(Eze. 22:30)
How many people does it take to change the world? Does it take thousands, even millions to do it? Do we need vast multitudes of people crying out to heaven for help so that maybe—just maybe—we can (by the sheer force of our numbers) defeat Satan and move the hand of God?
Some dear folks may think so. But the scriptural fact is, we don’t.
Be assured, I am strongly in favor of inspiring as many believers as possible to pray. My ministry has been devoted to it. Yet, we must beware of the concept that our power in prayer comes from our numbers because that’s not what the Bible teaches. Jesus said that if even two believers “agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them” (Matt. 18:19). So it is a scriptural fact that it only takes two people praying in faith to get any job done.
The Bible tells us of times when the prayers of even one person have delivered entire nations from destruction. One. That’s all God was looking for in Ezekiel chapter 22. He wasn’t calling for a hundred thousand intercessors to stand in the gap. He wasn’t searching for a half a million pray-ers. He said, “I sought for a man!”
Could it possibly be that the intercession of one person could be that powerful?
Absolutely, Moses proved it.
When the Israelites refused to go into the Promised Land in Numbers chapter 14, God was ready to wipe them out then and there. But Moses interceded and asked Him to pardon them instead. God’s answer settled forever the fact that one man’s prayer can change the destiny of a nation.
He said to Moses, “I have pardoned, according to your word.”
Scripture Reading: Numbers 14:1–20
Source: Devotions for the Praying Heart by Lynne Hammond.
Excerpt permission granted by Lynne Hammond Ministries
On the chilly March night in 1972 when Lynne Hammond took her first step into a life of Spirit-led prayer, she had no idea what was about to happen. All she knew was the hunger in her heart for God wouldn’t let her sleep. In the few short months she’d been born again, her desire to fellowship with Him had grown so strong she could hardly contain it. “Help me, God!” she cried. “I want to know you. I want to be able to talk to you. Please, teach me to pray!”
Suddenly, a heavenly presence flooded the room. Lynne sensed waves of spiritual fire sweeping over her and a beautiful language began to flow like a river from within her. Although she’d never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, she knew instantly, without a doubt—this was God!
What began that night soon blossomed into a life of prayer that ultimately became a ministry of prayer when, in 1980, Lynne and her husband, Mac, founded Living Word Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under Lynne’s leadership, the prayer ministry at Living Word has become an internationally recognized model for developing effective pray-ers in the local church.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”