INTRODUCTION
God is looking for a person who will stand in the breach for families, the nation and humanity because without intercession, it is disaster ; Ezekiel 22 :30 I am looking among them for a man who raises a wall, who stand in the breach before me in favor of the land, so that I do not destroy it ; but I can’t find any. 31 I will pour out my fury on them, I will consume them with the fire of my anger, and I will bring their works upon their own heads, says the Lord GOD.
DEFINITION
Intercession is the means by which one pleads with God for another or other people. Intercession is a prayer of request on behalf of someone ; Abraham was an example but he did not go all the way. Yes, because he limited himself to ten righteous people and as there were none, then the verdict fell ; genesis 18 :32 Abraham said : Let not the Lord be angry, and I will not speak except this time. Perhaps there will be ten righteous people there. And the LORD said, I will not destroy it for the sake of these ten righteous ones. 33 The LORD departed when he had finished speaking to Abraham. And Abraham returned to his dwelling.
We know what happens next, Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed.
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF INTERCESSION
As some people believe, intercession is not intended only for the servants of God. All are called to intercede ; 1Timothy 2 :1 Therefore I urge, above all things, prayers, supplications, petitions, thanksgivings for all men, 2 for kings and for all who are raised in dignity, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, in all piety and honesty. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
The apostle Paul mentioned here a category of people for whom we must pray, but this does not mean that we limit ourselves to these people, he clarified in verse 4 that it must be for all humans.
Jeremiah 29 :7 Seek the good of the city where I have led you into captivity, and pray to the LORD for its sake, because your prosperity depends on it.
He spoke to the people, not to the priests (servants of God). So it’s everyone’s responsibility.
Luke 2 :36 There was also a prophetess, Hannah, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in age, and she had lived with her husband for seven years since her virginity. 37 Left a widow, and eighty-four years old, she did not leave the temple, and she served God night and day in fasting and in prayer. 38 She also came at that same hour, praising God, and speaking about Jesus to all those who were looking for the deliverance of Jerusalem.
She interceded and received the spirit of the prophecy. Perhaps it is by interceding that the Lord will pour out certain gifts on us.
THE PRINCIPLES
-Before we begin intercession, we must confess our sins before the Lord ; Psalms 32 :5 I have made known to you my sin, I have not hid my iniquity ; I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD ; And you have blotted out the penalty of my sin. 6 So let every godly man pray to you at the proper time. If great waters overflow, they will not reach him at all.
-Recognize that we are incapable without the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit ; Romans 8 :26 The Spirit helps our weakness, because we do not know what we should ask to pray properly.
-Be filled with the Spirit. » Ephesians 5 :18 Do not get drunk with wine : it is debauchery. Be, on the contrary, filled with the Spirit.
-Have faith “Without faith : James 1 :5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all simply and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask it in faith, without doubting ; for he who doubts is like the wave of the sea, tossed by the wind and driven from side to side. 7 Let not such a man imagine that he will receive anything from the Lord
-Pray in the name of Jesus Christ : John 14 :13 and whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
-draw inspiration from biblical passages because God cannot deny his word ; 2 Timothy 2 :13 if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, because he cannot deny himself.
-Make a list of prayer topics so as not to forget them : Isaiah 30 :8 Go now, write these things before them on a table, and engrave them in a book, that they may endure in times to come, forever and in perpetuity.
Isaiah 37 :14 Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the house of the LORD, and displayed it before the LORD, 15 to whom he prayed : 16 O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, sits upon the cherubim. You are the only God of all the kingdoms of the earth, you are the one who made the heavens and the earth. 17 O LORD, incline thine ear, and hear ; Open your eyes, O LORD, and see ! Hear all the words that Sennacherib sent to insult the living God !
WHY IS INTERCESSION IMPORTANT ?
Many lives have been transformed through the intercession of men and women with Jesus ; Matthew 8 :5 As Jesus entered into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, 6 praying to him, saying, Lord, my servant lies at home , suffering from paralysis and suffering greatly. 7 Jesus said to him, I will go and heal him. 8 The centurion said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof ; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, Go, according to your faith, be it done to you. And that very hour the servant was healed.
Matthew 15 :28 Then Jesus said to her, Woman, great is your faith ; let it be done to you as you wish. And, at that very moment, her daughter was healed (she was at home and not present at the scene).
CONCLUSION
Whoever wants is not an intercessor. It is an individual duty first before being collective. Through it we transcend barriers and provide solutions to a multitude of problems in the readable and invisible. Let us not do it to be seen but to the Lord; Matthew 6:5 When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners, to be seen of men. Truly I tell you, they receive their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, and shut your door, and pray to your Father who is there in the secret place; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 7 In praying, do not multiply vain words, like the pagans, who imagine that by dint of words they will be heard. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive an inheritance as your reward. Serve Christ the Lord.