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| Pastor Jacqueline Makgato |
Understanding Intercession
Pastor Jacqueline Makgato
“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. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:1-6)
An intercessor is someone who has a special spiritual burden from the Lord to pray for a particular situation that threatens the order and stability in persons, families, communities or nations. The burden/anxiety he/she feels comes from his/her spiritual sensitivity to what others are feeling.
Intercession focuses on other people’s needs. This is known as “the burden of the Lord.” The burden is a real distress on the intercessor which will not lift till he/she has prayed the matter through. Only then will great peace be experienced. Because of its selfless nature, this is God’s cherished prayer type.
Intercessors work directly with God to pray for His will to be done on earth and plead for His Kingdom to come. Intercessors are mediators between God and man; pleading with the Holy God for a sinful man. The plea is mostly repentance on behalf of sinners who attract God’s wrath on themselves; either deliberately or out of ignorance. It is praying God’s mercy to avert judgement on deserving sinners.
Although intercession is not mentioned among the five-fold ministries, the need for mediators to stand in the gab is expressed throughout the Scripture; the purpose being to avert God’s painful judgement on His wayward children. A vivid example is found in Genesis 18:16-32 where Abraham pleaded for God’s mercy over Sodom and Gomorrah, (two very wicked cities of that time) and God almost spared them. Moses pleaded for the rebellious Israelites several times on their way to the Promised Land. God heard his pleas and relented.
Intercessory prayer is a command from God to allow people to work as a unit in order to meet His standard. The following Scripture verses guide us to this need; Jeremiah 9:17-20; Isaiah 59:12-17; Isaiah 62:1-5; Ezekiel 22:30.
In some instances intercessors are known as watchmen who give warning to kings, rulers, and nations of a looming danger or disaster. In Isaiah watchmen are said to position themselves on the walls of cities to see any danger as it approaches from a distance and to take the right steps to reverse that.
At other times intercessors are referred to as prayer warriors who are guided by the Holy Spirit to wage spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness. They ensure that the angels of war invade the enemy camp to put a stop on satan’s operations in particular areas. Intercessors are called by God and endowed with a passionate spirit of prayer. They have a spiritual authority which is acquired through intensive training in the field of prayer and warfare.
Effective intercession is ignited up by the following;
- Deep knowledge of the Word of God
- Meditation (Joshua 1:8)
- Regular communion with God until one is passionate about prayer
- Total reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance (He is The Teacher, Guide, Counsellor, Advocate, Helper, etc.)
- Consecration to holy living as is reflected in the Scriptures e.g. Galatians 5:22-24. (The fruit of the Holy Spirit are manifestations of obedience and submission)
- Walking by faith and vigilance
