What is intercession?

God is constantly looking for intercessors. Are you willing?

Isaiah 59:16 (NIV) — God saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.

Ezekiel 22:30–31 (NIV) — 30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.

God deeply desires to find people who will be intercessors, so he can work his salvation through their prayers.

What is Intercession?

Psalm 106:23 (NIV) — 23 So he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.

Intercession is where the intercessor prays to God for the sake of someone else.

Job 42:8 (NIV) — 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”

Here we see that intercession part of God’s design and he desires to work through our prayers.

Intercession involves humility and fasting, because we are asking for God’s mercy and grace.

Daniel 9:3 (NIV) — 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

It is God’s promise that if we humble ourselves and confess our sins he will hear us.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) — 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Who can we intercede for?

1 Timothy 2:1–2 (NIV) — 1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

James 5:16 (NIV) — 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Matthew 5:44 (NIV) — 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Scripture tells us to intercede for everyone including our enemies.

We can intercede for someone’s health

3 John 2 (NIV) — 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Jesus interceded for Peter and his faith

Luke 22:31–32 (NIV) — 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

We can pray for cities

Psalm 122:6 (NIV) — 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure

Jeremiah 29:7 (NIV) — 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”