03/31/2023
Is Jesus pleased with us as intercessors? We might pray for many who suffer, but do we find it within ourselves to pray for sinners? Do we judge when we should be praying for them? Do we only want to intercede for the righteous at the expense of the sinner? Some of us find it hard to show mercy or pray that God show His grace to a sinner, but is that what we are told to do?
“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.”
1 John 5:16-17 ESV
So what is the sin that leads to death? That sin is the persistent blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Listen to what Jesus says about this…
“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
Matthew 12:31-32 ESV
We are so prone to judgement, and this is a snare that entraps us. Jesus tells us in His own words about condemning, judgement, forgiveness, and giving. If we listen to Him and take His words into our heart, then praying for the redemption and forgiveness of sinners becomes easy.
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:36-38 KJV
I find it most interesting that this scripture is followed by the parable of focusing on the mote (splinter or fleck) in another's eye when we have a beam in our own. This parable begins with the question "Can the blind lead the blind?" What Jesus is saying is that if we become so focused on another's sin, then our own is keeping us from leading them to salvation. We have become no better than the very sinner before us. We will both fall by the wayside.
“And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?”
Luke 6:39 KJV
When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and hung on the cross... who did He do this for? The righteous? No, he died that sin would be forgiven; He was nailed to the cross for you and me... sinners all. So when we make intercessory prayer who better to pray for than sinners, and what better request than for their salvation? He bore our sin on the cross and for one who knew no sin until that moment... the weight of it must have been unimaginable. When we as intercessors and empaths take on the sin of those whose souls we pray for... aren’t we emulating Christ?
Yes, it would be far easier to pray each day for the healing of righteous men and women. It would be less grueling to pray that the Holy Spirit lead a saint to increased faith. But in reality, our prayers should be the same as our mission... to spread the gospel and save the sinners. So I ask again; is Jesus pleased with us as intercessors?
Each morning I rise and begin my day in prayer. Right alongside of my family and friends I pray for my enemies and sinners. I do this every day; I ask the Lord to turn their faces towards Him and to change their lives. I ask Him to do for them the very same things I have asked for my own children. You see, if my enemies accept Jesus as their savior then they are no longer my enemies... they have become my brothers and sisters in Christ. As such, how could they do me ill? And, if the sinners around me ask forgiveness and turn to Jesus, it is the same; they no longer offend God, nor me.
Jesus upon healing would always say "Go, and sin no more." When the elders of the church heal the souls and bodies of the crippled in spirit and make intercession for those who have lived in sin that should be their instruction to them as well. For that is God's will for the forgiven.
“Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
James 5:14-15 KJV
In our intercession we should pray for the needs of the righteous, but we should never overlook the sins of the sinners. Jesus sought out those who needed Him most, He dined with sinners and taught them everywhere He went.
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”
Luke 15:1-5 KJV
As we intercede in prayer, let's find that one lost sheep that Jesus spoke of. Let's not be afraid to go into the danger of the bush in search of him, and once found, let's lift him up on our shoulders and march jubilant before our flock. For this is the one who was lost and is now found, this is the man who was blind but now sees, and this is the woman who lived in sin but sins no more. In this moment Jesus will be pleased with us as intercessors for the lost, and healers of the lame of heart.
Prayer:
Father, I pray that I judge not, because it is yours to judge. I pray that my repulsion for sin does not blind me to the needs of those who desire to come to you through Jesus. I pray that in my empathy, which is such a part of my being able to pray for those who wish to abandon sin, that I have enough strength to bear that sin as I pray for their salvation and forgiveness. I pray Father that many will come to you through the effort of prayer, and before my reaching arms, bended knees, and lifted face. I worship you Holy Father, and I thank you for your mercy and grace. In you and Jesus Christ the river of forgiveness and life runs swift and in its raging current our sins are washed from us forever. In you we are lifted from the water pure and righteous... acceptable to you. Hallowed be your name and forever be the praise we offer you... our God, our Father, the Great I Am.
Rich Forbes