Christian Living II - Lecture 13 - Intercession

ILLUSTRATION: A prayer meeting was held for Tony Compolo just before he spoke at a Pentecostal college chapel service. Eight men took Tony to a back room of the chapel, had him kneel, laid their hands on his head, and began to pray. That’s a good thing, Tony wrote, except that they prayed for a long time, and the longer they prayed, the more tired they got, and the more tired they got, the more they leaned on his head. “I want to tell you that when eight guys are leaning on your head, it doesn’t feel so good.”

To make matters worse, one of the men was not even praying for Tony. He went on and on praying for someone named Charlie Stolzfus: “Dear Lord, you know Charlie Stolzfus. He lives in that silver trailer down the road a mile. You know the trailer. Lord, just down the road on the right-hand side.” (Tony said he wanted to inform the pray-er that it was not necessary to furnish God with the directional material.) “Lord, Charlie told me this morning he’s going to leave his wife and three kids. Step in and do something, God. Bring that family back together.”

Tony writes that he finally got the Pentecostal preachers off his head, delivered his message, and got in his car to drive home. As he drove into Pennsylvania Turnpike, he noticed a hitchhiker. I’ll let him tell it from here…

‘We drove a few minutes and I said: “Hi my name’s Tony Campolo. What’s yours?” He said, “My name is Charlie Stolzfus.” I couldn’t believe it!

I got off the turnpike at the next exit and headed back. He got a bit uneasy with that and after a few minutes he said, “Hey mister, where are you taking me?”

I said, “I’m taking you home.”

He narrowed his eyes and asked, “Why?”

I said, “Because you just left your wife and three kids, right?”

That blew him away. “Yeah, that’s right.” With shock written all over his face, he plastered himself against the car door and never took his eyes off me.

Then I really did him in as I drove right to his silver trailer. When I pulled up, his eyes seemed to bulge as he asked, “How did you know that I lived here?”

I said, “God told me.” (I believe God tell me.)…

When he opened the trailer door his wife exclaimed, “You’re back!” You’re back!” He whispered in her ear and the more he talked the bigger her eyes got.

Then I said with real authority, “The two of you sit down. I’m going to talk and you two are going to listen!” Man did they listen! (…) That afternoon I led those two people to Jesus Christ.’

What is Intercession?

According to Webster:

“Intercede” means “to go or pass between; to act between parties with a view to reconcile those who differ or contend; to mediate or make intercession; mediation.”

“Mediate” means “between two extremes; to interpose between parties as the equal friend of each; to negotiate between person at variance with a view to reconciliation; to mediate a peace; intercession.”

As can be clearly seen from these definitions, the concept of intercession can be summarized as mediating, going between, pleading for another, representing one party to another…

It is God’s method for involving His followers more completely in the totality of His plan. (page 72)

Eastman - Intercession (Prayer for others) is so essential to the devotional habit. Intercession might be labeled “the heart of prayer.” Page 72

Some preach, others teach, a few sing publicly, but all can pray. Page 73

E. M. Bounds explains, “Prayer must be broad in its scope – it must plead for others. Intercession for others is the hallmark of all true prayer… Prayer is the soul of a man stirred to plead with God for men.” Page 73

Why Should We Be Intercessors?

A: We are to be like Christ!

Jesus is our example! And Christ was the ultimate Intercessor.

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

As the intercessor mediator, He went between God and humanity, reconciling us to the Father; and between satan and humanity, breaking satan’s hold.

Why Should We Be Intercessors?

A: We are commanded to!

Romans 15:1-3 1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Dutch Sheets - “Our prayers of intercession are always and only an extension of His work of intercession.”

The Power of Intercessors:

God came to Abimelech in a dream at night.

Genesis 20:4 – “But Abimelech had not come near her…”

Note the promise God gave Abimelech:

Genesis 20:7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

Intercession begins with a spirit of giving before it becomes a spirit of praying. Page 75

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray it was clear the emphasis was to be on others.

Matthew 6:9-15 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We were not taught to pray, “My Father,” but, “Our Father!” “Give us,” “lead us,” and “forgive us.” Every word is selfless. Page 75

“Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden which we must lay upon God, but also because we are bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as acutely as our own.” Page 75

J.C. Ryle “We are all selfish by nature, and our selfishness is very apt to stick to us, even when we are converted. There is a tendency in us to think only of our own needs, our own spiritual conflicts, and our own progress in religion, and forget others.” Page 76

ILLUSTRATION: Dutch Sheets “Intercessory Prayer” A Galilean Jesus Became a Guatemalan Jesus Page 45-46

(A Sermon I Preached around 3-16-2022 at Mount Zion Tabernacle Silver Springs, NY)

1 Timothy 2:1-2 Praying Fervently and Effectively #5: Intercession

1 Timothy 2:1-2 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Intercession refers to the requests we make on behalf of others. As we pray, there should be time when the needs of others find a place in our prayer before God’s throne.

In our text this evening, Paul instructs Timothy on prayer and includes that intercession should be made "...For all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority". In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter writes that we are an "holy priesthood". The function of a priest is to intercede to the Lord on behalf of others.

Certainly intercession involves praying for the sick and hurting families and friends, but the scope of our intercession should take in the whole world. This is God's way of allowing us to be involved in His work around the world. When we intercede we forget about our personal needs and we focus all of our faith and attention on the needs of others.

We may not be able to travel to far off lands and tell people about Christ, but we can get involved through making intercession for them!

There are four claims that we can make in intercessory prayer for the world.

I. Burdened Hearts. (Claim Workers for the Harvest.)

A. Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

B. Nothing is more important in the worldwide work of God than the workers in the harvest.

C. God's plan centers in people: people who know Christ must share this knowledge with people who do not know Him.

D. Consider 1Co. 3:6, " I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."

E. Without God we cannot, but without us God will not! It is His plan for us to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

II. Broken Ground. (Claim Open Doors.)

A. Colossians 4:2-3 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

B. We must dedicate ourselves to this matter of prayer for open doors.

C. This is also why Paul instructed us to pray for those in authority.

D. One hundred thousand laborers on a given field would be useless, unless they had an open door through which to minister.

III. Boundless Fruit. Claim Fruit That Will Remain.

A. Paul wanted to have results from his ministry, he told the Philippian 4:17...I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

B. Certainly God will bless faithful- ness, and some fields are harder than others, but all the more reason for us to intercede and pray for fruit!

C. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

D. We must get involved in the work around the world and pray that the laborers will be able to reach people for Christ, and that their fruit will remain!

IV. Base of Support. Claim a Strong Base of Support for the Missionary.

A. Romans 10:14-15a How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?

B. There is no specific Bible verse that tells us to pray that people will give more money to missions.

C. We are responsible to go or to send!

D. This ought to be an important part of our intercessory prayer!

This is a vital part of our prayer life. As we take time to pray for others, let's not forget that God intends for us to make intercession for all men...everywhere!

Illustration: Bishop Handley Moule told of a dedicated Sunday school teacher who helped bring numerous students to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Following her death, the teacher’s diary was found to contain, among other entries, these resolutions: “Resolved to pray for each scholar by name.” “Resolved to wrestle in prayer for each scholar by name.” “Resolved to wrestle for each by name and to expect an answer.” Page 78-79