DO YOU HAVE A MINISTRYOF INTERCESSION?
by Peter MastersFROM SWORD & TROWEL 2000 No 1
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men (1 Timothy 2.1) .
IT IS OFTEN SAID that a priest is one who represents God to man, and who also represents
man before God. Christian believers are the ‘priests’ of the church age; indeed, they are a kingdom of
priests. In the act of witness they carry out the first function of a priest, and in pleading for people
before the Lord they carry out the second. Do we as individual believers exercise a ministry of
intercession?
The exhortation of 1 Timothy 2.1 speaks of pleading, asking and making
representation for all men, and this definitely includes those who are unconverted, because Paul goes
on to say that God desires the salvation of lost souls (verse 4). Elsewhere Paul exhorts that prayer and
supplication be made for ‘all saints’ (Ephesians 6.18).
There falls to each one a very remarkable privilege, because the God Who commands
intercession is undoubtedly the God Who is moved by intercession, and ready to be prevailed upon,
in the mystery of His will.
It is very probable that everyone who reads these words was the subject of someone’s
earnest intercession prior to their conversion. Who prayed for us? We may know, or we may not
know, but in all likelihood someone was pleading for us. Do we now plead for others?
It is not difficult to see some of the reasons why the ministry of intercession should
have been given to us by the Lord. First, it produces largeness of heart in the interceder, so that we
care much more for others, our love is increased, and our concern for their souls. What a difference
this ministry makes to the character of a believer who takes it seriously. It makes us more sensitive to
needs, both of the lost and of the saved, and also of those who labour for the Lord.
Secondly, it fixes firmly in the heart the mission of Christ as the highest priority in the
Christian’s life. This becomes the theme above all others when we are consistent interceders. That
which occupies our prayer time occupies the very soul, and shapes our values.
Thirdly, the ministry of intercession brings us nearer to Christ in likeness and habit, for
He, as our Great High Priest, is the eternal Interceder. As He prayed for us (John 17), so
we pray for others.
Fourthly (building on our first point), the ministry of intercession helps to make
believers outgoing and unselfish. This starts in prayer, and spreads through the life.
Fifthly, this is a ministry unlike all others, because it is for every kind of Christian in
every kind of situation. It is a ministry for the healthy, and also a ministry for the infirm. Intercession
from the sick-bed may, for all we know, be more used than the act of preaching to thousands.
Sixthly - and this is of immense significance - intercession firmly establishes in our
hearts that all credit must be the Lord’s. As we pray, so the lost are delivered. As we pray, so
believers are blessed. If, on the other hand, we witness without intercession, nothing ever seems to
come of it. The constant interceder is persuaded beyond all doubt that all the glory is
the Lord’s.
What is the scope of the ministry of intercession? It extends beyond the
following themes, but these represent most of our desires.
- l The conversion of lost individuals
- l The preservation and protection of the Lord’s people (‘Pray one for another,’ says James)
- l The growth and peace of Christians
- l The instrumentality of Christians
- l The healing of others
- l The keeping of the young from the world
- l The blessing of Gospel workers
Abraham’s Intercession
The first major example of intercessory prayer in the Bible is that of Abraham pleading
for the life of Lot and his household (recorded in Genesis 18). The passage in which
Abraham ‘bargains’ with God is so well-known that we will simply make a few observations without
attempting to describe the whole event.
When the Lord said He would inspect Sodom, Abraham knew at once that it would be
destroyed for its great evil. Immediately he ‘stood yet before the Lord’ (verse 22). We see here his
firm purpose. Abraham’s intercession would not be made only out of a sense of duty, or lightly, but
his mind would be totally engaged, and his heart wholly involved. He clearly believed that his
pleading might prevail with the Lord, and so must we.
Abraham asks for the sparing of Sodom if fifty righteous souls are found there,
appealing to the justice of God. Nevertheless, he is sure that ‘the Judge of all the earth’ will do what
is right, and he assents to God’s sovereign and perfect will. We also plead to prevail, but not to
dictate to the Lord.
Abraham’s language is especially significant when he says, ‘Behold now, I have taken
upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes.’ He also says a little later, ‘Oh let not
the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once.’ The great patriarch knew that only
humble intercession is acceptable with God, and we also must see this to plead successfully.
Abraham employs a technique to humble himself, in this case, classifying himself as
mere dust and ashes, and we also should find ways of preparing our hearts in humility. We may
reflect on our unworthiness, foolish deeds, sins of omission and commission, long trying of the
Lord’s patience and other aspects of our inadequacy before God, so that we truly esteem Him and
submit to Him as we plead.
We note that Abraham’s pleadings were heard and answered, but not in the way he
expected. The city was destroyed, but Lot was saved out of it - a far better solution than that
proposed by Abraham. The essence of his prayer was rewarded, though not the detail. So it is with us
today, as the Lord frequently answers in an ultimately far better way than that posed in our prayers.
The Pleading of Moses
Moses was a remarkable interceder, pleading repeatedly for the people even when they
were hostile toward him. When God proposed the destruction of the people (Exodus
32.9ff), Moses cried out most passionately, pleading for the preservation of the good name and
glory of the Lord in the eyes of the Egyptians, and also pleading the promises of God made to the
patriarchs. The verses recording his prayer must be read (Exodus 32.11-13), for the Lord
accepted it, and Israel was preserved. Intercession is always feelingful. It is to be carried on despite
aggravation from those prayed for, and it must long for the honour and glory of God in souls spared.
In the same 32nd chapter of Exodus we see Moses is so identified with the
people when he prays for them that he asks to be blotted out of the book of God, if it would avail for
their deliverance. Astonishingly, this plea follows their wickedness in making the golden calf. In this
prayer Moses is truly a type of Christ Who substituted His life for His people. In the case of Moses,
the offer was not acceptable with God, but the strong feeling behind it, even though the people had
made themselves odious to him, shows how conscientiously he took his priestly office and
responsibility as intercessor. If only we could accept the same level of responsibility for those among
whom the Lord has set us!
Samuel’s Unwavering Prayers
In some ways the most notable intercessor of all was Samuel, the prophet born through
prayer, whose name means - ‘Asked for of God’. In 1 Samuel 12.23, he speaks to the
people his famous words, ‘God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.’
To cease to intercede is a sin! It is a repudiation of our priesthood. It is a grotesque sin of ingratitude
to God for all His grace, and to those who once prayed for us. It is a crime of great hardness and
indifference to others. Do we sin in this way?
Like Moses, even though aggravated, Samuel will pray, forcefully expressing his
determination not to stop. He says, ‘God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray
for you.’ It was his calling and office to intercede, just as it is ours today.
We note that he would not cease to pray, showing that it was his regular
habit to intercede. For us also there should be daily intercession especially for members
of our family, for work colleagues, for members of our church, and for the Lord’s servants. If the list
of people grows too long, we may need to apportion it across the week, because we should never fall
to merely naming names, with perhaps only a sentence for each one.
The people knew well that Samuel interceded for them, and when under fear or
conviction they pressed him to do so (1 Samuel 12.19). It is nothing to be ashamed of if
people should know that we pray for them - saved or unsaved. Ultimately, it secures all the glory for
God.
It was Samuel who said to a sinful and oppressed people - ‘I will pray for you unto the
Lord.’ The result was - ‘And Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him’ (1
Samuel 7.5 and 9). We should not overlook the fact that the word ‘cried’ conveys
great earnestness and desire.
Samuel is famous in the Bible as an intercessor. In Psalm 99 we read of
‘Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name;
they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.’
When the Lord rejects the Jews through the lips of Jeremiah, He says: ‘Though Moses
and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people.’ What an astounding
proof this divine statement is about the normal effectiveness of their earnest
intercession. Even Moses and Samuel - usually persuasive and successful in their pleading - could
not prevail once the Lord’s patience was withdrawn.
Advice for Interceders
Here are a number of items of advice for intercession drawn from the way our Old
Testament forbears and examples went about it.
We should pray for more than names, asking for specific blessings. Vague
intercession is not true intercession. Let us take each name separately and ask for a distinctive
benefit.
We should feel for those for whom we pray, contemplating, for example,
their terrors if lost, or their pain if sick.
We should labour to represent them, as if we truly desired to persuade the
Lord. How easily earnestness drains from private prayer! It may be an act of toil to maintain it.
We should pray persistently and regularly, never relaxing
until the Lord answers from on high (or until the sin unto death is manifested).
We should be careful to esteem believers when we pray for them, so that
our intercession does not become a superior or condescending act, as though we were praying for
needy inferiors. The fallen heart is so subtle, and prayer should never be contaminated by a
patronising spirit.
We should pray much for our Sunday School class, or whoever else we have
special responsibility for. The praying teacher becomes inevitably a visiting teacher, because
he, or she, cares.
We should always give time for Christian workers, both ministers and lay
teachers.
We should be aware of the trials of workers and their special
opportunities, bringing all as specific matters before the Lord, and we should not forget to
rejoice over resulting blessing and give thanks.
Occasionally it is helpful to the prayer time to make intercession even before repenting
of sin, for it engages the soul and draws the praying believer away from self. But normally, heartfelt
repentance should precede intercession, for it is the prayer of the righteous person, the cleansed
person, which avails much.
Once again, the need to pray with fervour and desire
must be emphasised. We need a sense of audience, an atmosphere of awe, and an attitude of humility.
If all the members of a church were to engage in intercessory prayer, the outcome
would be blessing on a wonderful scale. It is well-known that the great American 1858 revival began
with the widespread take-up of intercession for individuals.
By intercessory prayer we shall be instrumental; we shall be mightily encouraged and
assured; great blessing will come, and God will receive the glory.
If your intercessions are few and small, take up this vital and privileged duty today.
Make a list, and stand before the Lord. In ten minutes you can intercede for many; but keep it up
every day. And however you pray, remember that a measure of detail, specific prayers, real desire,
and fervour are all part of the Christian’s priestly intercessory work.
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