Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
Intercession is
not a one off event. It is an ongoing activity that you continue doing until
the will of God is established (Isaiah Chapter 62 verses 6 to 9).
The basis of intercession is the word of God therefore
every intercessor must know and understand the word of God and desire that the
word of God takes root in the hearts of people so that their lives are
transformed to Christ-likeness. Intercessors respond to situations according to
the Word of God – God heals all diseases so they pray for healing. Jesus is the
savior so they pray for people to be receptive to and surrendered to the
Lordship of Jesus Christ, pray for Christians to mature in Christ Jesus.
Intercession
should not be made for sin leading to death (2nd Timothy Chapter 4
verses 14 to 15, 1st Thessalonians Chapter 4 verse 8, Romans Chapter
8 verses 1 to 32, 2nd Thessalonians Chapter 2 verses 1 to 12,
Hebrews Chapter 6 verses 1 to 8 and 2nd Peter Chapter 2 verses 1 to
25.
Intercession is interceding
for the people of God. This means that prophets should not condemn the people
of God. Rather, they should intercede. However, they can rebuke to correct in
love as God speaks through them. Nevertheless, intercession appears to be a
major task and responsibility of the prophet to the people of God – Abraham,
Moses, and Jeremiah (Jeremiah Chapter 14)
Jesus Christ,
the greatest intercessor that ever lives is also a prophet (John Chapter 7
verse 40, 6 verse 14). He was a prophet while on earth – Luke Chapter 24 verse
19. There is therefore a link between prophets, prophecy and intercession.
Jesus Christ interceded for Peter – Luke Chapter 22 verses 31 to 32.
Daniel was an unusual prophet. He served When Daniel
came to the understanding that the captivity of Israel was up, he commenced
fervent intercession incorporating genuine repentance, fasting, pleas for
restoration so the Israelites could be released from the land of captivity to
their own land. God heard and brought speedy help to remove the opposition. It
was the understanding Daniel had of the situation that made him turn to God in
fasting and prayer for mercy to be delivered from captivity (Daniel Chapter 9
verses 1 to the end). Daniel prayed and God
opened the doors for restoration as the exiles returned home to rebuild
Jerusalem. Daniels’ responsibility to the people was high level intercession
which was his divine assigned task.
Severally, God used Moses and Moses emerged as a
teacher of the laws of God, a compassionate intercessor – he interceded for the
people of Israel for forty days and forty nights (Deuteronomy Chapter 9 verses
25, 18, Exodus Chapter 32 verses 31 to 35, and Numbers Chapter 16 verses 41 to
50),
The prophet Jeremiah was already accustomed to
hearing and distinguishing the voice of God coupled with promptly obeying God.
Yet, he never underestimated prayer, especially praying the promises of God
back to God (Jeremiah Chapter 22 verse 15). Also on three different occasions
God asked Jeremiah to stop praying for the Israelites after God had decreed
exile in Babylon for them on account of their unrepentant hearts. Jeremiah kept
interceding, asking God for mercy in addition to daily pleading with the people
to obey God.
Nehemiah could have chosen to remain the successful
wine server to the king. But he preferred his homeland, no matter how terrible
the fallen state it was in. He requested
God's help and returned to rebuild his fallen homeland with the favor and
assistance of God. Please, see Nehemiah Chapter 1 verses 1 to the end. Nehemiah
got all the resources he needed to rebuild Jerusalem through fervent
intercession that birthed divine favor that ultimately released the resources
from men who would otherwise never release them from captivity. Nehemiah
confessed the sins of his ancestors and requested favor alongside other
resources to accomplish the task of rebuilding Jerusalem.
Significantly,
Paul labored in prayers for the salvation, spiritual growth and maturity of
believers he ministered to (Galatians Chapter 4 verse 19, Ephesians Chapter 1
verses 16 to 23, Colossians Chapter 1 verses 19 to 20 and 1st
Thessalonians Chapter 3 verses 9 to 13. He constantly prayed for the Churches
he planted in Rome, his family of fellow believers in Rome. He travailed in
prayers for Christ to be formed in the lives of the believers in Galatia, for
them to mature in Christ and stop their frequent backsliding and recourse to
idol worship and fables (Galatians Chapter 4 verse 19). He urged the believers
in Thessaloniki to pray without ceasing – it is only a person who prays always
that can advise other people to pray always because such a person knows the
benefit of prayer (1st Thessalonians Chapter 5 verse 17, Ephesians
Chapter 6 verse 6). In point of fact, Paul prayed fervently for every Church he
planted and visited (Ephesians Chapter 1 verse 16, 3 verses 14 to 20, 2nd
Thessalonians Chapter 1 verses 11 to 12).
Beloved, ask God for the grace to intercede for the
healing of the nations. Intercession will bring about much healing to the nations and peoples of the world in
Jesus mighty name.
Email:
olivesfamily@yahoo.com
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