Intercession:Standing in the Gap for Others
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: . . . Isaiah 59:16 (KJV) I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV)
Lee Brase says that intercessors in the New Testament prayed for causes, not results. Paul gave us several examples. Let's look at them.
Ephesians 1:17-18I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, . . . CAUSE: v. 17 -- may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation v. 18 that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened RESULTS: v. 17 so that you may know him better v. 18 in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Philippians 1:9-10And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, CAUSE: v. 9 that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight RESULT: v. 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
Colossians 1:9-12For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.CAUSE: v. 9 asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. RESULT: v.10 -- And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way:
Philemon 6I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.CAUSE: v. 6 may be active in sharing your faith RESULT: v. 6 so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
And we can consider the prayer of Jesus.
John 17:11, 15-19will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your namethe name you gave meso that they may be one as we are one. . . . My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
CAUSE: v. 11 protect them by the power of your name v. 15 protect them from the evil one v. 17 sanctify them by the truth
RESULT: v. 11 so that they may be one as we are one v. 15 so they do not have to be taken out of the world v. 16 so they are not of the world
HOW I USE THESE PRAYERSIn my prayer notebook I have a list of people I pray for. Me, my wife, my family, my friends. People I have led to Christ. People I have helped in the past. People I am mentoring now. Next to it, I have a list of things I am praying for them based on the prayer's of Paul and the prayer of Jesus in John 17.That list looks like this: Give ___________ a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know You better. Allow the eye's of ___________'s heart to be enlighted. That __________'s love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight Fill ___________ with the knowledge of your will. Make __________ active in sharing his/her faith. Protect ___________ by the power of your name. Protect ___________ from the evil one Sanctify __________ by your word.
When I am praying, I insert the name of the person where the blank is.
God, Thank you for __Dick's__ faith in the Lord Jesus, love for all the saints, partnership in the gospel. God, Give __Jane_____ a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know You better.
Write your own list of people to pray for. Insert their names into the list and pray for them. Now you are interceding!
Posted on June 16, 2008
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