Untitled Sermon (3)

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

We're going to talk about intercessory prayer tonight. If you don't know the word intercessory or intersession you've probably heard the term Standing In The Gap, or Standing In for someone who can't stand in for themselves at the moment. That is a type of intersession.

But before we go deeper into the different types of intersession and look at scripture about it, I want to lay the foundation. You cannot and will not stand in for anyone, and carry them to Jesus until you have a burden! Burden means a load ; typically a heavy one. Until you have a burden for a loved one and you're willing to do the work of intersession, you will never interceded or become a intercessor.

So understand that intercession begins with a burden.

Jesus says in

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.

Until you have laid your burdens at the feet of Jesus, and then you're willing to carry someone else’s burden as your own burden to Jesus, you won't participate in the act of intersession, but when you have seen Jesus take your weariness and carry your burdens, then you have a burden for your loved ones and you carry them to Jesus and Jesus helps you carry them in prayer. [Suitcase illustration.]

Just like those wheels Jesus takes the same load and makes it easier to carry.

Once you have that burden for someone you intercede for them.

Intersession is an action. Like faith. Faith is not a prayer, but you can pray prayers of faith. It’s the same with intersession it's not a prayer, but you can pray a prayer of intersession.

"When we move from our own petitions (requests) in prayer into the realm of  an intercessor, we are shifting from our own needs to the needs and concerns of others.” (Richard Foster)

[Illustration] In 1940, General Dobbie was appointed Governor General of Malta during the Second World War.  The Communist Italian forces had the overwhelming superiority, both in numbers and firepower, yet Malta never fell to the enemy.  Historians still cannot understand why the Italians did not take the island, given its strategic position. General Dobbie was a committed Christian, and he quickly realized  the weakness of his position and that God alone was “his present help in trouble”.  He said to his men defending the island, “I therefore call upon all men to humbly seek God’s help, and in reliance upon God to do their duty unflinchingly.

Paul says In

1 Timothy 2: 1First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.

Intercessions for whom?

For Everyone—especially for those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

St. Paul commands us to pray - to intercede. Prayer is our access to the great God.

Jesus is our great Example of being an Intercessor. He prays on our behalf.

Intercessory prayer draws us closer to the heart of our heavenly Father.

Isiah 53:12 12¶Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, (died on the cross) and was counted among the rebels (the two thieves) yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.

Jesus made a bridge for us to walk across and be with God the Father. Jesus stood in the gap for everyone of us.

That song we sang tonight says I was a wretch I remember who I was I was lost, I was blind I was running out of time Sin separated The breach was far too wide But from the far side of the chasm You held me in your sight So You made a way Across the great divide Left behind Heaven's throne To build it here inside And there at the cross You paid the debt I owed Broke my chains, freed my soul For the first time I had hope Thank you Jesus for the blood applied Thank you Jesus, it has washed me white Thank you Jesus, You have saved my life Brought me from the darkness into glorious light You took my place Laid inside my tomb of sin You were buried for three days But then You walked right out again And now death has no sting And life has no end For I have been transformed By the blood of the lamb Thank You Jesus for the blood applied (thank You Jesus) Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life Brought me from the darkness into glorious light There is nothing stronger Than the wonder working power of the blood The blood That calls us sons and daughters We are ransomed by our Father Through the blood The blood There is nothing stronger Of the wonder working power of the blood The blood That calls us sons and daughters We are ransomed by the Father Through the blood The blood Thank You Jesus for the blood applied Thank You Jesus, it have washed me white Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life Brought me from the darkness into glorious light

See we say in the name of Jesus because He was and is the ultimate intercessor.

We see from the Old Testament that Jesus on the cross was fulfilling scripture; He was bridging the gap, fulfilling the law, so what Jesus did on the cross is a great example of intersession.

But here in Romans 8:34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

So Jesus came down out of heaven and became the bridge between us and God the Father, and then He went to the right hand of the Father and continues to intercede for us.

We say our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ because He's the bridge that allows us access to the Father. We say in the name of Jesus Christ, because there's power in the name of Jesus and when we pray, He takes our prayers, weariness, and burdens to the Father.

So know that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father in intercession for you and me, and when you get a burden for someone else, that same burden and love and compassion that brought Jesus down to the cross is still at work. When you intercede, Jesus hears it and He takes it to OUR Father who art in heaven.