Are You An Intercessor?

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people …” (1 Timothy 2:1 ESV)

Are you an intercessor? What is an intercessor? Prayer is the means that God has ordained for us to communicate with Him the needs of others and ourselves. Austin Phelps writes, “We are never more like Christ than in prayers of intercession.” It is the sweet communion of man with God as we bare our hearts to Him and, as a result, we have a greater knowledge of Him. According to A.T. Pierson, “God has no greater controversy with His people today than this, that with boundless promises to believing prayer, there are so few who actually give themselves unto intercession.”

The difficulty that most of us face in praying for others is that we have little acquaintance with God. We have little faith that God will hear us. John Lake wrote, “There is a mighty lot of difference between saying prayers and praying.” “Those who know God the best are the richest and most powerful in prayer. Little acquaintance with God, and strangeness and coldness to Him, make prayer a rare and feeble thing.” (E. M. Bounds) Without prayer, we do not have a full understanding of the problems that confront us and others, because we have not sought the Mind of God. Do you pray to know God?

“The true spirit of prayer is no other than God’s own Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the saints. And as this spirit comes from God, so doth it naturally tend to God in holy breathings and pantings. It naturally leads to God, to converse with him by prayer.” (Jonathan Edwards) Intercessory prayer honors and glorifies God. It is a great blessing to pray for others. God works through our prayers and Satan trembles. God allows this wonderful experience to the praying Christian.

Christians are commanded to pray for one another. (James 5:16 ESV) John Calvin believed that making “intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them.” It is also an expression of our love for God and His abiding presence in our lives. When the Christian prays earnestly, he will be heard. The Kingdom of God is advanced by the power of prayer. Do you want your neighbors to know Jesus? Pray for them first, and then continue to pray. Your efforts at evangelism will become more successful.