Intercessory Prayer
To define this type of prayer is most basically to pray on someone else’s behalf. It can be praying for health, for guidance, for spiritual encouragement, or whatever needs we may feel need to be lifted up. It can be for one person or a group of people. Most often in the Bible is Jesus interceding for us. We read in Romans 8 that “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” In this section, it was talking about who can separate us from the love of Christ. Clearly we are the only ones that can do that by walking away from faith. Jesus is interceding for us before the thrown of God. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, the Father no longer looks at the faithful as they are with sin and rebellion, but sees us as one cleansed by Christ. We read again in Hebrews 9, “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.” Again, it is not a wish or an attempt to lift something in prayer in hopes that God might hear and even answer us. Jesus is appearing before our heavenly Father to present our prayers before God Himself. Again we read in 1 John 2, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This interceding is not just Jesus representing us to the Father. Yes, Jesus is the mediator between us and God, but we are also called to pray on behalf of others. In Revelation 8, it says, “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.” We do not pray to the saints, but the saints (forgiven sinners) lift up prayers on behalf of those in need. Sometimes God just puts a situation or an individual on our hearts. This is most likely because God is calling us to lift them in prayer. Not matter where or when, God’s people should be praying for others. Father, teach us not only to lift our own hearts and needs before you, but lead us in praying for all of Your people. Amen