Intercession is praying for someone’s
well being. It is standing in the gap or talking to God on someone’s behalf.
It’s a very efficient and powerful act because God responds to your prayer on
that person’s behalf. One time I looked at one of my colleagues and I felt in
my spirit that I hardly ever took time to pray for him. Honestly, he’s a very
genuine person; he treats me like his sister and always sees to it that I am
comfortable. But why haven’t I ever prayed for him. He has a life, he has a
wife and kids and I know it’s my place to always lift him before God’s throne
of Grace. As Christians, we have a primary duty to pray for one another,
to pray for our pastors (especially pastors) we have to pray for the people we
meet, we have to claim them for Jesus (unbelievers) we have to pray for our
nations, our neighbors, our friends and what have you. Prayer to a believer is
like oxygen to our lungs. Yes! We have to constantly be in prayer. There’s so
much to pray for; our spouses, kids, families, ministry, etc.
By
grabbing hold of prayer & consistently & earnestly interceding for our
families and friends, we invite Gods involvement in our lives. Apostle Paul
spent a lot of time in prayer and not only prayers but intercession for the
church which is the Body of Christ. Ephesians 1:15-17 says “ Wherefore I also,
after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16
cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. In
his letter to the Philippians Paul says “Always in every
prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 for your fellowship in
the gospel from the first day until now” Philippians 1:4-5. You understand
from this passage that challenges can cause brethren to falter or give up in
times of need but if you continue making intercession for them, the Spirit of God
will keep them boldly in the faith. Intercession is more of intervening in a
situation in a person’s life and calling on God to react to the person’s
situation on your behalf. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 also says “I exhort therefore,
that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority;
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
It clearly commands us to pray for one another as well as for those in
positions of authority; those who lead our nations, states, church, homes, etc
because this will help us to lead peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and
honesty.
Epaphras
is a beautiful example of an intercessor; Colossians 4:12-13 says “ Epaphras, who is
one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for
you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are
in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis. He is a sold out vessel of prayer, he
has devoted himself to pray for the saints in Laodicea and Hierapolis and he is
zealous about it. He is also committed to it because he knows that the saints
in these places need his prayers. The saints all over the world need prayer we
should always make time for intercession in our times of prayer.
When
Jesus was raised from the dead He is seated at the right hand side of God where
He makes intercession for us before the Father (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus is our
mediator in heaven 1Timothy 2: 5. Besides that the Holy prays through us as
seen in Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we
ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which
cannot be uttered.27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind
of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the
will of God.” The Spirit prays the will of God through us and thus we
should leave ourselves for Him to use us for the Glory of God. When the people
we have met in life are in trouble God looks for someone to pray for them.
Countless times, God lays a burden in my heart to pray for someone; at times
they are my Facebook/twitter friends, at other times they are people from
different countries that I may have or may have never met. There have been times
when these people are part of my family and I see how God reversed something bad
from happening (my brother is one of the people I prayed for and he was saved from
a car accident).There is mighty power in praying for others let us always joyfully pray for one another and watch how God will be magnified in all the
earth.
Be
Blessed in Jesus Name!!!
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