“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Eph.6:18
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire,
and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7
The prayer of intercession is another kind of prayer. To intercede means
to intreat or persuade someone in authority (God in this case) to show mercy
on, forgive, or save another person from punishment. There are three times in
the New Testament that the word intercession is used. “Therefore, I exhort
first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be
made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” 1Tim.2:1-2. “Likewise,
the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should
pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows
what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27. “Who is he who condemns? It
is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Rom.8:34. It is important to note
that it is only in 1 Tim.2:1-2 that believers are instructed to intercede. The
other two scriptures deal with the Holy Spirit and Jesus interceding. Contrast
this with many scriptural references where believers are instructed to
supplicate. In reality, believers supplicate for fellow believers and intercede for
unbelievers.
A good example of intercession can be found in Genesis 18 where
Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham used His right
standing with God to intercede just as we who have been made righteous can
also use this privileged position to intercede for unbelievers. Secondly, we see
that even though he had a right standing with God he approached God in
humility and not arrogance. “Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now,
I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon me to speak to the Lord:”
Gen.18:27. Another important point here is Abraham using God’s
righteousness to plead for God’s mercy. “Suppose there were fifty righteous
within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty
righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay