As Christians, we are called to intercede for others. I call it part of our DNA as believers. We are not just to pray for our loved one; but also to “keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18) That means praying for the lost, the sick, the hurting, the poor, the bereaved, the foreigner, the imprisoned, those in authority, the saved and the unsaved.
The word, intercession, is derived from the Hebrew paga and the Greek entugchano. It means intervening, mediating, pleading and advocating for another. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines it as intervening on behalf of another person; acting as a mediator in a dispute; or pleading with someone to help settle differences.
There are many references in the Bible of people interceding for God’s mercy, salvation, guidance, blessings, healing and intervention on behalf of others.
Moses interceded for the Israelites. While Moses was on the mountain with God, the Israelites made a golden calf and began to dance and worship the calf made by the hands of Aaron. Moses said to God in Exodus 32:31-32,
”Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the books you have written.”
So, God told Moses, to go lead the people “to the place I spoke of and my angel will go before you.” The Lord eventually punished the people with a plague for their worship of the golden calf.
Nehemiah was a Babylonian exile, the cupbearer for the king. He cried out to God in Nehemiah 1 for the Israelites who had been left in Jerusalem. The walls and gates of Jerusalem had been breached and the people were in danger from their enemies.
Nehemiah prayed:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.”
”Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.”
”They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.
In Nehemiah 2:8, God answered Nehemiah’s Intercessory prayer and he was granted permission by the king to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.
Holy Spirit, our Advocate, sent by Jesus, helps us in our intercession. (John 14:26) He helps us in our weaknesses, for we don’t always know how to pray. So, according to Romans 8:26, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, often through wordless groans.
Jesus, himself, is our intercessor—Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; Isa 53:12. He prayed for Peter, noting the Satan desired to sift him like wheat. In Luke 22:31-34, Jesus shared that Peter would deny him thrice before the rooster crows. He goes on to say but, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” (verse 31) He interceded for his murderers on the cross, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”(Luke 23:35) He is now making intercession for us at the right hand of Father God. (Hebrews 7:25) Jesus forever intercedes to Father God on our behalf.
In intercession, spiritual strongholds are broken through spiritual warfare for we as believers ”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.” (Ephesians 6:12) As soldiers in the army of God, we must fight the common forces of darkness that attacks both those in the kingdom o& God and those who are lost.
Spiritual References:
Isaiah 59:15-16 Truth is nowhere to be found, 6and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him
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