This series on intercessors training for Singapore is based off my written notes, which I took as I attended a church conference on this topic in Feb 2025.

Speaker: Ps Shyane Payne

I know you are Singaporeans, but just indulge me a little bit, makes the journey more interesting.

So when I say hallelujah, it’s the expression of joining us with the heavenly assembly.

And when someone in heaven says hallelujah, how do people respond, everyone say amen.

So let’s do that now.

We have been taught to read the Bible from the human perspective.

And are taught to see the humanity from the Bible.

That’s why when we pray, we ask sympathy from God, and sometimes we join in with them to blame God.

God come and fix this, have mercy.

But when you see it from His vantage point it changes everything.

He can never be wicked, He is always righteous.

And even when he is righteous, he is merciful, not giving what we deserve else we would have been gone already.

He is excellent in his plans, deliberate in how he does things, no mistakes and never commit blunder.

He is altogether lovely, wonderful, gracious.

Your thoughts and plans for us, are good O Lord, you are a good Father, a good King, we celebrate you.

My Lord we invite you to take your place, carry us when we carry ourselves, position us when we cannot position ourselves.

We want to see you engaged in your work, we are here to learn about you, and unless you open our understanding we remain stuck.

Unless you open our eyes, we remain blind.

In your goodness, mercy, great love, and patience, we invite you, in the name of Jesus.

I had some questions, so let me summarise quickly.

Moses came down the mountain, and Exo, Deut record the same event.

The book of Deut is Moses sitting with the people at the bottom of the mountain, saying you are going to die for your sin, relating from his perspective, his journey.

So when you read Deut 9, you will see a clear sequence of event.

v16 he looked and saw the golden calf they did, v17 he took the two tablets and threw them down, v18 he went into prayer and fasting, v21 after he had interceded and got a reprieve from God saying I took the calf and burnt it with fire.

Now what is missing in Exo account is the 40 days praying and fasting the second time.

So in Exo he came down the mountain, broke the tablets, and went to deal with the golden calf.

Go back to Deut his 40 days fast, he was dealing with the fierce anger of God.

As you continue to look at Moses journey, for the 40 years he was with the children of Israel.

Every time they mess up that would provoke the wrath of God, he does not go and fix the problem first, but stands in the gap and plead with God, while the people are still in their sins.

So the first place of intercession, is not dealing with the people / sins.

We first have to game in the spiritual realm, Dr John will talk more later.

But Moses had to first get reprieve from God, then address the problem.

This is where a lot of intercessors fail.

Intercession can fail, if you do not achieve the result you are going for, you failed.

There was a young man in our team, and we prayed and fast for him, while we were doing so he got an invitation to go for vacation.

So what do I do? I was so offended, that I never bothered to pray.

What happened? Failed.

How was I defeated? I was offended.

When you are doing intercession, you have to take your eyes away from the people.

Because if you don’t, you are going to judge them, you are going to say to God you’re right they need fire.

And so fire will come upon them, because there is no intercessor to stand in the gap.

Moses complained to God in one account, that the burden is too heavy for him to carry, that he did not born these children.

So God said take 70 elders, and what happened?

The wrath of God was poured out on the people, and there was no intercessor.

And this was the only time, Moses failed to intercede.

All of the past punishment, they got cut short, but not this one.

Yesterday, we tried to prove that the intercessor is critical at work.

God is not looking for a pastor, or mighty man, but somebody from the closet, and nobody will know what you did.

Remember what Ps John said about intimacy?

He looks around for someone, and give him a vision, and say pray now.

So he prays, groaning in pain, till there is a breakthrough, and problem solved.

Now Moses dealt with the calf.

Exo 32:29: Moses said consecrate yourself today to the Lord, every man upon his son.

Now the situation had calmed down, and 3000 people died, not by the hand of God, but by the Levites among them.

Families got disrupted as many people died.

So Moses said to the Levites, consecrate yourself as after all you are supposed to be a holy people.

Moses knows he has to go back to God, God has given them a reprieve.

The last time he stood on the mountain with God, he had no idea what he was seeing.

Now in Exo 32:30, Moses said he was going up to the Lord, and make atonement for your sin, and perhaps God would forgive them.

Did he know God was going to forgive them? Maybe not.

So notice Moses intercession was in phases.

The first phase was to plead for judgment.

And the second phase now was to plead for atonement.

So Moses goes back to the Lord, and say I have seen what these people have done, and they are so wicked, but Lord forgive them.

Have you gone to your parents, saying forgive me I was wrong, took the family car and destroyed it.

Dad I love you, my friends wanted to take the care, please forgive it.

But it’s the family car, we need for the family, you took it play, and you want me to forgive you.

As a father what would you say?

So Moses prays God you forgive them please, and he is not getting anywhere.

Then he pulls out his big gun, Lord if you would not forgive them, then blot me out of your book.

I identify with the people and the sins.

Moses was saying he is going to take eternal damnation to be in hell forever for this people.

I don’t understand what burden was carrying, and how Moses did that.

Then God said whoever had sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.

God doesn’t joke, whoever sin He will blot.

I will be careful with sin if I were you.

When Moses was down there dealing with the people, remember Moses reminded God of His covenant.

Exo 32:34 Now after Moses interceded second time, God told Moses go take the people to the promise land and my angel will go before you.

Has God forgiven them?

Exo 33:1-5: Then God said depart from me and go lead the people which you have led out of Egypt, for these are stiff-necked people.

And the children of Israel in Exo 33:6 were in mourning now, and stripped himself from the idols ornaments.

So what did Moses do now, he is not allowed to go up the mountain anymore to meet God, unless he is invited.

Exo 33:7: Moses took his tent and stood if afar.

Now Moses even as he is standing with the people in their sins, God treated him differently, why?

Because he has gained a platform, and now his hands are not defiled by their sins, and he is in God’s favour.

So Moses now invites God to his tent which is far away from Israelites, as he knew God would destroy them.

So God’s glory descended the tabernacle, to meet Moses.

Exo 33:8-11: Then the Israelites came near to join Moses went to the tabernacle and in mourning asked for forgiveness.

Can you see repentance among the people? Is God forgiving now.

Moses has still not succeeded.

He said in v12, God you told me to bring this people, you have not told me who will go with me.

That is not going anywhere, so he goes a different line.

So he said God you told me I found grace and favour in your sight.

When you said that to me, did you mean it.

v13: Now therefore, I pray if I found grace in your sight, show me your ways that I know you, that this nation is your people.

I’m going to paraphrase, Moses has tried everything but is not getting anywhere.

So he goes before God, Lord you told me I’m good and your child, and have favour before you.

So now show me what will it take to accept this people again.

And the Lord finally responded v14, my presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Who is God given rest, Moses whom God has favour, and still not the people.

So v15-16 Moses took that as currency, your presence if going to go with me yes?

And I’m going to go with them.

Lord if you won’t go with us all, then don’t bring us further.

And Moses is bringing back the destiny for his people Israel to be a holy nation, peculiar people.

So in v17, the Lord said to Moses I will also do this thing you have spoken, for you have found grace in my sight, and I know you by name.

Why is God forgiving the people, it’s because of Moses relationship and position with God.

God doesn’t even seem excited doing that thing for the people now.

And v18 onwards, Moses said show me your glory.

And chapter 34, he was invited up the mountain by God.

Moses bowed before God.

And Exo 34:9, Moses said if now I found grace, let my Lord come with us again and take us as your people, forgive us our sins and remove your iniquity, and take us as your inheritance.

So v10 God renews his covenant, forgives them, and takes them as his inheritance.

Moses now succeeds in his intercession.

But beloved do you see what it took to get him there, and how easily he could have wanted to quit.

I mean God said to Moses, you’re good you’re going to heaven, but your people maybe not.

God comes and reveal his glory to him, and Moses said your people.

This is the model God gives us for intercession.

The intercessor stands with God, and convinces God to change his mind.

In this place, no amount of prophetic declaration or acts can do this.

You can speak in tongues for 10 years, but never achieve this.

Do you see Moses relationship with God, and in his intimacy God reveals him many things.

Jesus speaks to many people in parables, and say who has an ear to hear let them hear, means I’m not explaining if they understand let them hear, else too bad.

And you are wondering God why you do that, don’t you want your people Israel to understand.

His disciples came to him and ask why are you speaking to them in parables.

He didn’t answer that, but said to them, it is given to you to understand the mysteries of heaven, to understand your role in the kingdom of God.

But to those who are outside, everything comes in parables.

Are you citizens of heaven?

You have access to the mysteries of heaven.

And we sought to show you, without that kind of access, you cannot effectively intercede.

So now it is up to you to claim that which is yours.

Lord you said that it is given to me to know Matt 13, I will no longer accept blindness, you have made provision for me to know, I’m laying claim to my inheritance.

That I can walk with you as informed intercessors.