The preachers quoted here describe intercession as prayer that reaches out toward others, God's appointed way for his people to influence the world. They say an intercessor is gripped by the need of others, and that intercession is a yielded life as much as an activity.
To intercede is to go to God on behalf of someone else. Paul puts it among the first duties of the church: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men" (1 Timothy 2:1). The Greek noun means a meeting with, a petition brought to a king;1 the Hebrew verb means to meet or to entreat.2
The Old Testament gives the pattern in its great figures. Abraham pleaded for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-32). Moses prayed for Israel after the golden calf, "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book" (Exodus 32:32); the psalm says he "stood before him in the breach" (Psalm 106:23). Samuel said, "God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23).
God looks for such people. "I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30). He "wondered that there was no intercessor" (Isaiah 59:16).
The great intercessor is Christ. The Servant "made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12). He told Peter, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not" (Luke 22:32). Now "he ever liveth to make intercession" for those who come to God by him (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34). The Holy Spirit also intercedes within believers: "the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). Human intercession rests on these two.
The New Testament expects every Christian to do it. "Pray one for another ... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). Epaphras was "always labouring fervently for you in prayers" (Colossians 4:12). Andrew Murray asked how "our sense of the lack of prayer can be made the means of blessing".3
Intercession, then, is love at prayer: standing before God for others, in union with the Son who intercedes above and the Spirit who intercedes within.
- Strong's Greek 1783, énteuxis: "an interview, i.e. (specially) supplication".
- Strong's Hebrew 6293, pâgaʻ: "to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity".
- Andrew Murray, The Ministry Of Intercession, "CHAPTER I The Lack of Prayer".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Intercession is God's ordained way for you and I to influence the world in which we live.
Wesley Duewel
in Prevailing in Intercession - Part 1
Listen at 14:21
An intercessor is somebody who sees the need, who sees the peril that people are in, are suddenly gripped with it.
Carter Conlon
in A Call for Intercessors
Listen at 7:07
Intercession is a life completely yielded to the Spirit.
G.W. North
in Intercession
Listen at 1:11
Intercession is one of the least things which we can do, and yet it is one of the greatest—let us not be slack in it.
C.H. Spurgeon
in Intercessory Prayer (1872)
Read in context
Intercession is part of faith's training-school.
Andrew Murray
in Eighth Lesson. 'Because of His Importunity;' Or, the Boldness of God's Friends
Read in context
Intercession is always reaching out toward others, toward Christ's kingdom, toward the world.
Wesley Duewel
in Prevailing in Intercession - Part 1
Listen at 20:56
Intercession is a privilege, it is the handing over of self in co-operation with God for the achievement of His purpose in the begetting and perfecting of sons.
G.W. North
in Intercession - According to the Will of God
Read in context
What Scripture says
- 1 Timothy 2:1 supplications, prayers, intercessions for all men
- Ezekiel 22:30 I sought for a man to stand in the gap
- Hebrews 7:25 he ever lives to make intercession for them
- Romans 8:26 the Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings
- James 5:16 pray one for another
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