'I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.... that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.' 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Intercession is a Christian privilege. The word “intercessor” has roots in Greek, and the Greek meaning is “to meet with, come between." When we pray an intercessory prayer for someone, we stand in the gap between that person and God, we make representations on behalf of a beloved friend or family member to God
There is a small group of intercessors in Charis Methodist Church who have been meeting weekly for many years to pray for the church and its members. These Christians will receive prayer requests and commit the items to God.
Recently both Pat and I experienced the power of this intercession and the effects it has on our faith when these dedicated prayer warriors prayed for Pat as she undergoes chemotherapy for lymphoma. To be sure we do not know yet how and when God will answer this intercession but we are sure that we are blessed. Our hearts are warmed by the ministry.
One of the ladies will telephone Pat prior to any major treatment and pray with her. When she prays, I feel that she is praying as naturally as birds sing; so sincere, full of faith and with quiet passion.
In these days on the social media, the WhatsApp Chatgroups are also the places where Christians in small groups, bible studies, choir and praise groups are interceding for one another. Recently several choir members were down with the Covid-19 infection, the Choir WhatsApp chatgroup became abuzz with short messages of intercessory prayers. There are so many friends and family praying for us that we feel the grace of God upon us. We are very encouraged and uplifted, knowing how fervently they are praying.
The power of intercession is not just about the results nor the effectiveness of the prayer. It is really about how much love is put into the prayer. A dramatic example of 'standing in the gap' intercession is found in the healing of the paralysed man told in the Gospels.
'A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing a paralysed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, "Son your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:1-5
This paralysed man had no way to reach Jesus by himself. His four friends helped him and they went to great lengths to bring him to Jesus. They lowered him from the roof. They interceded for this man in a dramatic fashion. Eventually Jesus not only healed the paralysis but he noted and commended the faith of the four men.
What does this teach us about intercessory prayer? It is not the prayer itself, not the content or even the words that were uttered that matter. What really matters is the fervency of the heart.
To this end, we realise that Jesus Christ is our ultimate intercessor. Jesus Christ is the one who stands between and pleads the case for us all. He paid the ultimate price, He sacrificed His life.
'For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all people' 1 Timothy 2:5-6
We thank God for the many who are praying for us. There is a wonderful song, 'Somebody's Praying For Me' written by Don Moen. In one of the introductions to this song, Don Moen quoted from the Epistle of James,
'The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.' James 5:16
Don Moen said, "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman makes all the difference in the world. You are here today because someone prayed for you and we must continue to pray for one another during these times."
I was lost in a desert land
So dry and thirsty
But God was there where he'd always been
Giving grace and mercy
So hard to sing and hard to pray
Yet I knew His word was true
And then one day my faith returned
And suddenly I knew
Somebody's praying for me
Somebody's knocking on heaven's door
Somebody's praying for me
Somebody's lifting me up to the Lord
I knew it had to be
Somebody down on their knees
Somebody praying for me
I've been spared by so many prayers
How many times I could not say
What a difference a prayer can make When it's offered up in faith
God has always made a way
When I didn't know what to do
Just when I needed a miracle
That's when your prayers broke through
Somebody's praying for me
Somebody's knocking on heaven's door
Somebody's praying for me
Somebody's lifting me up to the Lord well I knew it had to be
Somebody down on their knees
Somebody praying for me
Now I know that friend was you
You were the gift God gave me
'Cause when you prayed
His love broke through
It was your prayer that saved me
Thank you for praying for me
Thank you for knocking on heaven's door
Thank you for praying for me
Thank you for lifting me up to the Lord now I can clearly see
That you were the one on your knees
So thank you for praying for me
Somebody's praying for me
Somebody's knocking on heaven's door
Somebody's praying for me
Somebody's lifting me up to the Lord well I knew it had to be
Somebody down on their knees
Somebody praying for me
Lionel
