Strike the Ground | Disciples Ignite, Intercede, & Influence | Douglas Sheppard

In this powerful message, Pastor Douglas calls the church beyond routine, surface-level prayer and into a life of true intercession. Preaching from a place of lived experience, he reminds us that fasting and prayer are often met with resistance—not because they are ineffective, but because they are effective. Intercession is not reserved for the “extra-spiritual”; it is the calling of every disciple who follows Jesus. To follow Christ is to do what He did—to stand in the gap, to contend for others, and to come before God on behalf of the lost, the hurting, and the broken. Prayer, Pastor Douglas teaches, is not meant to be mechanical or obligatory, but fueled by intimacy, surrender, and perseverance.
Drawing from biblical examples like Moses and deeply personal stories, Pastor Douglas challenges us to let our hearts be moved again. True intercession flows from love—a love so real it produces burden, compassion, and even tears. He invites the church to ask God for a heart that breaks for what breaks His, and for the “gift of tears” that awakens passionate, Spirit-led prayer. At its core, intercession is rooted in friendship with God, where prayer becomes dialogue, not duty. This sermon is a clear call to allow God to interrupt our lives, deepen our love for others, and use us as vessels of His power and mercy in a world desperate for hope.

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