Intercessory Prayer involves standing in spaces or gaps between the kingdom of God, (the will of God) and the current reality of a person, group, nation or situation on earth. The English word “intercede” comes from the Latin inter meaning “between” and cedere meaning “to go.” So, intercession, then, is to go between. Another way to say it might be to bridge a gap or space.
According to April Stevenson: “Intercession is speaking to God on behalf of another; another person, people or group, situation, church, or community. Intercession is a sacrifice of our time and comfort for the wellbeing of others. The Bible is filled with intercessory prayer from the very beginning. Moses, Daniel, Hezekiah and Nehemiah all interceded on behalf of the people and God responded, forgave their sin, and helped them. One example is in Daniel 10, where Daniel was fasting and praying on behalf of the people.After three weeks, an angel came and told Daniel that God has heard his prayers (Daniel 10:12).
Intercession is important for the church because, we are called to love each other. And loving each other is laying down our lives. In John 15:13 (KJV), the Bible says: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” One of the ways to lay down our lives is to pray and intercede for the good of others. It is laying down focus on our own needs and situations, and lifting others’ needs and burdens before God.
Intercessors are special to God. God appreciates those who pray for others. God respects and honours intercessors. The Lord is marking a sign on the foreheads of the intercessors who pray on behalf of those who commit sins. This is God’s promise as written in the Book of Ezekiel 9:4: “And said to him, ‘go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.’” We live in a world where sacrifice and intercession have lost their meaning. It is all about me, myself and my family. When you feel the pain of anyone suffering, you have the vocation of an intercessor. When we lift our hands and pray, that itself is a sacrifice.
Psalm 141:2, says: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.” A genuine intercessor never prays only for oneself or only for their own family.
An intercessor sheds tears and cries and pleads unto the Lord, even, for strangers. In the book of Lamentations 3:48, Prophet Jeremiah writes: “My eyes flow with rivers of tears because of the destruction of my people.” Intercession is sacrificial prayer. It focuses less on you and more on others. It asks for God’s power to be unleashed in the world. Intercessory prayer involves spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12, says: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Through intercessory prayer, you can subdue the forces of hell and render Satan powerless, because “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds!” Through intercession, we can change history, touch our communities and impact our world. No principality or power can stand against the person who knows how to pray.
• Today’s nugget: Intercession is sacrificial prayer
Prayer: Lord give me the burden of praying for others. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected]. Rev. Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria
