Intercession in the New Testament (NT) is very different from
intercession in the Old Testament (OT). In the OT intercessors stood as it were, between God
and people, pleading with and begging God to spare them from His anger and judgement after they had rebelled against His commands.
God would send prophets to warn them, to get them to turn from their rebellious ways, with promises of restoration and blessings if they do, or face His judgement if they don’t. Many would fast and pray, crying out to God for mercy, they would even don sackcloth and smear ashes on themselves as a sign of contrition and repentance.
God would send prophets to warn them, to get them to turn from their rebellious ways, with promises of restoration and blessings if they do, or face His judgement if they don’t. Many would fast and pray, crying out to God for mercy, they would even don sackcloth and smear ashes on themselves as a sign of contrition and repentance.
Abraham is the first “intercessor”, if you will, mentioned
in the Bible. After learning of God’s impending judgement on Sodom and
Gomorrah, he interceded for those two cities and God listened to Him and I
believe He would've spared those cities if there were just ten righteous people
in them, too bad those two cities combined didn't have ten righteous people in
them. How sad is that (Genesis 18:16-33).
Moses also pleaded with God not to destroy Israel and
even asked God to “repent”, and guess what… the Almighty, thrice Holy, perfectly
sinless God repented, yes He did, God changed His mind, God relented! (Exodus 32:14) And that’s not the only
record we have of God “repenting”, there are several others . Now, as much as
I’m tempted to go off on a tangent to address the "repenting of God spoken of in the Scriptures" or the prevalent incorrect interpretations given to the word “repentance” by many today,
I’ll refrain…I choose to stay on topic…Intercession, intercession,
intercession…
Daniel interceded for His people the nation of Israel,
he confessed his sins and the sins of the whole nation and God heard him and responded
to him (Daniel 9:1-23).
In the OT we see people mediating between God and
man, and God honoring their intercession with His mercy and grace. God even actively looked for those who would intercede, those who would "stand in the gap" to avert judgement on the land (Ezekiel 22:30). This kind of
intercession was acceptable at that time, as it was a type foreshadowing the perfect sacrifice of Christ that would ultimately take away sin that had separated man from God.
The moment the perfect sacrifice of the perfect lamb of
God, Jesus Christ, was offered on the cross, this type of intercession became
obsolete. Right now Jesus, our Lord is in the very presence of the Father
interceding for us, eternally. Here’s what the Word says:
Therefore he is able to save completely those
who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. – Hebrews 7:25 NIV
Today we should not be interceding for others following
the OT pattern. There is only ONE MEDIATOR between God and man and that is JESUS.
Jesus is the one who makes intercession for us before the Father. So for the
New Testament Christian today to go about in sackcloth and ashes, fasting
and praying, crying out to God and interceding
that He wouldn't destroy a nation is unnecessary. It is an exercise in futility at
best and an insult to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ at worst. The thing
is, no one can improve on, nor add on to what Christ has done.
So, what is the
role of the NT intercessor today? I'm glad you asked.
Well, first of all, in Christ we are all called to be intercessors, the Scriptures calls each one of us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18). We are ALL called to pray for all men and women, and for those in authority. Prayer is not a ministry assigned to a chosen few. Each one of us is the temple of the Holy Spirit and He helps us, each one of us, to pray according to the will of God. Remember in Matthew 21:13 Jesus said “My house will be called a house of prayer…” guess what! You are His house, His dwelling place.
Well, first of all, in Christ we are all called to be intercessors, the Scriptures calls each one of us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18). We are ALL called to pray for all men and women, and for those in authority. Prayer is not a ministry assigned to a chosen few. Each one of us is the temple of the Holy Spirit and He helps us, each one of us, to pray according to the will of God. Remember in Matthew 21:13 Jesus said “My house will be called a house of prayer…” guess what! You are His house, His dwelling place.
We have plenty of examples in the NT where the church
prayed together or where believers prayed for one another for various reasons
ranging from boldness in ministry to healing and so on.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions,
prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all
godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. – 1 Timothy 2:1-6 NIV
Intercession in the NT is not for God to spare nations
of His wrath and impending judgement but for people to be saved and come to
know Jesus, who is the Truth, the Way and the Life. The apostles and believers
in the early church never practiced OT style intercession, not even once! They
prayed for believers to be strengthened in their faith, the Apostle Paul prayed
for believers to be filled with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of God. He prayed for the eyes of their understanding to be
enlightened so that they may know who they were in Christ, their hope in Him,
and the riches of their glorious inheritance that is in Him (Ephesians 1:17-19).
The early church prayed for open doors and
opportunities to spread the Good News of God’s grace and salvation. Even as
they were threatened and persecuted, they prayed for boldness to keep on
preaching the Gospel because they knew what was at stake, that is, souls of
people whom Christ had already died for. It is God’s desire to save every single
person without exception, He doesn't want anyone to perish.
Jesus told us to pray that God will send forth laborers into the fields for the harvest is
ready and it is plenteous, now that is NT intercession. And as we each allow
the Holy Spirit to lead us into this type of intercession we will see the fruit
of it, for it is the very heart of God himself.
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send
out workers into his harvest field.” – Matthew
9:37-38 NIV
As we begin to intercede this way, we will find
ourselves quickly being reminded by the Holy Spirit that we've already been recruited and equipped for the harvest.
15 And he said unto
them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
– Mark 16:15 KJV
Is it any wonder that they were said to have overturned
their then known world with the Good News of Jesus Christ!
…“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” – Acts 17:6b NKJV
So go ahead, intercede the NT way and
experience the power of the resurrected Christ, the Savior of the world, flow
through you to save, heal, deliver and bless others.
In Christ, you are already blessed!
In Christ, you are already blessed!
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