Intercession is Important
The Bible tells us in two places that God does not want any to perish, but that all
would come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4) and II Peter 3:9 says “the
Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come
to repentance”. We as a worker together with God have a responsibility to intercede
(I John 5:16) says “if any man see his brother sin a sin which is not to death, he shall
ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not to death. There is a sin to death,
I don not say that he shall pray for it”.
Intercession is prayer warfare (I Timothy 2:24-26) “the servant of the Lord must not
strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient. In meekness instructing those
that oppose themselves, if God perhaps will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of
the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will”. Because of this Galatians 6:1-2
says “brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual restore such
an one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, less you also be tempted.
Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”.
Christians are urged to intercede for all people (I Timothy 2:1-4) “I exhort therefore,
that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks, be made
for all men. For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth”. Our leaders are under much pressure, from demonic
forces. Even if we didn’t vote for them we are to lift them up in prayer, asking God to
be with them, directing and guiding them, and we get the reward of living a quiet and
peaceful life.
Intercession is the most effective form of prayer; intercession is the act of petitioning
God on behalf of another person or group. Righteousness individuals are to go
before God to seek reconciliation between Him and His fallen creation. Remember
we have been given the ministry of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:18-19).
Paul tells the Corinthians, if any unbelieving spouse agrees to stay with them, for
them not to leave, because for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and
the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband, else were your children unclean,
but now are they holy. In all of Paul’s letters to the churches, he prayed for them to
have revelation and knowledge.
Isaiah tells us that intercession is God’s desire (Isaiah 59:13-16) “in transgressing
and lying against the Lord Yahweh, and departing away from our God, speaking
oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
And judgment is turned away backward, and just stands afar off, for truth is fallen in
the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth fails, and he that departs from evil
makes himself a prey, and the Lord Yahweh saw it, and it displeased Him that there
was no judgment. And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that, there was
no intercessor; therefore His arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness, it
sustained Him”.
Christ Himself is the greatest intercessor, He prayed on behalf of Peter (Luke 22:31-
32) “and the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, satan has desired to have you, that
he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not, and
when you are converted, strengthen your brethren”. Jesus petitioned His Father on
behalf of those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34) “Father forgive them, for they know
not what they do”. The good news is that Jesus prayed for us all in John chapter 17.
Jesus tells us to pray for those that hurt us (Matthew 5:44) “but I say to you, love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. The devil is the accuser of
the brethren, don’t be like him. Remember that what so ever we sow, we will reap.
Paul interceded for his fellow Israelites (Roman 9:2-3) “I have great heaviness and
continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ
for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh”. And (Romans 10:1-3)
“brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be
saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the
righteousness of God”.
Moses prayed a similar prayer for Israel (Exodus 32:32-32) “and Moses returned to
the Lord Yahweh and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made
them gods of gold. Yet now, if You will forgive their sin, and if not, blot me; I pray
You, out of Your book which You have written”.
Daniel also prayed for Israel (Daniel 9:15-19) “and now, O Lord our God, that has
brought Your people forth out of the land of Egypt, with a mighty hand, and have
gotten You renown, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord,
according to all Your righteousness, I beseech You, let Your anger and Your fury be
turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain because of our sins, and
for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are become a reproach
to all that are about us. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Your servant
and his supplications, and cause Your face to shine upon Your sanctuary that is
desolate, for the Lord’s sake. O my God, incline Your ear, and hear, open Your
eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name for we
do not present our supplications before You for our righteousness, but for Your
great mercies. O Lord, hear, O Lord, hearken and do, defer not, for Your own sake;
O my God for Your city and Your people are called by Your name”.
The Bible tells us to ask and God will give us nations as an inheritance (Psalms 2:
8). As we begin to pray for that nation God is able to work on behalf of it and pour
out His Spirit upon it.
Jesus Christ’s intercessory work did not stop when He returned to heaven. thus
after Christ offered Himself on the cross as the sacrifice for sins. He ascended to
the Father and entered the heavenly sanctuary, where He now represents His
people (Hebrews 7:25) “wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that
come to God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them”. Romans
8:33-34) says “who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that
justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen
again, who is ever at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us”.
And His Holy Spirit pleads on behalf of the individual Christian (Romans 8:26-27)
“likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for
as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered. And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the
Spirit, because, He makes intercession for the saints, according to the will of God”.
James tells us to pray for one another that we may be healed (James 5:14-16).
Some times people will come to your mind, usually when this happens God is trying
to get you to pray for them. So let us take the time to lift up those who come to our
mind, and if you don’t know what to pray, then pray in the Holy Spirit. Allow God to
use you for His kingdom, remember He doesn’t want any to perish.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 13, 2009
The Bible tells us in two places that God does not want any to perish, but that all
would come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4) and II Peter 3:9 says “the
Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come
to repentance”. We as a worker together with God have a responsibility to intercede
(I John 5:16) says “if any man see his brother sin a sin which is not to death, he shall
ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not to death. There is a sin to death,
I don not say that he shall pray for it”.
Intercession is prayer warfare (I Timothy 2:24-26) “the servant of the Lord must not
strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient. In meekness instructing those
that oppose themselves, if God perhaps will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of
the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will”. Because of this Galatians 6:1-2
says “brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual restore such
an one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, less you also be tempted.
Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”.
Christians are urged to intercede for all people (I Timothy 2:1-4) “I exhort therefore,
that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks, be made
for all men. For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth”. Our leaders are under much pressure, from demonic
forces. Even if we didn’t vote for them we are to lift them up in prayer, asking God to
be with them, directing and guiding them, and we get the reward of living a quiet and
peaceful life.
Intercession is the most effective form of prayer; intercession is the act of petitioning
God on behalf of another person or group. Righteousness individuals are to go
before God to seek reconciliation between Him and His fallen creation. Remember
we have been given the ministry of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:18-19).
Paul tells the Corinthians, if any unbelieving spouse agrees to stay with them, for
them not to leave, because for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and
the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband, else were your children unclean,
but now are they holy. In all of Paul’s letters to the churches, he prayed for them to
have revelation and knowledge.
Isaiah tells us that intercession is God’s desire (Isaiah 59:13-16) “in transgressing
and lying against the Lord Yahweh, and departing away from our God, speaking
oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
And judgment is turned away backward, and just stands afar off, for truth is fallen in
the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth fails, and he that departs from evil
makes himself a prey, and the Lord Yahweh saw it, and it displeased Him that there
was no judgment. And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that, there was
no intercessor; therefore His arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness, it
sustained Him”.
Christ Himself is the greatest intercessor, He prayed on behalf of Peter (Luke 22:31-
32) “and the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, satan has desired to have you, that
he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not, and
when you are converted, strengthen your brethren”. Jesus petitioned His Father on
behalf of those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34) “Father forgive them, for they know
not what they do”. The good news is that Jesus prayed for us all in John chapter 17.
Jesus tells us to pray for those that hurt us (Matthew 5:44) “but I say to you, love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. The devil is the accuser of
the brethren, don’t be like him. Remember that what so ever we sow, we will reap.
Paul interceded for his fellow Israelites (Roman 9:2-3) “I have great heaviness and
continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ
for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh”. And (Romans 10:1-3)
“brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be
saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the
righteousness of God”.
Moses prayed a similar prayer for Israel (Exodus 32:32-32) “and Moses returned to
the Lord Yahweh and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made
them gods of gold. Yet now, if You will forgive their sin, and if not, blot me; I pray
You, out of Your book which You have written”.
Daniel also prayed for Israel (Daniel 9:15-19) “and now, O Lord our God, that has
brought Your people forth out of the land of Egypt, with a mighty hand, and have
gotten You renown, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord,
according to all Your righteousness, I beseech You, let Your anger and Your fury be
turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain because of our sins, and
for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are become a reproach
to all that are about us. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Your servant
and his supplications, and cause Your face to shine upon Your sanctuary that is
desolate, for the Lord’s sake. O my God, incline Your ear, and hear, open Your
eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name for we
do not present our supplications before You for our righteousness, but for Your
great mercies. O Lord, hear, O Lord, hearken and do, defer not, for Your own sake;
O my God for Your city and Your people are called by Your name”.
The Bible tells us to ask and God will give us nations as an inheritance (Psalms 2:
8). As we begin to pray for that nation God is able to work on behalf of it and pour
out His Spirit upon it.
Jesus Christ’s intercessory work did not stop when He returned to heaven. thus
after Christ offered Himself on the cross as the sacrifice for sins. He ascended to
the Father and entered the heavenly sanctuary, where He now represents His
people (Hebrews 7:25) “wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that
come to God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them”. Romans
8:33-34) says “who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that
justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen
again, who is ever at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us”.
And His Holy Spirit pleads on behalf of the individual Christian (Romans 8:26-27)
“likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for
as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered. And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the
Spirit, because, He makes intercession for the saints, according to the will of God”.
James tells us to pray for one another that we may be healed (James 5:14-16).
Some times people will come to your mind, usually when this happens God is trying
to get you to pray for them. So let us take the time to lift up those who come to our
mind, and if you don’t know what to pray, then pray in the Holy Spirit. Allow God to
use you for His kingdom, remember He doesn’t want any to perish.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 13, 2009
