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12 Sermon Illustrations on Intercession

12 illustrations

Intercession in Christian preaching refers to the act of praying on behalf of others, standing in the gap as a mediator before God (1 Timothy 2:1; Romans 8:34). Illustrations often depict courageous faith and compassionate advocacy, showing how earnest prayer can bring divine intervention and salvation to those in need.

Christ: The Mediator The Advocate

Christ advocates for sinners, granting access to heaven despite human failure.

A great minister who was noted for his Christlike spirit as well as for his consecrated ability, dreamed that he had died and stood at the gate of heaven knocking for admission. He gave his name, only to be told that his name did not appear upon the books. Finally, at his earnest entreaty, he was bidden to enter and was told he would have the privilege of appearing before the Judge of all the earth, and if he could stand His test he might abide in heaven forever. Standing before the throne, he gave his name, and the following questions were put to him: "Have you led a righteous life?" He said, "No." "Have you always been kind and gentle?" Again he replied in the negative. "Have you always been forgiving to those who have been around you?" "No, I have miserably failed there." "Have you always been honest and just?" He answered, "I fear not." As question after question was put to him by the Judge, his case seemed more and more hopeless. The last question was asked him, and to that, too, he was obliged to give the same negative reply. Just when he seemed to be in despair, the brightness about the throne became brighter, and suddenly he heard a beautiful voice-the most beautiful to which his ears had ever listened. It was sweeter than a mother's voice; it was more beautiful than all the music of heaven; it filled all the arches of the skies and thrilled the soul of this man as he stood before the Judge trembling and about to fall. The speaker said, "My Father, I know this man. It is true that he was weak in many ways, but he stood for Me in the world, and I take his place before Thee." Just as the last words of this sentence were spoken, the dream was over and the man awoke; he had his lesson, and it is a lesson for us all.

Intercession, Christian

Persistent prayer and personal zeal lead to many conversions.

The great secret of the success of Harlan Page was, that he always aimed at the conversion of some individual; wrestling in prayer with God, and in affectionate entreaty with the sinner, till he saw his wishes realized. By following this plan, though he was in humble life, active work, and often in deep poverty, he lived to see more than a hundred brought to God as the fruit of his zeal and intercessions. Howes.

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster prayer

Intercession, Christ's

Christ continually intercedes for His children, never forgetting their needs.

Suppose a king's son should get out of a besieged prison, and leave his wife and children behind, whom he loves as his own soul: would the prince, when arrived at his father's palace, please and delight himself with the splendor of the court, and forget his family in distress? No; but, having their cries and groans always in his ears, he should come post to his father, and entreat him, as ever he loved him, that he would send all the forces of his kingdom and raise the siege, and save his dear relations from perishing. Nor will Christ, though gone up from the world and ascended into his glory, forget his children for a moment that are left behind him. Gurnall.

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster christ

Intercession, in Death

A dying man spent his last moments praying fervently for others' salvation.

When Dr. Bacchus (the President of Hamilton College) was upon his death-bed, the doctor called to see him, and, after examining the symptoms, left the room without speaking, but, as he opened the door to go out, was observed to whisper something to the servant. "What did the physician say to you?" asked Dr. Bacchus. "He said, sir, that you cannot live to exceed half an hour." — "Is it so?" said the good man. "Then take me out of my bed, and place me upon my knees: let me spend that time in calling upon God for the salvation of the world." His request was complied with; and his last moments were spent in breathing forth his prayers for the salvation of his fellow-sinners: he died upon his knees. Howes.

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster prayerdeath

Intercession, Example of

A brother's sacrifice led to the pardon of his condemned sibling.

Æschylus was condemned to death by the Athenians, and about to be led to execution. His brother Amyntas had signalized himself in the service of his country, and, on the day of an illustrious victory obtained by his means, lost his hand. He came into court just as his brother was condemned, and, without saying a word, held up the stump of his arm in the sight of all. The historian says, that, "when the judges saw this mark of his sufferings, they remembered what he had done, and, for his sake, pardoned the guilty brother whose life had been forfeited."

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster mercy

Intercession, Meaning of

Intercession means speaking to God on behalf of others.

The question, "What is meant by intercession?" being asked in a Sunday school, one of the children replied, "Speaking a word to God for us, sir."

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster

Intercession, Method of Christ's

Christ's intercession is like a high priest presenting His wounds before God.

It was when the high priest entered with the blood and incense within the veil before the mercy-seat that he made intercession for the people. The very presenting of the blood and incense was an act of intercession, whether words were used or not. It was done in behalf of Israel for the purpose of averting the displeasure and conciliating the favor of Jehovah. With reference to this, Jesus is represented as fulfilling in heaven this part of the priestly functions. In what precise manner his intercession is carried on, it may not be easy for us with certainty to determine. It is evident, from the type just alluded to, that there may be intercession in action as well as in words. If a general who had fought the battles of his country, and had received many a wound, were presenting a petition to his sovereign on behalf of any of his offending subjects, what could be a more effective intercession than the silent baring of his bosom, and pointing to his scars? Dr. Wardlaw.

Intercession, Office of

Christ purifies our prayers, presenting only what is pleasing to the Father.

"A child," saith Ambrose, "that is willing to present his father with a bouquet, goes into the garden, and there gathers some flowers and some weeds together; but, coming to his mother, she picks out the weeds, and binds the flowers, and so it is presented to the father." Thus, when we have put up our prayers, Christ comes, and picks away the weeds, the sin of our prayers, and presents nothing but flowers to his Father, which are a sweet-smelling savor.

— T. Watson

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster christ

Intercession, Victorious

Luther's confident prayer coincided with a victorious outcome for Protestants.

How little most Christians know of the power and confidence in prayer that Luther had! "At the time the Diet of Nuremberg was held," says Tholuck, "Luther was earnestly praying in his own dwelling; and, at the very hour when the edict granting free toleration to all Protestants was issued, he ran out of his house, crying out, 'We have gained the victory! Do you understand that.'"

from New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations · Elon Foster prayer

The Dying Master And His Slave

A dying man trusted his servant’s prayer for salvation when his minister failed him.

The conscience of the sinner, when aroused, not only accuses himself but his accomplices also. A rich Southern gentleman, careless about his soul, used often to invite his minister, a worldly man and a mere hireling, to hunt, drink wine, play cards, and join parties of pleasure with him.

The poor worldling was taken sick, and his case was pronounced dangerous. His mind was terribly agitated;—he felt unprepared to die. His physician asked him, one day, if he would not send for his minister to converse with him, and offer prayer in his behalf? No, he had no confidence in him: he could hardly bear the mention of his name. He had a poor pious negro servant, by the name of Ben. The master had sometimes overheard him at prayer. "Call for Ben!" said he. He came. "Ben," said the dying man, "can't you pray for your poor master?" Down he fell on his knees, and pleaded for the salvation of the sinner's soul; and the prayer, we hope, was answered.

from Cyclopaedia of Moral and Religious Anecdotes · Kazlitt Arvine salvationprayer

Praying with Submission

A mother's fervent intercession prayer helped lead her son to salvation.

A MOTHER’S INTERCESSION.—A Christian minister in Somersetshire, Eng., stated, that on the evening when the first permanent impressions were made on his mind, his pious mother was detained at home. She spent the time devoted to public worship, in secret prayer for the salvation of her son; and so fervent did she become in these intercessions, that she fell on her face, and remained in fervent supplication till the service had nearly closed. Her son, brought under the deepest impressions by the sermon of his father, went into a field after the service, and there prayed most fervently for himself. When he came home, the mother looked at her son with a manifest concern, anxious to discover whether her prayers had been heard, and whether her son had commenced the all-important inquiry, "What shall I do to be saved?" In a few days the son acknowledged himself to be the subject of religious impressions; impressions which lay the foundation of all excellence of character here, and of all blessedness hereafter.

Luther'S Prayer For Melancthon

Luther fervently prayed for Melancthon's life, trusting God's power and pleading for his recovery.

At a certain time Luther received an express, stating that his bosom friend and co-worker in the reformation, Philip Melancthon, was lying at the point of death; upon which information he immediately set out upon the journey of some 150 miles, to visit him, and upon his arrival, he actually found all the distinctive features of death; such as the glazed eye, the cold clammy sweat, and insensible lethargy, upon him. Upon witnessing these sure indications of a speedy dissolution, as he mournfully bent over him, he exclaimed with great emotion, "Oh, how awful is the change wrought upon the visage of my dear brother!" On hearing this voice, to the astonishment of all present, Melancthon opened his eyes, and looking up into Luther's face, remarked, "Oh Luther, is this you? Why don't you let me depart in peace?" Upon which Luther replied, "O no, Philip, we cannot spare you yet." Luther then turned away from the bed, and fell upon his knees, with his face towards the window, and began to wrestle with God in prayer, and to plead with great fervency, for more than an hour, the many proofs recorded in Scripture of his being a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God; and also how much he stood in need of the services of Melancthon, in furthering that cause, in which the honor and glory of God's great name, and the eternal welfare of unnumbered millions of immortal souls, were so deeply interested; and that God should not deny him this one request, to restore him the aid of his well tried brother Melancthon. He then rose up from prayer, and went to the bedside again, and took Melancthon by the hand. Upon which Melancthon again remarked, "Oh, dear Luther, why don't you let me depart in peace?" To which Luther again answered, "No, no, Philip, we cannot possibly spare you from the field of labor yet." Luther then requested the nurse to go and make him a dish of soup, according to his instructions. Which being prepared, was brought to Luther, who requested his friend Melancthon to eat of it. Melancthon again asked him, "Oh, Luther, why will you not let me go home, and be at rest?" To which Luther replied as before, "Philip, we cannot spare you yet." Melancthon then exhibited a disinclination to partake of the nourishment prepared for him. Upon which Luther remarked, "Philip, eat, or I will excommunicate you."—Melancthon then partook of the food prepared, and immediately grew better, and was speedily restored to his wonted health and strength again, and labored for years afterwards with his coadjutors in the blessed cause of the reformation.

Upon Luther's arrival at home, he narrated to his beloved wife Catharine the above circumstances, and added, "God gave me my brother Melancthon back in direct answer to prayer;" and added further, with patriarchal simplicity, "God on a former occasion gave me, also, you back, Kata, in answer to my prayer."

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