Posted by Bigfish69 on 9:43 pm | Categories: church, church health, god's people, intercession, jesus, kingdom stuff, prayer
An
intercessor as defined in church terminology is a person who goes to
God on behalf of someone else (e.g. in prayer or request) to seek
something for them. It is generally understood that intercession is a
God-given calling or role.
But is this true?
Are
only some people called to be intercessors or is it the responsibility
of all of God’s people? Indeed, is intercession a special gift at all?
- What does Paul mean when he asks the church of Ephesus to be persistent in their prayers for all believers everywhere (Eph 6)?
- If Paul is considered an intercessor why would he ask for others to pray for him too (Eph 6:19; Col 4:3; 1Thes 5:25; Heb 13:18)?
- What does Paul mean when he asks Timothy to pray for all people, to ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them? Or to encourage people generally to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy (1Tim 2:1-8)?
- What about Jesus asking us to pray for those who are against us (Mt 5:44)?
- Why are we asked to pray for one another at all (Jam 5:16)?
If
it true that God send his Spirit to some key chosen people, why is it
that Jesus sent God’s Spirit to all believers so all could understand
God’s will and interact with him personally and directly? If God is
trying to communicate with all his people, then it is possible for
anyone to reveal what God wants, to intercede.
Yet,
regardless of all this, the one thing above all we must remember is
that there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and
humanity—the man Christ Jesus.
And
as such, how did Jesus intercede? He took on the sins of people so
they could be forgiven, no longer to be punished for them. He took on
the responsibility for what others had done, so they would not
becausevthey could not.
Is this the kind of intercession we see in the church? This willingness to be sacrificed so others may lice.
