THE INTERCESSORS
EPISODE ONE
Luke 18:1
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint
Israel C. Eziedo
Grace S. Orshio
DEDICATION
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
TO JESUS CHRIST
– THE LORD MY GOD –
THE ONE WHO IS WORTHY TO
RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOUR
AND POWER, THE CREATOR OF
ALL THINGS FOR HIS OWN
PLEASURE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
THE INTERCESSORS…
GLOSSARY
PREFACE
There is a Divine call for prayer. There is a dire need for prayer. The importance of prayer cannot be overemphasized! If we pray, healing comes, if we don’t pray, decay and corruption will prevail.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
So we see that one basic reason why there is a lot of decay in our families, schools, society and nations is because we have neglected the place of prayer. If only we will get back to the place where we will groan and cry and weep on our knees in earnest prayer and intercession, we will see a mighty outbreak of God’s power in our lives, families and ministries. Beloved, we CANNOT do without prayer. Prayer is the act of breathing in God’s divine nature which will then manifest in our lives. Just as I cannot physically live without breathing, so also will I be spiritually dead if I neglect prayer.
O God! Please pour in us the Spirit of prayer and cause Your holy fire of prayer to consume our hearts in Jesus mighty Name! Amen!
NOTE: On a professional basis, this play does not meet certain academic standards. It was originally written as a movie script. However, it has pleased the Lord to have His children receive this Heavenly material. Therefore, the original script was simplified and edited so as to take a ‘play’ form for easy reading and understanding. The play, therefore, is not suited for acting on stage as it is something in between a drama and a movie.
Israel Eziedo
2013
+2348160983239
www.discipleshipresources.wordpress.com
www.unveilingjesus.wordpress.com
ACT 1
SCENE 1. MAMA’S HOUSE. INT. DAY.
Scene opens on Mama’s parlour to reveal Victor (a boy of about 8-10 years) lying down on the floor and convulsing. His elder sister, Chioma (a girl of about 12-15 years) is kneeling beside him, crying and trying to hold Victor firm.
CHIOMA:
(Struggling to hold him down firmly) oh my God… Victor please… mama will soon be here with the prayer warriors… please… oh God please help us!
After a while, voices of people praying OOV are heard approaching. Chioma is still struggling with Victor and trying to calm him. Scene reveals the time to be 2:25 pm. After a while, Mama and the prayer warriors enter the house. They immediately surround Victor and start praying aggressively for his healing. Chioma moves to the corner sobbing, praying and peeping at Victor with concern in her eyes.
Shot fades and reopens after a short while to reveal the time to be 4:30pm. The intercessors are still praying fervently. Chioma has fallen asleep on the floor. Victor suddenly becomes calm, sits up and looks around in surprise (unseen by anyone). He then stands up and goes to his mummy.
VICTOR:
(Taps his mum on her hand) Mummy I am hungry.
MAMA:
(Still in the heat of prayer, thinks it is Chioma. Speaks in hushed tones) Chioma keep quiet, we are praying. (Continues praying).
VICTOR:
(Pulls her hand) Mummy I am hungry!
MAMA:
(Angry) Chioma, I said… (opens her eyes and sees Victor. Shocked, jerks him up in joy) VICTOR!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Prayer dies down as the intercessors open their eyes to see Victor. They all start thanking and praising God. Chioma awakes, sees Victor and runs to hug him. All the intercessors go on their knees and start praising God. After a while, tears well up in Victor’s eyes. He frees himself from Chioma’s grip and goes over to his mum.
VICTOR:
(Shakes her shoulders vigorously) MUMMY I AM HUNGRY!!!
CUT.
SCENE 2. MAMA’S HOUSE. BEDROOM. EVE.
Shot opens on the bedroom in Mama’s house. Victor is seen sitting down on the bed with a table in front of him. His hand is under his chin and he is looking very hungry. Chioma comes into the room with a bowl of water. She has barely dropped it on the ground when Victor quickly begins to wash his hand in it. Chioma shakes her head with a smile and leaves the room. Mama comes into the room with a bowl of okra soup. She drops it on the table and sits down. Victor reaches out to start eating the soup.
MAMA:
Stop that Victor. You want to finish the soup before the garri is brought? If you finish the soup, I will pour salt into water and give you to eat with the garri! (Chuckles).
Chioma enters the room with a bowl of garri. She drops it on the table and drags a small chair close to the table (opposite Victor and her mum) and sits. Victor stretches out his hand to start eating.
MAMA:
(Slaps his hand) Will you stop that Victor! How can you start eating when we have not thanked God for the food?
VICTOR:
(Grumbles) But mummy, I am very hungry.
MAMA:
That’s not an excuse. There are many people who don’t have food to eat. We should always thank God for what He has provided.
They all bow their heads in prayer.
MAMA:
Father we thank you for this food that you have provided for our bodies. We receive it with thanksgiving and we pray that you provide for others who are in want in Jesus name!
VICTOR/CHIOMA:
Amen! Amen!
SHOT FADE AS THEY BEGIN TO EAT.
SCENE 3. FIELD. LATE AFTERNOON.
Scene opens on an open space close to Mama’s house. Victor is seen playing football with some other children. Most of the children are bigger that him while a few are about his age. Victor shows good skill in the game. They play the game for a while, with Victor dribbling the older boys and causing the spectators to laugh at them. After a particular dribble where an older boy falls down and Victor scores, the other boys roar with laughter making the fallen boy really ashamed. He gets up, goes over to Victor and pushes him to the ground. The other boys gather round them and take sides, cheering. Victor stays on the ground for a while, then abruptly stands up and makes a quick charge towards the boy, catching him off balance, and throwing him to the ground. The next moment, Victor is on top of the boy, dealing him some blows. The other boys roar with laughter and cheers Victor.
From a farther corner of the road Mama is seen walking close to the field with another woman. They appear to be chatting cheerfully. As she approaches the field, she sees the fight going on. Mama and the woman quickly make for the field to calm the fight. As she comes close, she spots Victor in the fight and begins to make her way into the group of boys. She finally gets to her son and roughly pulls him out of the fight and out of the crowd of boys. Victor is still throwing out blows even as his mother pulls him out. She holds his hand firmly and pulls him after her with anger in her face.
CUT.
SCENE 4. MAMA’S HOUSE. PARLOUR. SAME DAY.
Scene opens on parlour of Mama’s house to reveal Victor on his knees in front of his mother who is holding a whip. She is very angry and Victor is cowering in fear.
MAMA:
Victor, what is wrong with you? Why were you fighting with that boy in the field?
VICTOR:
(Stammering) I did not do anything…he started it.
MAMA:
So what if he started it? Aren’t you a Christian? Is that how Christians behave?
VICTOR:
But mama…
MAMA:
Don’t ‘but’ me! You have no excuse for fighting with anybody! Now turn around!
Victor begins to fret as he turns around to receive his punishment. His mother gives him some strokes of cane and he begins to shout and cry. After a while, he stands up and begins to run around the room with his mother on his heels, flogging him. Chioma comes into the room and begins to plead for Victor. Victor hides behind his sister as she pleads with her mum for him.
FADE.
ACT 2
SCENE 1. MAMA’S HOUSE. INT. LATE AFTERNOON.
Scene opens on the interior of Mama’s bedroom. Shot reveals her on her knees praying. Music plays from background for a while, muting her voice. Then, music fades and her voice is heard. Sound reveals her praying for the Lord’s hand to be upon her children.
MAMA:
(Prays fervently from deep within her spirit) My Father, I thank and praise Your Holy Name for the salvation of my daughter, Chioma. I thank You because you have promised me in Your Word that my children are in Your care. Dear Lord, I pray for the two children that you have given me. I commit them once again into Your hands and pray that You will set Your hand upon them. I pray that You will keep Chioma in Your ways and that You will raise her up as a great woman of God. I also pray for my son, Victor. I pray that His eyes will be opened to see the need for salvation. I take a stand against the enemy and I break the power of the devil over his life in Jesus name! Dear Lord, I pray that my children will be great prayer warriors and great servants in Your Kingdom in Jesus name! Amen! Dear Lord…..
MUSIC RISES AND SCENE FADES. CUT.
SCENE 2. CHURCH. INT. DAY
Scene opens on the interior of a Church with background music playing (all human voices are mute). Shot reveals the Pastor preaching. Among the members of the Church are Mama and Chioma. A seat beside them is empty. The Church is averaging 150-200 in number. Music fades after a while.
CUT.
SCENE 3. CHURCH. EXT. SAME DAY.
Scene opens on the exterior of the Church building. Victor and two of his friends are seen. The Pastor’s voice is heard very faintly and inaudibly from a distance.
VICTOR:
Paul, David, I can’t stay in Church again. I am feeling bored. Let’s go to the shop across the street and buy some things to eat.
PAUL:
But it’s wrong to leave the Church like that. What will our parents say? How do you think God will feel about this?
VICTOR:
Look, Paul, if you don’t want to follow us, you can go back to the Church. David and I will go and enjoy ourselves, isn’t that right David?
DAVID:
(Quiet, with an uncertain look on his face)
PAUL:
I am not going to follow you people to do what you want to do. I am going back to Church. (Turns back and enters into the Church).
VICTOR:
(To David) Don’t mind Paul, he is behaving like a girl. Come let’s go so that we can return on time.
David hesitates for a while, then turns and follows Victor.
CUT.
SCENE 4. STREET. EXT. SAME DAY.
Scene opens on a lone street. Victor and David are seen walking down the street. As they walk, they sight an old, blind woman sitting by the road, begging for money. She has a good sum of money in her plate.
VICTOR:
(Stops in his tracks and holds David back). David, look at that blind woman there.
DAVID:
Yes, what about her?
VICTOR:
See, if we use our offering to buy biscuits, we will not have money to give for offering and our parents will suspect us. Besides we don’t have enough money to buy many things to enjoy ourselves.
DAVID:
So what are you thinking of?
VICTOR:
(Points to the blind woman) See that beggar there? She is blind. Let’s go and take the money in her plate. Then we can buy many things to enjoy ourselves and we can still have money to give for offering.
DAVID:
(Completely taken aback) WHAT? Victor, how can you think of a thing like that?
VICTOR:
Don’t worry, nobody will know. Come.
Victor and a hesitant David walk stealthily towards the beggar. They come close to her and stand beside her, unknown to her. Victor stands at a safe distance and begins to pick her money and hand to David. From a corner of the street, a man walks into shot. He turns and spots Victor and David and expresses absolute shock.
MAN:
HEY!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? STOP THERE!!!
CUT.
SCENE 5. CHURCH. INT. SAME DAY.
Scene opens on the interior of the Church. A deacon is making some announcements in the altar. An usher walks over to Mama and whispers something into her ears. She stands up and follows him outside. Shot follows her to exterior of the Church. The man who caught the two boys stealing from the beggar is standing in-between Victor and David, holding their ears. The two boys are looking rough and dirty. As Mama comes out of the Church to meet them, she is shocked to find her son looking in that condition.
MAMA:
(Shocked) What happened? Victor, what happened to you?
MAN:
(To Mama) Madam, are these your children?
MAMA:
(Points to Victor) This one is my child. What happened to them?
Cut to reveal David’s mother coming out of the Church, followed by a female usher.
MAN:
Well, my name is Bro. Godswill. I am an usher in the Church across the other street. We had a visiting Pastor in our Church and I was sent to buy bottled water for him. Well, the shop close to our Church was not opened so I…..
MAMA DAVID:
(Impatiently cuts in) Please sir, what happened to our children?
MAN:
(Puts himself together) Well, as I was going to check in another shop, I caught these two boys stealing money from a blind woman who was begging along the street.
MAMA:
(Utterly shocked) WHAT? VICTOR? YOU?
MAMA DAVID:
(Utterly shocked) DAVID? (Walks over to her son, draws him aside, and begins beating him up)
MAMA:
(Draws Victor aside also, and begins to beat him up too)
The children begin to shout and cry. The noise draws people from inside the Church who come out and begin to calm the two mothers who are pounding the children.
CUT.
SCENE 6. MAMA’S HOUSE. BEDROOM. NIGHT.
Shot opens in Mama’s bedroom. The time reads 8:56 pm. Shot reveals Mama, Chioma and Victor. They are all kneeling down by the bedside (Victor and Chioma are on either side of their mum). Victor is lying on the side of his face, with mouth open, sleeping. Mama is praying.
MAMA:
Almighty Father, we thank and praise Your Holy name because of your blessings and because all that You do is wonderful. We worship You Lord because of who You are; You are God and there is no other besides You. Receive all the glory my Father, in Jesus name!
CHIOMA:
Amen!
MAMA:
(Opens her eyes and sees Victor asleep. Shakes him to rouse him up)
VICTOR:
(Opens his eyes and stays well)
MAMA:
(Continues the prayer) Lord, we pray that You will always lead us to do Your perfect will, by the power of Your Holy Spirit and to the glory of Your Holy name, in Jesus name!
VICTOR/SANDRA:
Amen! Amen!
MAMA:
Lord, we are grateful for how you have been protecting us and showing us mercy. We are truly grateful for Your love towards us. Father, we pray that You will continue to show us Your amazing love.
Victor slumbers for a while, and then he eventually puts his head down again and falls asleep.
MAMA:
And Lord, we also pray that You provide for the less privileged as well, in Jesus name!
CHIOMA:
Amen!
MAMA:
(Opens her eyes again to look at Victor. Slaps him on his arm)
VICTOR:
(Jerks up, rubs his arm and makes a grumbling sound)
MAMA:
Dear Lord, we pray that you forgive us for any sinful thing we did today, and You continue to give us the grace to live for You. Keep us safe as we sleep tonight and fill our dreams with revelations of Christ in Jesus name we pray!
CHIOMA:
Amen!
VICTOR:
(Has fallen asleep. Makes a loud snoring sound)
Mama and Chioma get up to prepare to sleep and to put Victor to bed. As Chioma and Victor lie down to sleep, Mama goes back on her knees and begin to make deep, inaudible prayers.
CUT.
ACT 3
SCENE 1. MAMA’S HOUSE. EXT. DAY.
Scene opens the backyard of Mama’s house. Shot reveals Victor breaking and eating palm kernels. Audible voices are heard from some neighbour’s who are also sitting at the backyard of their house close to Mama’s house. The neighbours are; a mother and her young daughter. They are having a heart to heart talk.
GIRL:
Mom, I am tired of being a Christian. I have lost almost all my friends. My own friends in school now laugh at me and make fun of me because I am a Christian. I will never be great mom, I am nothing! (Bows her head in despair)
MOTHER:
(Places her hand over her daughter’s shoulders) My dear, the world can make fun of you, but always remember what the Bible says in 1 Peter 1:18-19. The Bible says you were bought with the Precious Blood of Jesus. You are not an ordinary girl. You are now a child of God. You are a loved child of the Love God!
GIRL:
But mom, what are the benefits of being a Christian?
Victor has stopped breaking the kernels. His attention is now set on listening to the neighbour’s conversation.
MOTHER:
My dear child, there are many, many benefits of being a child of God. One of them is that the Holy Spirit is now living inside of you! The day you gave your life to Jesus, was the day you opened your heart for the Holy Spirit to live in you! Because the Holy Spirit is living in you, God Almighty is living in you! Your life is not empty like those people who have rejected God; but your life is greatly valued in the sight of God and what you do is pleasing to God. Apart from that, you can be sure that if you die now, you will go to Heaven. Even if the Rapture takes place now, you are sure that you will be with Jesus in Heaven for all eternity!
Victor begins to look very sober and is almost at the point of tears. The big stone is still in his hand.
VICTOR:
(His is silent, but his thoughts are audible in the background). Am I truly a child of God? Is the Holy Spirit living in me? Is my life empty? If I die now, where will I spend eternity? What if the Rapture takes place now; will I be going up in glory or will I be left behind? Is my life making any significance in this generation?
In His unconscious state, the stone slips from his hand and falls on his shin. Victor screams and clutches his blood-flowing leg. The neighbour’s attention turns to him; but before they could do anything, Mama runs out of the house to meet her crying son. She is moved with pity as she sees him there.
MAMA:
(Holds his leg and examines it) Oh… I am sorry my dear… let me go and get some water to clean the wound. (Turns to go into the house)
VICTOR:
(Calls out to stop his mom) Mummy, please come back!
MAMA:
(Stops in her tracks) But victor, I have to go and get first aid for you wound…
VICTOR:
(Shakes his head with genuine tears in his eyes) Mummy, I don’t need first-aid; I need Jesus. Mummy, please tell me how I can receive Jesus.
Mama is filled with surprise as she looks at Victor with deep love and tears flowing freely from her eyes.
CUT.
SCENE 2. MAMA’S HOUSE. INT. SAME DAY.
Scene opens on the parlour of Mama. Shot reveals Mama doing the last phase of first-aid on her son’s leg (wrapping the wound with clean bandage). After doing this, she gently puts his leg down and turns to talk with him.
MAMA:
(With a compassionate voice) My dear son, the decision you have made is really the best decision of your life. There is nothing as important as giving our lives to Jesus. The Bible says all of us have sinned. This means that we are all supposed to go to hell, because the wages of sin is death. However, Jesus Christ came and died for us. He took the punishment for our sins so that God can now forgive us! Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9, tells us that if we believe that Jesus died for us and we confess our sins with our mouth, we will be saved.
VICTOR:
(Looking a bit downcast) But mama, even if Jesus forgives me my sins, I will not be able to live a life that truly pleases God. I have done so many bad things and I cannot be able to show love to God or to anyone.
MAMA:
(Puts a hand on his shoulder and smiles) My dear boy, the Bible says in Acts 2:38, that if we repent of our sins and become baptized into Christ, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Also, the Bible tells us in Philippians. 2:13 that the Holy Spirit will begin to help us desire to please God and will also empower us to please God. My child, you don’t need to worry; the Bible says in Romans 5:5 that when we receive the Holy Spirit into our hearts, He will also fill our hearts with the love of God. Because His love is now in us, we can now love God and love others too! (Pauses for a while as Victor takes it in…then…) My dear boy, do you want to receive Jesus into your life?
VICTOR:
(Looking excited) Yes mom, I want to give my life to Jesus!
MAMA:
Amen! God is willing to forgive you your sins and give you His Spirit of Love if only you will ask Him. (She takes his hand and they go on their knees). Say this prayer after me:
Victor repeats the following prayer after his mother, in the line-sequence in which it appears.
Lord Jesus,
I am a sinner
I believe you died for my sins
Please forgive me my sins
And cleanse me from all unrighteousness
Come into my life
And fill me with your Holy Spirit
Give me the grace to do your will
And fill my heart with the love of God
In Jesus name I pray! Amen!
Mama locks Victor in a tight, warm embrace. After a while, she releases him and begins to speak to him.
MAMA:
Now, my boy, you have become a child of God. You now have God’s nature of love in you. From now on, you must begin to spend time reading and meditating on the Bible and praying. You must also begin to show the light of Christ in your life by loving others with all your heart.
CUT.
SCENE 3. MAMA’S HOUSE. INT. DAY. SUNDAY.
Scene opens on Mama’s parlour. Shot reveals Chioma, dressed in her Church clothes and drinking tea and bread. Shot reveals another cup of tea and piece of bread on the table. Mama enters the parlour, also dressed in her Church clothes. She comes in as Chioma finishes her tea and begin to pack her plates.
CHIOMA:
Mommy thank you for the tea.
MAMA:
Thank God my dear. (Sees Victor’s breakfast on the table) Chioma, where is Victor? Why hasn’t he eaten his food?
CHIOMA:
I don’t know ma. He just went out when I brought his food.
At this point, Victor comes in from the back door, dressed in his Church clothes. He is stretching out a wrinkled black nylon bag and holding an empty water bottle with a white nylon bag.
MAMA:
Victor, where have you been? Why haven’t you eaten? Do you want to make us late for Church?
VICTOR:
(Just smiles at his mother and turns to his food. He puts the bread in the white nylon bag and pours the tea into the water bottle. Then he puts the bread and tea in the black nylon bag. He then picks up his Bible and turns to his mom and sister) I’m ready, let’s go.
Mama and Chioma stand and look at themselves, mouth agape, without a clue.
CUT.
SCENE 4. STREET. SAME DAY.
Scene opens on a familiar street, leading to Mama’s Church. As they walk up the street, they come along the old blind woman by the road. As they come close to the woman, Victor walks over to her and drops the tea and bread beside her plate. Mama and Chioma stand where they were, with smiles on their faces.
BEGGAR:
(Smiles directly at Victor’s face as though she could see him) Thank you my son. May God bless you and make you great in His Kingdom!
VICTOR:
(A look of surprise comes on his face) Amen! But ma, can you see? How do you know that I am here and how do you know that I am a boy?
BEGGAR:
(Still smiling) God’s hand is on you my son. Spend time in prayer with your God and He will bless you greatly. But be careful, my boy, be careful.
VICTOR:
(Looking lost) I don’t understand you ma. What are you talking about?
MAMA:
(From a distance) Victor, come let’s go or we will be late for Church.
Victor hesitantly turns and walks to meet his mom and sister. As they walk up, he occasionally turns back to look at the beggar with a look of surprise.
CUT.
To be continued…
GLOSSARY
EVE: Evening
EXT: Exterior
INT: Interior
OOV: Out of view
GARRI: A Nigerian dish made from processed cassava
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