03/31/2025
Is Jesus pleased with us as intercessors? Do we find it within ourselves to pray for sinners, or do we judge when we should actually be praying for them? Do we only want to intercede for the righteous and find that we are doing so at the expense of the sinner?
“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.
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”
1 John 5:16-18 ESV
We are so prone to judgement, and in this is a snare that entraps not only the sinner but us as well. 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 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? For the righteous? No, he died that sin would be defeated and sinners 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? Jesus 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? Are we praying for all those who need intercession?
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. In this way, would they be inclined to do me harm? And, if the other sinners around me ask for forgiveness and turn to Jesus, isn’t it the same? Don’t we find that they no longer offend God, nor us.
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 lives of sin shouldn’t that be their instruction to them as well. For this 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 resist praying for 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 not neglect to find the 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 pray with him and lift him up on our shoulders as we 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 and call us merciful intercessors for the lost, and healers of the lame of heart.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for leading me to the sinners and my enemies as I deliver the gospel message and pray in intercession for their healing and redemption. 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 their sin, that I have enough strength to shoulder that sin for them as I pray for their salvation and forgiveness. I pray Father that many will come to you through the effort of my prayers, and that before my reaching arms, bended knees, and lifted face they will experience your mercy and grace. I worship you Holy Father, and I thank you for your love for us. In you the river of forgiveness runs swift and in its raging current our sins are dashed against the rocks of righteousness and washed from us forever. In your Son Jesus we are come to you, and are lifted from the water pure and righteous... acceptable to you. Hallowed be your name and forever be the praise we offer you. You are our God, our Father, the Great I Am, and the source of our forgiveness. Hear us today as we pray for our enemies and the lost; hear us and know that we are expectant of your promised forgiveness, and longing to bear witnesses to your mercy and grace. Glory be to you our God and may your joy. peace, and bountiful blessings be poured over not only the lost who are found, but over each one of us who has prayed for them and led them to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. To you we give all the glory for every soul we have witnessed and made intercession for. We give you the glory for transforming them and placing them on the road to righteousness and eternal life. You are loving and mighty indeed and we shout out Hallelujah to you before all heaven and creation and claim an amen to every prayer that is lifted for the lost, and to you for those in need of forgiveness and redemption.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, and all who pray and intercede, say Amen! Amen! Amen!
Amen, Amen, Amen!
Rich Forbes