Thus far in this series “On Intercession,” we have discussed FOCUS: things not to focus on and things we should focus on in prayer. We are talking about “intercession” – that time of prayer when we bring our petitions before God.

Let me tell you what the word intercession means. “To light upon a person or thing; to fall in with; to hit upon a person or thing; to go out to meet a person; to entreat; to make intercession.” It is not a light thing! It’s not simply a “God bless you.” Real intercession is, “I’m going to light upon your life. I’m not letting go until I see the answer to what the Spirit is crying in me for you!”

And, don’t ask me to pray for your “ministry,” because I won’t. I used to do that, but I have come to realize that when He has all of us, those of us who are called to minister will minister fervently and powerfully according to the personage. However much God changes me by His power, it will change my ministry powerfully.

I used to pray the other way, “God, open doors for them.” “God, let the word be rich….” But I don’t pray that way anymore. Now, I pray for the person. “God, I pray for Carol.” And I let the Holy Spirit do the interceding. “God, I pray for… I pray for… I pray for….” And then, having prayed in the Spirit, whatever happens, I know He did it. He opens doors. He closes doors. Does the Bible not say that? Why do we fight Him so when He closes a door? If we had gone through it anyway, it probably would have been destructive. That’s why He closes the door. Or, He closes the door from time to time to see just where our trust is. Is it in your ministry and the many opportunities you have to minister? Or, is it truly placed in and on God Almighty who orchestrates the details of your life (if you will allow Him)? Am I too tough on you?

Note this: Intercession is not convincing God to act apart from His will and purpose.

We would do well to always remember that man makes the prayer, but God does the answering. And, often the way God answers our petitions is not exactly what we may have had in mind. Note the following:
Deut. 33 – Moses asked permission to cross the Jordan River to enter the Land of
Promise and God answered, “You may look at it.”
Psa. 106:14,15 – The Israelites lusted for the fleshpots of Egypt. God’s answer was to
give them flesh (meat to eat) and accompanied it with leanness of soul –
something they never would have prayed for.
John 11 – Martha and Mary asked Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus. Jesus
delayed in the coming, but raised Lazarus from the dead.
2 Cor. 12:8,9 – Paul asked (3 times) that the thorn of his flesh be removed. God’s answer
was a promise that his grace would be sufficient for Paul to endure it.
Don’t you hate it – when He does that? And yet, we sing, “Have Thine own way, Lord…”

There are several different kinds of intercession that can be made. We will look at 3 major ones.

1) The first is, “Man with man for man”

This is not prayer, per se, as it is not addressed to God, Himself.

Gen. 37:21 – Reuben with his brothers for Joseph;
Gen. 37:26,27 – Judah with the brothers for Joseph;
Gen. 41:9, 13; 40:14 – Pharaoh’s chief baker for Joseph
1 Sam. 19:1-7 – Jonathan with Saul for David
1 Sam. 25:23-25 – Abigail with David for Nabal
2 Sam. 14:1-24 – Joab with the King for Absalom
1 Kings 1:15-31 – Bathsheba with David for Solomon, and about Adonijah
2 Kings 4:13 – Elisha offers to see the king for the Shunamite woman
2 Kings 5:6-8 – the king of Syria with the king of Israel by letter for Naaman
Jer. 38:7-13 – Ebedmelech with the king for Jeremiah
Philemon – Paul with Philemon by letter for Onesimus

There are times when you cannot just pray to God about a situation. Those are times when He expects you to intercede as a person with a person for a person. For example: If someone comes to me and says, “Pray for a brother. He has a problem with sister so-and-so,” I have just been appointed an intercessor. But Christians fail in this all too often. We don’t like confrontation. By and large, we don’t like getting involved in the personal lives of others. We explain, “It’s not my problem.”

What if I said, however, “Brother, come with me and let’s go to her now and get the thing turned around?” Isn’t that what occurred in all of the above illustrations – in every one of them? One person went and did something on behalf of another. The apostle Paul wrote in Philemon, “If you won’t forgive him, you can put the whole thing on my account and I’ll pay it, and then you won’t have anything to forgive.” That was intercession. Paul was willing “to light upon” the life of another, “to fall in with” him and become involved. We dare not take this word too lightly. It’s a very big word – intercession.

2) Another type of intercession is “man with God for himself.”

Ex. 3 – Moses, crying to God for help in delivering Israel.
A person who overheard me praying once said, “You are so honest with God.” I said, “Duh! I’m going to lie to Him?” He knows what’s in our hearts. He knows every circumstance in our lives. He knows what we need. But it is in God’s economy that we come to Him to present our needs and desires to Him, in person, in prayer.
* * * * *
1 Chron. 4:10 – Jabez.
This is one of the most glorious scriptures on praying for oneself. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel – “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory. Let Your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” NIV And God answered his request.

The enemy says to you, “You shouldn’t pray for yourself, because that’s selfish.” Oh, yes I should pray for myself! I pray about my own attitudes. I pray about my thoughts and my motives and my intentions. I can even pray about my desires. No one knows better
than I do what’s buried within my heart that needs to be surrendered.
* * * * *
Matt. 8:2 – and all throughout the New Testament.
A man with leprosy (or the lame, the blind, the sick) came and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, if You will, you could make me clean.” Do you think the man would have been cleansed if he had not asked? Interesting thought. “You have
not because you ask not” (Jas. 4:2b). “Ask and ye shall receive” (Matt. 7:7).
* * * * *
Mark 10:46-52 – Bartimaeus.
Jesus was passing by him, and the man was screaming out, “Hey!” The disciples tried to quiet him, “Shhhh. Don’t you know who this is? This is the King of Glory!” Jesus said, “Who was that?” “Oh, some blind beggar.” “Oh, well, then.
He needs Me.”

All through the New Testament, we see people crying out to Jesus for themselves. Pray for yourself! It’s scriptural to pray for yourself.

3) The third kind of intercession we will look at is “man with God for others.” This is the one we usually identify with when we use the term, intercession.

Gen. 18 – Abraham on behalf of Sodom.
Now, that is intercession, isn’t it? “Oh, God. Please spare the city. If there be…” Abraham bargained with God. Finally, the deal is contracted, and you know the story.
* * * * *
Ex. 15 – Moses at the waters of Marah.
Moses cried to the Lord. He didn’t know what to do. Oh! Every preacher understands this feeling. The situation is there: the people are thirsty and the water is there, but the water is bitter.

Use your imagination. Reach beyond the usual, literal understanding of, “Well, that was then.” I have been in a lot of bitter places that were supposed to be drinking places. The water was bitter. I didn’t know what to do and Moses didn’t know what to do, but he cried unto the Lord and the Lord showed him the answer. We can go through all of the symbolism of the cross (the tree that heals), and it certainly fits. The Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. I don’t want to discuss the symbolism here. I simply want to say, God will show you what to do. And,
I’ll tell you this: once He does, it may not work the second time, even in the same place.
* * * * *
Num. 12 – Moses on behalf of Miriam’s leprosy.
You want to see compassion in your intercession? She received the leprosy because she was being critical of Moses’ choice of a wife. God caused her to become leprous because of her attitude. Now, Moses is interceding – for her!

That’s hard for us to do – when our critics finally get their dues! We think it’s “spiritual” if we don’t enjoy their predicaments! Rarely would we consider praying them out of
their troubles. But this was God’s way.
* * * * *
Num. 16:20, 21 – God, angry with Israel, was going to kill them;
Deut. 33 – Moses blesses the children of Israel before he died;
Psa. 106 – Israel’s history reviewed.
Moses praying for Israel – praying for Israel – praying for Israel. What a mess these people were! And every time they got into trouble, they pointed their fingers at whom? Moses. Everything was his “fault.” And repeatedly, he would go to God on their behalf, and finally God had enough and said, “Fine! Moses, Aaron, step aside so I can consume them! Let’s just wipe them out and start over.” Why did God say that? Because He knew Moses would intercede.

Why do you get burdened for something no one else cares about in the least? God knows
He can trust you with the burden. He knows you will pray. That’s pretty amazing.
* * * * *
All through the New Testament, you see parents who came to Jesus on behalf of
their children. “My daughter, previously vexed with a demon…” “My son…”
“ My…”

People came for others. Oh! The church needs to get back to this. What has happened to the caring heart – one for another? We rarely even look around to see who is missing from the pew. I have a saying and it still proves true, year after year: “It takes so little.”

It doesn’t take much time or effort. You don’t need to spend days and days with a person. A simple smile might turn a life around. A thoughtful pat on the back – “I’m glad to see you.” Or, even this: “How are you feeling?” – and mean it.

We can see things if we’re not asleep, or, if we’re not so self-possessed. “Well, I sure hope I get fed today!” Well, you might as well go home – prepare (your own) vittles. You see, every time you go to church, every time you contact someone, you need to be “on ready.” Church is not meant to be your own filling station – or, your only filling station. Church is where we all come together to worship the Almighty God, with one voice. It is the place we gather, each one bringing his or her spiritual gifts for the
edifying of the whole Body of Christ (1 Cor.14:12,26; Col.3:16).
* * * * *
Acts 12 – Peter in prison, and – “all of a sudden!”
Say, “All of a sudden.” Every answer to prayer is – all of a sudden. No matter how long you have prayed, once the answer comes, it’s “all of a sudden!” All of a sudden, angels showed up in Peter’s prison cell and set him free. They led him out of the prison, and the Bible says it finally dawned on him it was not a vision, but he was actually outside the prison gates.

How many people keep going down to the altar for deliverance, not knowing they’ve already been…? That’s another lesson. There Peter is, free, having been imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. Verse 5 says that the church prayed for Peter. Now we assume they were praying for his deliverance, but the Bible does not say that specifically. They might have been praying, “Help him, Lord. Comfort him there. Just keep him safe. Protect him from his captors. Don’t let there be any more beatings. Provide for him, Lord. Let someone bring him bread.” I probably would have prayed some of those prayers. It doesn’t matter what the words were.

LISTEN: This will help you. When I pray, even if my words are not what God intends to do, the occasion of my prayer unlocks opportunity for God’s answer to come forth. “You have not because…” you don’t open the door. Prayer opens the door. “When they prayed….” I don’t know what they prayed. It just says they prayed for Peter. But God intended to set Peter free. So, the prayer opened the opportunity. They’re asking on his behalf. The Holy Spirit filtered the whole thing and directed it all to a place where God’s will, God’s purpose for that person, Peter, was accomplished.

People are praying for you. They don’t always know what they are praying. I pray for you. I don’t know if I’m praying right for you or not. But, I do know that because I pray for you, I open heaven whereby he can do what He purposes on your behalf.

Now, listen to these: Acts 12:12. “When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. He knocked on the outer entrance and a servant girl named Rhoda (which means “arose”) came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed, she ran back without opening it …” – don’t we? We can get so in the habit of asking for something that when it shows up, we don’t recognize it nor properly embrace it.

“She told the others and they said, ‘You’re out of your mind.’ And when she kept insisting it was so, they said, ‘Well, it must be his angel.’” Is that faith? I suggest that it is. How many of you have faith to see an angel? They didn’t have the revelation of the answer, but they did believe for a supernatural intervention.

“Peter kept on knocking and finally they opened the door and when they saw him,” – just like us when our prayers are answered – “they were astonished! Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet, and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison, and then said, ‘Tell James and the brothers about this.’”

Now, what is happening here? Peter has been ministered to because the people had prayed for him, and now he, in turn, is ministering to them, demonstrating that exceeding and abundantly above all they should ask or even think, has occurred, and he stands there as a witness and testimony, “Look what the Lord has done!” That’s what we ought to be!

We are to be living testimonies – “By the grace of God I am what I am!” Paul says, “By the grace of God… by the grace of God… by the grace of God….” Our testimony is, “We know there’s grace and we’re proud of God.”

Peter says, “Be quiet. There’re soldiers out here.” We don’t want to repeat the lesson, thank you. “But do tell the other brothers.”

Why did he say that? He believes the others were praying too. People have a right to know when God answers prayer. “I want you to know what God has done. God really did provide! He answered our prayers.” You see, that blesses you for making the testimony, and it blesses us by increasing our faith and bringing encouragement to
continue in prayer and intercession.
* * * * *
It is important for us to understand the power of praying, of interceding. Prayer is a part of God’s provision for us. He says, “When you pray…” (Matt. 6:5, 6, 7). So let us come boldly to Him with the things that are on our hearts, believing He wants to hear our petitions, opening opportunities for Him to respond. Intercession is definitely an important part of our walk with God!