September 27, 2012 | Guatemala

Intercession Ain’t Just for the Elite

Forgive me if this blog post isn't as organized or as timely (it's a week late) as my others. I don't know why, but I have just struggled with finding the motivation to right this blog. It's not that God isn't good, or I'm not excited, I would just rather be doing ministry than writing this week. Which is why it has taken me so long to write this.

Anywhos, over this last week God has REALLY opened my eyes to intercession, and how we are all called to intercession. So what is intercession?

According to dictionary.com, intercession is "an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person".

What does this have to do with us?

Isaiah 53:12 says, "Therefore I will divide him [The Lord's faithful servant –> Jesus] a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors."

Why do we as people need Christ's intercession?

Because as Paul says, "For there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:22b-23). In other words, we all have sinned, and the fact that we continually fall short of the glory of God implies we continue to sin. God is perfectly Holy and can't exist where sin lies. Yet he wants that relationship with us, how it was back in Eden. This verse makes clear we all sin and we continue to fall short of God's perfection, so obviously we can't fix ourselves or make ourselves perfectly Holy and able to be in his presence. THAT is why we first need Christ's sacrifice (the death he willingly submitted to and the resurrection where he triumphed over death, sin, and Satan).

However, it doesn't end there. Not only are we completely forgiven, healed, and able to stand in God's presence, Christ continually is interceeding for us at God's side. Yes, we can pray to God on our own. Praise the Lord! We no longer have to go through an intermediary like a priest, Mary, or anyone else. However, sometimes we just don't know what to pray for, whether it be for ourselves or others. Othertimes, we may be so overwhelmed we can't even make words come forth. But praise God that,

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings to deep for words." (Romans 8:26)

Hebrews 7:25 reaffirms Christ's ABILITY to intercede and his PROMISE to intercede when it says, "Consequently, he [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he ALWAYS LIVES to make intercession for them."

As believers, the mark of our walk with God is that we continually are refined to look more and more like Christ. Jesus made it quite clear what that meant when he said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12)

One of the works that Jesus did while on earth and continues to do next to the father is intercede. However, for the longest time I thought intercession was a spiritual gift reserved for the super elite, those kind of people who also could prophecy and just seemed to be so Spirit Filled that they could be Jesus incarnate. Maybe thats just me. But God has completely shattered that notion over the last week. Intercession is for EVERYONE and the Holy Spirit empowers EVERYONE to do it.

Por ejemplo: Last Monday I was still suffering symptoms from a minor concussion so I couldn't go with the rest of the team to do Sports Ministry at the park. Rather than go to sleep, God laid it on my heart to just pray and intercede for the team and the people they would encounter. Let me tell you, God rocked my night. He revealed so many truths through his word and through worship, and I was so caught up in his presence that before I knew it, the team was already back! One of the girls even said she was discouraged and didn't want to be there, but really felt like I was praying for her and she became so joyful and encouraged.

Then again on Friday night, as part of Casa Verde family night, we did an activity called creative intercession. In this, we all sat outside and were all given a peice of printer paper on which we were to draw, write, doodle whatever God brought to our minds as we were praying. It was so amazing to see all that God spoke not only to me, but to the other girls on my team through that and the reoccurent themes he spoke through that night.
(I got a picture on my phone, but could only upload it to facebook, so if you are friends with me on facebook, this link should allow you to see it: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4134592797270&set=a.1707524282074.95918.1057058018&type=3&theater )

I know this was a long blog, but this concept is so important not only our walk, but to the spiritual war for other's souls that everyone needs to be doing it. Your prayer isn't supposed to be fancy, it's just earnest pleading to God for other people: believers, unbelievers, prayers for hope, deliverence, guidance, broken chains, whatever the need is. There is a war going on, whether we acknowledge it or not, and it is of the utmost importance. Christ has already won the victory, but Satan still has reign to fight and destroy whatever and whoever he can on this earth. We need to be praying not only for our brothers and sisters in Christ, but for those who don't know God's glory, God's hope, God's salvation. Take heart! We are able to approach God on our own through Christ, but we also have the encouragement that Christ is interceeding right along with us.

So go ahead, do it. Intercession ain't just for the elite.