Thoughts for Life: #4 What is Intercession?

C. Peter Wagner tells us from his book, PRAYER SHIELD, "We often use the word 'intercession' as a synonym for 'prayer.'

In ordinary conversation it is acceptable to use the words interchangeable, but not when we are dealing with them as technical terms.

Prayer, generally speaking, means talking to God. Intercession is coming to God on behalf of another. All intercession is prayer, but not all prayer is intercession.

'Intercession' is derived from the Latin inter, meaning 'between' and cedere, meaning 'to go.'

Intercession, then, is going between or standing in the gap.

Through Ezekiel the prophet, the Lord says, "I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it,'but I found no one' " Ezek. 22:30.

This is a clear reference to intercession.

To put it theologically: 'Intercession is the act of pleading by one who in God's sight has a right to do so in order to obtain mercy for one in need.' [P. J. Mahoney, "Intercession," The New Catholic Encyclopedia (New Your, NY: McGraw-Hill Gook Company, 1967). p 566]

This makes the important point that the standing of the person before God qualifies or disqualifies the potential intercessor.

The book of Esther provides us with a powerful biblical analogy of the function of an intercessor.

The story itself is well known. The mighty king of Persia,more than 400 years before Christ, was called Ahasuerus in Hebrew and Xerxes in Greek.

He ruled the whole Middle East from India to Ethiopia. Ahasuerus falls in love with the beautiful Jewess, Esther, and makes her queen without knowing she is a Jew.

Meanwhile, Haman, captain of the princes, becomes infuriated when Esther's uncle Mordecai refuses to bow to him.

Discovering that Mordecai is a Jew, Haman vengefully plots a holocaust "to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews" in all the provinces of Persia Esther 3:13.

Mordecai gets wind of the plot and asks Esther to intervene with Ahasuerus on behalf of her people.

The custom of those days prohibited anyone, even a queen, to initiate an audience with the king.

One should speak to a king only when spoken to.

Violation of this protocol incurred the death penalty.

But Esther risked her life and told the king of Haman's wicked intentions.

The king responded favorably, executed Haman, and then worked around the laws of the Medes and Persians to that the Jewish people were saved.

How is this an analogy for intercession?

[Be sure to check the next post of Wagner's message on 7/2]

Today’s post -#4 What is Intercession? , in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines. [pgs. 26-28]

The next post is to be 7/2, from C. Peter Wagner’s book, #5 How Is This an Analogy for Intercession?

Let’s pray: Father, help us to be willing to intercede for those who need Your help in accomplishing something, or to stay true to their faith in Your ability to be with them. May Your grace prove to be fully sufficient for their every need. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Ps. 22:19 "But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me."

Today’s quote: David Wilkerson – “No matter how unsettled the world becomes, God’s people can relax and keep their joy flowing, because our Lord has promised special protection when it is most needed.”

Our thought today: May we love, bless, and do good in a bad situation, which is a Kingdom perspective.

Tomorrow’s post: Softened Hearts Nate Stevens

A popular post: The Measurable Power: Prayer Note #92