Why Intercessory Prayer Is Vital for the Church
Church isn’t just a gathering—it’s a spiritual battlefield.
And every army needs intercessors on the front lines.
While others may preach, sing, and serve… intercessors stand in the gap—calling down heaven, breaking spiritual attacks, and securing victory in the unseen realm. If your church has ever survived a storm, grown in revival, or turned around in crisis—you can thank someone’s secret intercession.
Intercessory prayer is the invisible engine that powers the Church.
It covers leadership. It protects unity. It stirs revival. It stops division in its tracks.
When you pray for your church, you’re not just talking to God—you’re partnering with Him to shape the spiritual destiny of your congregation.
This article isn’t just about prayer points.
It’s a call to rise up in authority and intercede like heaven depends on it—because it does.
So if your heart burns for your church to thrive, to grow, to heal, and to walk in power—
these 15 intercessory prayers will help you go to war on your knees.
The Biblical Role of an Intercessor for the Church
Throughout Scripture, God moved when someone stood in the gap.
Intercessors have always been the bridge between heaven’s power and earth’s need.
1. Moses Interceded for a Nation
When Israel rebelled, Moses fell on his face before God and pleaded for mercy (Exodus 32:11–14). His prayer changed history—God spared the people because one man dared to intercede.
2. Paul Never Stopped Praying for the Church
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” – Ephesians 1:16
Paul’s letters are filled with passionate, specific intercessory prayers—for wisdom, strength, revelation, and unity in the church.
3. Jesus Himself Is the Ultimate Intercessor
“He lives to make intercession for them.” – Hebrews 7:25
Even now, Jesus is praying for His Church. When you intercede, you’re joining Him in His ministry.
4. God’s Call to Intercede Is Clear
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap…” – Ezekiel 22:30
God is still looking for intercessors. Not perfect ones—willing ones.
So if you feel the burden, the nudge, or the fire to pray for your church—
you’ve just been activated.
→ Now, let’s step into the fire and begin with the first 3 intercessory prayers—starting with unity, revival, and leadership covering.
Let’s step into the gap with bold, targeted intercession. These first three prayers cover unity, revival fire, and leadership protection—the foundation for a thriving, Spirit-filled church.
15 Intercessory Prayers for the Church (with Scripture)
1: Intercession for Church Unity
Scripture Reference
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:3
How to Apply This Prayer
When tension, gossip, or spiritual division threatens the church body, stand in the gap with this prayer. Declare unity over every ministry, relationship, and leader.
Prayer
Father, I stand in the gap for my church today. I speak unity over every heart, every home, every ministry. I rebuke the spirit of division, offense, and confusion. I ask that You bind us together with the love of Christ and the bond of peace. Let us be of one mind, one purpose, one Spirit. Heal broken relationships. Silence the enemy’s lies. Make us a united army, moving together for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Up next: Let’s call down the fire of revival to awaken the dry bones and reignite the church in power.
2: Intercession for Revival Fire
Scripture Reference
“Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” – Psalm 85:6
How to Apply This Prayer
When your church feels spiritually dry, passive, or stuck in routine—pray this to invite a fresh outpouring of God’s presence and power.
Prayer
Lord, we need revival. I cry out as an intercessor on behalf of my church—breathe new life into every heart. Set our services on fire. Let worship become warfare. Let sermons carry Your weight. Tear down every form of apathy and religious routine. Awaken us with holy hunger. Revive our first love. Let our altars burn again with repentance, healing, and deliverance. I declare that revival is rising—starting now, starting here. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Coming next: Let’s cover the shepherds—pray divine protection, strength, and anointing over your pastors and leaders.
3: Intercession for Church Leaders and Pastors
Scripture Reference
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls…” – Hebrews 13:17
How to Apply This Prayer
Pray this over your pastors, elders, and ministry leaders regularly. Cover their hearts, families, minds, and callings with divine protection and strength.
Prayer
Father, I lift up the leaders of my church. I pray for our pastors—strengthen them, anoint them, and protect them. Guard their minds from burnout, distraction, and spiritual warfare. Cover their families with peace. Let every word they preach carry heaven’s authority. Surround them with wise counsel, loyal intercessors, and supernatural energy. I cancel every attack sent against them. Let them lead with courage, joy, and clarity. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Up next: The church is a place of healing—so let’s intercede for physical, emotional, and spiritual restoration.
These next three intercessory prayers focus on healing within the congregation, financial breakthrough, and protection against spiritual attacks and division—covering the body, the resources, and the spiritual strongholds of your church.
4: Intercession for Healing in the Congregation
Scripture Reference
“And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up…” – James 5:15
How to Apply This Prayer
Pray this when members are battling sickness, grief, mental struggles, or emotional pain. Intercede for healing miracles, restoration, and strength for the weary.
Prayer
Lord, I come before You on behalf of every hurting person in our church. Heal those battling disease. Comfort those grieving silently. Restore those wrestling with depression, anxiety, or despair. You are Jehovah Rapha—our Healer. Let healing flow through our sanctuary, our small groups, and our prayer altars. Touch the broken in body and soul. Raise the weary. Strengthen the faint. Let our church be a place where healing flows like a river. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Coming next: Let’s break financial bondage and pray divine provision over every church need.
5: Intercession for Financial Breakthrough in the Church
Scripture Reference
“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19
How to Apply This Prayer
Stand in the gap for your church’s financial needs—buildings, outreach, staff support, or debt. Also pray over generous giving and wise stewardship.
Prayer
Father, I intercede for the financial health of our church. I break the spirit of lack and limitation. I declare overflow, breakthrough, and supernatural provision. Let resources flow from unexpected places. Touch the hearts of givers. Multiply every seed. Release ideas, grants, partnerships, and blessings. Let our church be a lender, not a borrower. Equip us to fund the Kingdom. Every bill paid. Every need met. Every vision resourced. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Coming next: We must fight the enemy’s schemes—pray protection against spiritual attacks and division.
6: Intercession Against Spiritual Attacks and Division
Scripture Reference
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” – Isaiah 54:17
How to Apply This Prayer
Use this prayer to break every demonic assignment against your church—attacks on leadership, unity, vision, or spiritual growth.
Prayer
Lord, I take my place as a watchman over this house of worship. I cancel every demonic plan of confusion, offense, witchcraft, and division. No weapon formed against this church will prosper. I declare angelic protection around our pastors, staff, ministries, and congregation. Let every scheme be exposed and dismantled. Let every spiritual stronghold crumble. Release peace, order, truth, and power. We are covered. We are guarded. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Coming next: Let’s intercede for discipleship, growth, and a congregation that hungers for spiritual maturity.
Related Prayer: 15 Powerful Prayers for the Church Congregation (with Scripture)
These next three intercessory prayers focus on church growth and discipleship, purity in leadership, and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. These are prayers that strengthen the foundation and ignite the fire within your church.
7: Intercession for Church Growth and Discipleship
Scripture Reference
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” – Matthew 28:19
How to Apply This Prayer
Use this prayer to intercede for lasting growth—not just in numbers, but in spiritual depth, discipleship, and maturity.
Prayer
Lord, I pray for divine growth in our church—not just seats filled, but hearts transformed. Raise up true disciples, not casual attendees. Let every ministry produce fruit that remains. Ignite a hunger for the Word, prayer, and evangelism. Multiply our small groups, our leaders, our outreach. Help us equip, train, and send mature believers who walk in power and truth. Let us grow in depth and in number—for Your glory alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Coming next: Let’s pray for clean hands and pure hearts in every spiritual leader and influencer.
8: Intercession for Purity and Holiness in Leadership
Scripture Reference
“Be holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:16
How to Apply This Prayer
Intercede for your pastors, teachers, and leaders to walk in purity, humility, and holiness in both public and private life.
Prayer
God, I lift up the spiritual leaders in our church. Keep their hearts pure. Keep their motives clean. Let there be no secret sin, no compromise, no pride. Guard their eyes, their minds, and their integrity. Raise up holy leaders—men and women who walk in the fear of the Lord. Let holiness mark our pulpits. Let righteousness flow from every platform. Let character carry the anointing. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Up next: Every church needs a fresh outpouring—let’s pray for a visitation of the Holy Spirit like never before.
9: Intercession for an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
Scripture Reference
“I will pour out My Spirit on all people…” – Joel 2:28
How to Apply This Prayer
Pray for a tangible move of the Holy Spirit in your church—in worship, preaching, prayer, and every corner of ministry.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, we need You. I intercede for a fresh outpouring over our church. Let Your presence saturate every service, every room, every heart. Pour out dreams, visions, prophecy, healing, deliverance. Let revival spread like wildfire. Baptize the weary. Empower the hungry. Let Your fire fall in children’s classes, youth groups, small groups, and on the altar. Make our church a place where heaven touches earth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Coming next: Let’s lift up the next generation—our youth and children are the future of the Church.
Related Prayer: 50 Prayer Points for Church Growth and Expansion
These next three prayers cover the next generation, mission and outreach teams, and families within the church—because the future, the mission, and the foundation all matter deeply to the heart of God.
10: Intercession for the Next Generation in the Church
Scripture Reference
“One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts.” – Psalm 145:4
How to Apply This Prayer
Pray this over your youth, children, young adults, and every rising leader in the congregation. Ask for boldness, protection, and spiritual fire.
Prayer
Lord, I stand in the gap for the next generation in our church. I declare they will not be silent, confused, or lost. Raise up young men and women who know Your Word, hear Your voice, and stand unshaken in this world. Protect their minds from deception. Fill them with passion and purpose. Ignite revival through our youth. Let them lead with truth, worship with fire, and preach with power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Next: Let’s cover those on the frontlines—intercede for missionaries and outreach ministries reaching the world.
11: Intercession for Missionaries and Outreach Teams
Scripture Reference
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news…” – Romans 10:15
How to Apply This Prayer
Pray for church missions, evangelism efforts, and outreach ministries locally and globally. Cover them in protection, provision, and power.
Prayer
Father, I lift up every missionary and outreach worker connected to our church. Protect them as they go. Provide for every need. Let miracles, salvations, and signs follow them. Open doors, soften hearts, and empower them with boldness. I declare divine favor, divine strategy, and divine appointments over their work. Let communities be changed, and souls be saved. Use our church to reach the lost in power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Up next: Let’s intercede for strong marriages and families—the backbone of a healthy church body.
12: Intercession for Marriages and Families in the Church
Scripture Reference
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15
How to Apply This Prayer
Cover every marriage, parent, child, and home in your congregation. Intercede for restoration, peace, and alignment with God’s design for family.
Prayer
Lord, I stand in the gap for every family in our church. Strengthen marriages. Heal broken relationships. Bring peace to homes. Restore prodigals. Let fathers lead with love and mothers build with grace. Cover our children with protection and purity. Tear down every generational curse. Let every household become an altar of worship. May our church be filled with strong families built on Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Up next: Pray for a deep hunger for truth and the unshakable foundation of the Word to spread in our church.
Related Prayer: 50 Prayer Points for Church Members (With Scriptures)
Let’s seal this powerful journey of intercession with the final three prayers—focused on spiritual hunger, freedom and deliverance, and a closing prayer of thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness to the Church. These are the prayers that protect the foundation, ignite fresh desire, and give God all the glory.
13: Intercession for Spiritual Hunger and Biblical Truth
Scripture Reference
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” – Matthew 5:6
How to Apply This Prayer
Intercede for your church to desire sound doctrine, deeper intimacy with God, and a genuine hunger for righteousness.
Prayer
Father, stir up a holy hunger in our church. Let us not settle for shallow faith or feel-good messages. Raise up a people who long for Your truth, who love Your Word, and who hunger for righteousness. Let Your truth break every lie, every spirit of confusion, and every compromise. Fill our sanctuary with people desperate for You—hungry to grow, eager to change, and ready to stand firm. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Next up: Let’s intercede for deliverance—because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
14: Intercession for Deliverance and Freedom in the Church
Scripture Reference
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17
How to Apply This Prayer
Use this prayer to break the chains of addiction, fear, oppression, and sin within the lives of church members. Pray for total freedom in Christ.
Prayer
Lord, I intercede for deliverance in our church. Break every chain of bondage—addiction, fear, shame, depression, and hidden sin. Let strongholds fall at the altar. Let chains shatter in worship. Let healing flood our prayer rooms. I declare this house a place of freedom where the Holy Spirit reigns. We renounce every demonic foothold and declare liberty, restoration, and wholeness in Jesus’ name. Set Your people free. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Let’s bring it all together with gratitude—thank God for His continued faithfulness to your church family.
15: Intercession of Thanksgiving for God’s Faithfulness to the Church
Scripture Reference
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1
How to Apply This Prayer
End your intercession with a posture of praise. Thank God for what He has done, what He’s doing, and what He’s about to release over your church.
Prayer
God, I thank You for my church. Thank You for every answered prayer, every healing, every soul saved, every leader called, every life transformed. You’ve been faithful—even when we didn’t deserve it. You’ve protected us, provided for us, and poured out grace upon grace. I praise You for what You’ve done and for what’s coming. Let gratitude overflow from this house, and may we never forget Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
→ Ready to go deeper in your role as an intercessor?
Related Prayer: 50 Encouraging Prayers for Church Volunteers
Let’s now equip your readers to walk in their intercessory calling with power, purpose, and consistency. This section will teach them how to go beyond one-time prayers and become faithful spiritual watchmen over their churches.
How to Become an Effective Church Intercessor
You don’t need a title to shift heaven.
You don’t need a pulpit to tear down strongholds.
All you need is a surrendered heart, a burden for the Church, and a bold commitment to stand in the gap when no one else will.
Here’s how to become a church intercessor that makes hell nervous and heaven move:
1. Cultivate a Lifestyle of Prayer, Not Just a Moment
Intercession isn’t a single event—it’s a calling.
Effective intercessors pray daily, consistently, and faithfully, not just when something goes wrong.
Build a rhythm of prayer:
- Set aside dedicated time every week to pray for your church.
- Keep a journal of requests, victories, and prophetic impressions.
- Ask the Holy Spirit for fresh direction every time you pray.
2. Pray the Word Over the Church
God doesn’t respond to emotion—He responds to His Word.
When you declare scriptures over your pastors, ministries, and congregation, you’re praying prayers that heaven is already backing.
Example:
- For unity: Ephesians 4:3
- For leadership: Hebrews 13:17
- For revival: Psalm 85:6
- For deliverance: 2 Corinthians 3:17
3. Fast Regularly to Sharpen Your Spiritual Sensitivity
Fasting removes distractions and amplifies your spiritual hearing.
It’s a sacrifice that says, “God, I want Your will more than my comfort.”
Even one day a week of fasting can result in:
- Clearer spiritual discernment
- Sharper prophetic insight
- Greater power and authority in prayer
4. Partner With Others for Greater Power
Jesus said, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything… it will be done” (Matthew 18:19).
Don’t intercede alone—start or join a prayer group in your church.
Together, you can cover:
- Sunday services
- Outreach events
- Pastoral transitions
- Spiritual warfare seasons
5. Stay Humble, Hidden, and Holy
Intercessors often work behind the scenes—but that’s where the real war is won.
Stay:
- Humble: It’s not about being seen—it’s about standing in the Spirit.
- Hidden: You don’t need credit—God sees.
- Holy: Keep your life clean so your prayers remain powerful.
Your church needs more than talent—it needs intercession.
So rise up, stay on the wall, and never stop praying.
→ Let’s answer some common questions believers ask about intercessory prayer in the next section.
Let’s bring clarity and encouragement with the most common questions believers ask about intercessory prayer for the church. This section is designed to remove doubt, strengthen calling, and affirm every reader’s spiritual role.
FAQs About Intercessory Prayer for the Church
1. Do I need a special calling to become an intercessor?
No. While some may have a specific gift of intercession, every believer is called to pray for the Church.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people…” – 1 Timothy 2:1
You don’t need a title—just a burden and a surrendered heart.
2. What if I don’t feel qualified or confident in prayer?
You don’t need fancy words or long prayers to be effective.
God listens to the faith behind your voice, not the volume or vocabulary.
Start with scripture. Start with a whisper. Start with tears.
Just start. He’ll teach you as you go.
3. How do I know if my prayers are working?
Prayer often works before we see the results.
Intercession shifts the spiritual atmosphere—sometimes instantly, sometimes gradually.
Trust that your prayers are planting seeds, tearing down walls, and releasing heaven—even if you don’t see the fruit right away.
4. How do I stay motivated when I don’t see change?
Keep your eyes on the faithfulness of God, not the speed of results.
Document breakthroughs. Celebrate small victories. Remember past answers.
And most of all—stay close to the Holy Spirit. He’ll refresh your fire.
5. What if spiritual warfare increases after I start interceding?
That’s confirmation you’re hitting something in the spirit.
When resistance increases, it means your prayers are pushing back darkness.
Don’t retreat—reload.
Stay armored in the Word. Worship deeply. Fast intentionally.
And remember—the battle belongs to the Lord.
→ Now let’s bring everything together with a bold, Spirit-filled conclusion—because your intercession is building something eternal.
Let’s finish strong with a bold, empowering conclusion that reminds every intercessor just how powerful their prayers truly are.
Conclusion: Your Intercession Protects and Powers the Church
You may not stand on the stage.
You may not hold a microphone.
But in the spirit—you are a pillar holding up the house of God.
Every whispered prayer…
Every late-night tear…
Every declaration of scripture…
It all matters. It all counts. It all shakes the heavens.
You are a protector. A warrior. A watchman on the wall.
When you intercede, you shield your pastors.
When you intercede, you cover the hurting.
When you intercede, you stop the enemy in his tracks and open the floodgates of revival.
God is not calling for perfect people—He’s calling for willing intercessors.
Those who will pray when others sleep.
Those who will weep for the dry places.
Those who will contend until breakthrough comes.
So keep praying.
Keep believing.
Keep standing in the gap.
Because the Church doesn’t just need more plans, programs, or personalities—
It needs prayer. Your prayer.
Heaven moves when you do.