond normal. Prayer to me is the most important thing I do. It is all inclusive. I am believing God for an out pouring of His Spirit, miracles, and revival in our nation. I arise early, and as God opens my eyes and heart, I begin to cry out. And as He lays burdens of heaviness on me, I cry even the more. My biggest burden now is the church in America. I am not claiming anything,just sharing.
on Tuesday evening I prayed that someone with a loud voice would rise up and call America to repentance and declare the mighty works of the living God.
Little did any of us know that Mr. Graham would leave this earth the very next day.
As I think about Billy Graham I feel a surreal sense of the Holy Spirit .I just know something is shifting in the spirit realm,drawing me closer,so when I saw this article I became excited .I know what I have been feeling as an intercessor since yesterday.
Many years ago while passing through Charotte, N.C.,I visited the Billy Graham Museum and I became overwhelmed with the call to ministry. As I walked through the building, I cried slow, tedious tears and had a gentlemen ask me if I was alright and replied, yes because I knew I was called to evangelize. At the end of the Graham’s museum tour, I recall hearing a portion of a Graham interview, where he stated that if he were to change anything during those years of evangelism, that he would have travelled less and spent more time with God and His Word.
Yesterday as I was in prayer I felt very strongly in my spirit to read Joshua 1…Moses (Billy) is dead. Joshua you lead these people now into the promised land.
Teach people how to grab ahold of the promises of God and enter into the land of milk and honey. Yes there will be giants to over come, but we can teach people how to fight them, how to press in and take their rightful inheritance. There will no longer be one farmer harvesting the fields, but many harvesters. The harvest is ready. Take courage and strength for with God nothing is impossible. We are set apart to harvest the fields for such a time as this.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. Felt an urgency upon hearing of his passing to send an email to our intercessory peers with this same sentiment. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,yesterday while I was getting ready The Lord spoke to me that the baton and mantle of Rev. Billy Graham has been transferred to my husband and I.The Lord confirmed with my husband Kyle. We are humbled to be chosen of God.Thank you WOG for sharing it was conformation.
I will stand in the gap and make up the hedge and seek Gods face and pray