Intercessory prayer is
the act of praying on behalf of others. The role of mediator in prayer
was prevalent in the Old Testament (as in Abraham, Moses, David, Samuel,
Hezekiah, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel). But Christ is pictured
in the New Testament as the ultimate intercessor, and because of this
all Christian prayer becomes intercession since it is offered to God
through and by Christ. Jesus closed the gap between us and God when He
died on the cross. He was the greatest mediator (intercessor) that ever
lived. Because of this we can now intercede in prayer on behalf of other
Christians, or for the lost, asking God to grant them repentance
according to His will. "For there is one God and one Mediator between
God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). "Who is he who
condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is
even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us"
(Romans 8:34).
A wonderful model of intercessory prayer is found in Daniel 9 as he
prayed for his people who had turned away from God. It has all the
elements of true intercessory prayer. It is in response to the Word (v.
2); characterized by fervency (v. 3) and self-denial (v. 4); identified
unselfishly with God’s people (v. 5); strengthened by confession (v.
5-15); dependent on God’s character (vv. 4,7,9,15); and has as its goal
God’s glory (vv. 16-19). Like Daniel, Christians are to come to God on
behalf others in a heartbroken and repentant posture, recognizing our
own unworthiness and with a sense of self-denial. Daniel doesn’t come
and say, "I have a right to demand this out of You, God, because I am
one of your special, chosen intercessors." He comes and says, "I'm a
sinner," and, in effect, he says, "I don't have a right to demand
anything." True intercessory prayer seeks to not only know God’s will
and see it fulfilled, but to see it fulfilled no matter whether it
benefits us and no matter what it costs us. It seeks God’s glory, not
our own.
The following is only a partial list of those for whom we are all to
offer up intercessory prayers: all in authority (1 Timothy 2:2);
ministers (Philippians 1:19); the Church (Psalm 122:6); friends (Job
42:8); fellow countrymen (Romans 10:1); the sick (James 5:14); enemies
(Jeremiah 29:7); those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44); those who
forsake us (2 Timothy 4:16); and all men (1 Timothy 2:1).
There is an erroneous idea in contemporary Christianity that those who
offer up intercessory prayers for others are a special class of
super-Christians, called by God to a ministry of intercession. Nothing
could be further from the truth. The Bible is clear that all Christians
are called to be intercessors. All Christians have the Holy Spirit in
our hearts, and, just as He intercedes for us in accordance with God’s
will (Romans 8:26-27), we are to intercede for one another. This is not
a privilege limited to an exclusive Christian elite; this is the command
to all. In fact, not to offer up intercession for others is sin. “As for
me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to
pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23).
Certainly Peter and Paul, when asking others to intercede for them, did
not limit their request to those with a special calling to intercession.
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to
God for him” (Acts 12:5). Notice it was the whole church that prayed for
him, not just those with a gift of intercession. In Ephesians 6:16-18,
Paul exhorts the Ephesian believers—all of them—on the fundamentals of
the Christian life. “In addition to all this, take up the shield of
faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil
one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds
of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on
praying for all the saints.” Clearly, intercessory prayer is part of the
Christian life for all believers.
Further, Paul sought the prayer of all the Roman believers on his
behalf: “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love
of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me”
(Romans 15:30). He also urged the Colossians to intercede for him:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for
us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may
proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains” (Colossians
4:2-3). Nowhere in any biblical request for intercession is there any
indication whatsoever that only a certain group of people could
intercede. On the contrary, those who seek others to intercede for them
can use all the help they can get! The idea that intercession is the
privilege and calling of only some Christians is without biblical basis.
Worse, it is a destructive idea that often leads to pride, a sense of
entitlement, and Gnosticism.
What a wonderful and exalted privilege we have in being able to come
boldly before the throne of Almighty God with our prayers and requests.
Praise Him for His incredible mercy and love! |
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