08/04/2021
Intercessory prayer has always been important, and I would be surprised if you haven’t already prayed personally for the sick, or someone in need around you. Maybe it was one of your children, a spouse, a close friend, or then again, you might have seen a prayer list at church, or felt the need to say a quick prayer for someone you work with. In each of these situations you are filling the role of an intercessor. When we are sick, hurting, or in need it is equally important to ask others to pray for us. Perhaps your church has a team of Saints who have been identified as having a special spiritual gift when it comes to praying for others, but whatever the case may be, when we are personally in need of prayer then it is important for us to seek out another to join with us in lifting our concerns before God… find an intercessor.
“O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.”
Psalm 65:2 ESV
This scripture tells us that if you will listen to the needs of others, and pray with them, then people around you will begin to come to you for prayer. Many times casual acquaintances, or associates at work will come to you as a last resort, simply because they know you are a Christian, and are desperately seeking help. In this situation you will find that you have been thrust into the role of an intercessor, and you might be a bit uncertain what to do, so I will give you this advice… love them, and pray to our Father in the same way, and with the same humble tone and words, that you would use if you were praying for yourself or your own loved one. This is a wonderful opportunity to love your neighbor as yourself. Have you ever considered prayer to be an act of love? Well it can be, and if the person you are praying for senses your love, and that God is a loving God, then it may very well be the spark that germinates their faith, and leads them to believe… it may be what saves their soul.
Elisha prayed for a man with leprosy in this very way. The man was desperate, and would certainly have died with this ailment so his king sent him to the king of Israel because he had heard from a slave girl that there was someone there who could heal him. Listen to what happened next…
“And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.””
2 Kings 5:6-10 ESV
Well the man was a powerful man and wasn’t accustomed to waiting, and thought that Elisha was showing him great disrespect by not meeting with him personally, so he was preparing to angrily go away, when one of his servants talked him into doing as he had been told, and lo and behold he was cured. Listen to what happened next…
“Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.””
2 Kings 5:15 ESV
When we pray with or for, someone else, we become a powerful tool that God uses to touch that person in a way that very few things can, and it extends to all those who witness it as well. Our prayers of intercession, whether for a believer, or a desperate unbelieving man, allow the power of God to come to bear on a specific need. In intercession we are focusing God’s power to work mightily in a situation, and for Him to receive glory as a result of His effort there.
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
James 5:13-16 ESV
So, just like the designated intercessors at church we can intercede for others too, and in this way our loving prayers will bless us… even as they bless those we are praying for, and God Himself by showering Him with glory. Have you ever realized that as you pray for others you are not only obeying the second great commandment by loving your neighbor as yourself, but you are also being Christlike in another way as well? Jesus intercedes for us continuously before God, and you are joining with Him each time you pray in intercession… your prayers are swirling with His before the throne of God.
“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
Romans 8:34 ESV
This is a new day of prayer, and a wonderful time to look through fresh eyes at how we are meant to pray for others. Let’s join together on our knees.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for allowing us to come to you in prayer, but thank you especially for hearing our prayers as we pray for others. Use us Lord as your instruments in bringing souls to you, and for allowing us to intercede as Jesus intercedes, to bring your power to bear, and all glory to you through your provision and healing. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God, who hears our prayers, and allows us to love others through them. Praised be your name for each time you use us, and tend to the needs of others as we are joined with them in prayer. You are glorious Father, and by hearing our prayers, and lifting the burdens of life from us, we give you glory, and love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are rewarded in seeing you lifted up in the hearts of those who doubt, and have not yet come to believe, and we are blessed to be standing with Jesus in intercession… transformed in this way to be more like Him. Wash us clean in His blood Holy Father, and seat us as righteous children at your table forevermore… there to pray, and love one another eternally.
Rich Forbes