THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION

by Jemima Rayan

You can read all about intercession and still be in a position where you do not intercede. The word 'intercession' does not have anything to do with knowledge. Intercession is ACTION. It is travailing in prayer! It is agonizing in prayer! Our Lord Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears (Heb 5:7).

When is the last time we offered our prayers for others with vehement cries and tears? Let us think about it... It is so easy to pray for our own selves and for our families, you know. But God wants us to go beyond that. That is where intercession comes in.

Who is an intercessor?

Intercessor is the unseen warrior who fights the battle in the background, on behalf of the people. The liberty that we enjoy as a Nation is the result of the shed blood of the soldiers of war. We cannot get back what the enemy has stolen without fight him.

Jesus said 'Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted' (Matt 5:4). He is talking about the mourning of an intercessor. Weeping might endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning (Ps 30:5) The Psalmist is talking about the blessedness of answered prayer.

Need for intercessors:

There is always a desperate need for intercessors. God is looking for people who will go before God and reach out for His mercy and compassion. That will prevent His wrath and Judgement upon the people.

If you are wondering if you are one of those who have been called to intercede, then you probably are! Only an intercessor will know what that mourning and what that comfort is. He is calling you to lay down your life for others through prayer.

Spend some time on your knees today! To pray through means to break through the barriers that has stopped the work of God in the lives of people.

Intercessors are Warriors:

The intercessors are armed. God has given them His armor and the weapons are strong to the pulling down of strongholds. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor 10:3-6). We do not wrestle against flesh and blood (Eph 6:12,13). The word wrestling and weapons clearly describe a fight. This fight is called warfare and the intercessors are the ones who are in the place of a warrior.

God is counting on His people who will go for war. If you have noticed the soldiers who go for war, they have stepped out of their comfort zones. They just fix their eyes on the target and fight the battle. In the same way, the body of Christ should come out of the comfort zone to fight. We cannot afford to sleep in our cozy beds when the enemy is devising his wicked plans taking his toll. We need to destroy the evil plan in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Intercessors get revelation:

The Lord does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7) The Lord wants to trust us with His secrets. He speaks through prophetic visions, dreams and inward witness to see the dangers that are coming against the family, Church, City and Nation. The Bible declares... he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn people (Eze 33:2-3). God gives the intercessor the ability to look into the future and take necessary action.

God is letting His people know everywhere about the things to come. The reason behind revealing His plans to His children is that they may pray. On one hand the prayer of an intercessor cancels the wicked plans of the enemy. On the other hand, it brings to pass all the good plans that God has in store. The prayer will stop the devil in his tracks. It unleashes the mercy of God on that situation. What an awesome privilege to intercede!

In my own life, I have seen what one prayer can do in the enemy's camp. It brings confusion in the enemy's camp!

Intercessors plead for God's mercy:

Remember Abraham who pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:23-33). Intercessors don't have a heart of hatred even for wicked people. The always plead for God's compassion.

Look at Moses! When the people committed the great sin of idolatry, he prayed the God would forgive them; if not he asked God to blot him out of God's book (Ex 32:32). That is intercession!

Look at Jeremiah! His prayer was Oh! That my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! That is the love Jeremiah had for his people.

Do you have love for your people who are lost and perishing! Our God's heart goes out for the people who are lost in sin. Jonah did not have a heart to rejoice over the salvation of the people of Nineveh. God replied "Should I not pity Nineveh". Will you plead for the people who are dying in sin?

May the Lord make us intercessors to cry out to Him for the Land. Amen.