THEME: Pray Ye the Lord of The Harvest; The Believers’ Life of Prayer
LESSON: Six
TOPIC: The Prayer of Intercession
TEXT: Isaiah 53:13; Jeremiah 7:16/27; Romans 8:26-27,34; Hebrews 7:25; 1st Timothy 2:1; 1st John 2:1-2
MEMORY TRACK:
By God’s grace, in the last lesson, we learnt that the prayers of supplication is a soul deep and heartfelt prayer from the heart of Saints to the Ears and Heart of God. Sincerity, a good understanding of God’s word, and coming on the grounds of mercy (not one’s own righteousness) are critical keys to effective supplications. We also saw that praying with our new creature spirit is one of the most potent kinds of prayer in the New Testament. Praying in the Spirit can be implored in almost all the other types of prayers and it is a gateway into the realm of the spirit and Christ.
Prayer of Intercession explained (Jeremiah 7:16; Jeremiah 27:18; Romans 8:26; Hebrews 7:25)
The prayers of intercession are constructively made and framed prayers by a saint whose soul is established in a level of God’s word, and from that understanding and advantage stands in the gap for to intercede for another or others before God. The prayers of intercession are one of the most powerful and effective kind of prayers in the Old Testament and much more in the New Testament (Jeremiah 7:16; Hebrews 7:25).
Major things to know and note about the Prayer of Intercession
- All prayers of intercession are directed to God who in this case sits in the capacity of a Judge to adjudicate justice and judgement in the matters brought before Him in the place of prayers as The God Judge (Genesis 18:23-26; Numbers 14:9-21).
- A proper knowledge of the word and the laws of God are not only prerequisite for to do well in this kind of prayers. It also gives the person who is praying a good advantage to get answers.
- The prayers of intercession can only be prayed by a person who is standing in the gap for another (Ezekiel 22:30). A Christian cannot intercede for themselves. A Christian can pray any of the other kinds of prayers for themselves, but they cannot intercede for themselves, only for others.
- God, as the God-Judge, always hears and answers the prayers of intercession if we adhere to the laws of this kind of prayers (1st John 2:1-2; Isaiah 41:21)
Many times, as God’s people, we do not engage in the prayers of intercession according to God’s words and demands, therefore we get results less than our efforts and investments of time and energy in the place of prayers.
Below are some other things to note about the prayers of Intercession:
- The prayers of intercession can be prayed or engaged in by Saints at every level of Christian growth. A babe (one who is newly come to faith) can intercede at their level, and God hears. The doctrine of milk, meat and strong meat of the word are all materials that a Saint who is at such levels of growth and natures can engage with to stand in the gap praying the prayers of intercession. Put another way, every places/level of the Tabernacle are Intercession places or grounds (Luke 1:5-11).
- The Spirit of God makes intercession for us from our spiritual cradle days (Baby days) to our Manhood days (Christ). The Spirit of God makes intercession for us by praying for us from outside the Tabernacle, till we arrive in the Holy Place (Romans 8:26-27).
- Jesus Our Lord, who is the High Priest upon the Throne of God (at the right hand), also makes intercession for every man/brethren. The intercession of the High Priest is to raise Sons of God. Jesus Our Lord uses the advantages of His status as “a Son God” upon the Throne to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34-35). The truth is, without the intercessory prayers of both the Spirit of God and Jesus Christ our Lord upon the Throne, no one can be saved.
Who is an Intercessor? (Jeremiah 7:16; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34-35)
An intercessor is SOMEONE WHO IS BUILT BY THE WORD, WHO THROUGH PRECEPT AND DOCTRINE HAS ACQUIRED
NATURES OF THE GOSPEL (either of a Child, Man, Father – 1st John 2:12-14).
Having ACQUIRED any of these natures does not mean one has automatically become an intercessor. A SAINT ONLY BECOMES AN INTERCESSOR, IF AFTER (OR WHILE) ACQUIRING NATURES OF THE GOSPEL, ONE ALSO PRAYS! Really, God’s plan is that EVERY ONE OF HIS CHILDREN SHOULD BE INTERCESSORS (Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13).
Every level of God’s building ought to be a house of prayers. While we are excelling in being built up in the word and nature of the gospels, let us not stop there. Let us continue to take up the responsibilities to pray and to intercede.
So, an intercessor is one who has a saved or redeemed nature (at whichever levels) and who now stands in the gap for others before God from that place of advantage.
The Art of Intercession (Jeremiah 7:16; Jeremiah 27:18; Acts 12:5; Hebrews 7:25)
Intercession IS ALWAYS MADE! Intercessions means “making” one’s case before God. This means that intercessions are not borne out of coincidences, no! They are deliberate ploys of the intercessor before God!
Some wisdom to making intercessions:
- Pray from your level of growth, building, and faith (Jeremiah 27:18; 1st John 2:1-2).
- Bring forth your strong reasons (Isaiah 41:21). You may need to sit down with the scriptures to seek out relevant and appropriate scriptures for to make your petitions before God.
- Learn how to watch and pray. Keep praying until you pray through (Acts 12:5). In the prayer of intercessions, the rule is to stay praying until the Judge (God) grants our answers (Luke 18).
- Other kinds of prayers can be employed or incorporated into the prayers of intercession. For example, we can also pray the prayers of Intercession through praying with our spirit (1st Corinthians 14:14). Prayers of supplication, agreements, Congregational Prayers etc can be employed in the prayer of intercession.