11/10/2024
Intercessory prayer is more than just praying for someone... it is praying with them; it is praying the needs and desires of someone who might be in a coma using the words and supplication that we would pray with them if they were able to hold our hands and pray alongside us... it remains a joint prayer as we ask for God's intercession in a situation or life. It is being with someone who might be silent, but who prays with us in the presence of God. Isn’t this exactly what the Holy Spirit does when he prays for us in groanings which we alone cannot utter; at times when we have no words?
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Romans 8:26 ESV
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."”
Matthew 18:20 ESV
This morning let’s contemplate intercessory prayer and the power it contains as one speaks, but two are praying. Pastor E. M. Bounds begins our thoughts by writing these words:
"Intercession combines with prayers and supplications. The word intercession does not necessarily mean "prayer in relation to others." It means "a coming together, a falling in with a most intimate friend for free, unrestrained communion."
It implies free prayer, familiar and bold." - E. M. Bounds
When the healing of someone through intercessory prayer occurs is just the beginning of the blessing that it brings. Most of those who pray in this manner don't understand the fullness of what has happened when their prayers for another are lifted up and answered. In fact they are both entering into the presence of God in a mighty way and at that moment a person's sins are forgiven...
“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.”
James 5:15 ESV
The forgiveness of sins. You are probably thinking "but we are only praying for their healing... how is their forgiveness possible?" The answer is simple; God abhors sin and removes that sin before he enters into the act of healing. Jesus said it on so many occasions when He would say... "go and sin no more." At that moment the person's slate of sins had been wiped clean so that God could come near.
“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.”
Habakkuk 1:13 CSB
“Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.””
John 8:11 KJV
So let's think about this a bit more... do we ask for forgiveness each time we begin to pray? Perhaps we should, and we are, without realizing it. When we ask the Lord to join us in our prayer closet we are in fact inviting His forgiveness so that He can enter. Think about that today as you pray, and when you intercede in prayer for/with others. In intercession isn't it is a double blessing as we both receive that selfsame forgiveness? Remember... we are joined in prayer with the person for which we are requesting intercession, and in doing so, God enters our midst. We might physically be miles apart, but spiritually we are together. Are we joining with someone today? Are we being forgiven our sins without asking?
Prayer:
Thank you Father for your forgiveness of sin. Abba, we pray this morning that you join with us in prayer, and that your very presence removes our sins in the name of your son Jesus Christ. We ask you Lord that you hear our prayers, and feel the ache of our hearts as we lift our burdens for you to take. In you there is comfort, and in you the stain of sin is removed; thank you Father for your mercy, your grace, and your deliverance. Go with us now and strengthen our faith; as we strive in prayer and deed to do as Jesus told us to do so many times… to go and sin no more. We lift up our eyes unto you Lord, and know that we have been heard, and forgiven our sins. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who clears away our sins that you might come near to us. Holy are you who heals us and answers our every prayer whether we pray them together with another, or alone. Mighty are you who has overcome the world, and vanquished every sin. How amazing is your love that you are willing to not only heal us, and provide for us, but that you send us on our way, free of sin. Hear this and all our prayers today Father, and forgive us our sins so that you can come close, to heal, provide, and whisper in our ears. Help us as we go forth, and sin no more. Lead us from our prayer closets, chairs, secret places, and knees, into eternity with you.
In all righteous prayers we find your forgiveness, and in Jesus’ name we can claim our… Amen.
“They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.”
John 5:12-15 ESV
“1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
Psalm 121:1-2, 7-8 KJV
Rich Forbes