The Heart of an Intercessor
Intercession is selfless prayer. An intercessor is someone who stands in the gap, between God and others. An intercessor dares to go before a mighty God and contend for those around them. An intercessor prays for others selflessly, lifting the needs of others into the throne room of heaven.
What our churches need in this day are more intercessors. We have plenty of people willing to do work before man, but few that are willing to do work before the Lord.
Prophets may be the mouth of God, missionaries may be His feet, but intercessors are His heart. Pray to the Lord, that He would bless you with the heart of an intercessor.
Selfless Intercession
It is a divine principle that prayer has greater power when it is for someone else. Selfless prayers are the purest requests made known to God. “…pray for one another, that you may be healed…” (James 5:16).
Kneeling in intercessory prayer is the higher ministry.
When you commit to a life of isolated intercession, unseen before men, you will find kneeling next to you the Lord Jesus Himself who intercedes for the saints along with you. “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” (Romans 8:34).
The highest form of selfless intercession is not only towards those that cannot help you, but to those that would harm you. “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do’…” (Luke 23:34).
If you only pray for yourself, then that says much about you. How off can we be, that even in our prayers to God we could be so selfish? “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1).
Stop praying that the Lord would change His mind, but that He would change yours.
The Loneliness of Intercession
The Lord Jesus said, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6). The greatest rewards never come by way of other men.
To get closer to God you must become further from man. “And when He [the Lord Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there” (Matthew 14:23). If the Lord Jesus needed to be alone with the Father, how much more do we?
We are meant to be near to the Lord, and prayer is the means in which we get there. “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him…” (Psalm 145:18).
You are nearest to God when you are on your knees. If you want to grow more in your faith, pray more.
Standing in the Gap
There are a hundred schools for the prophets, but God is looking for just one intercessor. “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30).
Let it be you that is the one God finds standing in the gap for your family, for your friends, for your Church, for your city, and for your nation.
Moses prayed for the nation of Israel, “’Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy…’ Then the Lord said: ‘I have pardoned, according to your word’” (Numbers 14:19-20). Never underestimate the value of intercessory prayer.
To intercede for others that need the mercies of God, somebody must step up. Step up.
If you want to stand in the gap you have to get closer to God. Get closer.
It is the intercessor that can plead with God to change the course of history. Be that intercessor.
If you want to avail much, you must travail much. “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
Consider that as you pray for some people, you are the only person on earth praying for them. Don’t give up on people, knowing that God never gave up on you.
You cannot change another person, but you can pray to the Lord who can.
The more prayer you add to your life, the more your life has the fullness of God. It is by prayer you can reach God, and likewise it is by prayer that God can reach you. The Lord Jesus taught, “…that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).
The Power of Intercession
A believing prayer warrior is a dangerous thing in the midst of an evil world.
Intercessors pray to His limits. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
Effective prayers are not where your desires are met by God, but where God’s desires are found by you.
Pray beyond the limits of you, and it will be there that you will find God.
More can be accomplished in your morning prayers than in all your efforts throughout the day. “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up” (Psalm 5:3).
There is a divine order of things whereby we discover prayer is more effective than our efforts. This is because our efforts rely upon ourselves, whereas prayer relies upon God.
There is no lack when you are praying from the resources of heaven. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20).
Blessings to you,
Paul
All Scripture is in red and uses the NKJV (New King James Version) translation unless otherwise noted.
Awesome word… the church moves forward on her knees
Blessings
Brian
Thank you so much Brian. We have much to pray about, with a God that can do anything.
Blessings to you, I sure enjoy all of your blogs,
Paul
Good morning
This has been a great post, it has shown me the importance of intercession prayers I struggle with my prayer life, I sometimes feel lonely in prayer but the Holy Spirit shown me that I am not alone. May you continue to be lead by the Holy Spirit has you share your post. God bless.
Thank you so much for your kind words and your encouragement. You have learned a most blessed truth, that we are anything but alone when we pray! Oh, we are gloriously in communion with the Lord!
Many times I have felt the burdens of others and the need to pray for them. It’s encouraging to know the Lord God hears and intercede in the lives of others..
This is so wonderful that your spirit is so sensitive to the needs of others. God’s chosen serve Him in the prayer rooms.
Thank you for this article, Paul it was awesome! I will either reblog it or post a link on my blog at https://writethroughme.com/
I am glad that a friend shared this post on FB so that I found this site:)
God bless
Lynn
Thank you so much for your kind words! It is such a joy to meet a fellow author and minister of the Lord!
Reblogged this on writethroughme.com and commented:
Thorough, but not boring, a clarion call to prayer. Love it.
Thank you so much Lynn! It is such a joy to be just a pen for the Lord. I have started to read your site, the first article which is Learning From Heaven, oh, I am so glad I met you! Can’t wait to finish reading it and more on your site!
What an inspiring call to renew my prayer time as a powerful weapon for others! I think of Job, who when he prayed for his friends was himself restored. But oh, that seems selfish, when more importantly we may truly be the only person interceeding for someone in need!! That is a challenge to put forth our most earnest cries to the Almighty! Thank you for this call to purposefully spend my mornings in fervent prayer .
This is such a blessed ministry calling. There is such a great need for intercessors. Everywhere people, churches, nations are in desperate need of prayer. I target specific people with specific needs, what an honor it is for us to bring someones name right up to the throne room, and place them in the love care of our heavenly Father! Blessings to you as you will be a blessing to others.
i really enjoy reading this. I have learned a lot. I used to just pray for my family and friends who are sick but now I really do talk to Jesus about every thing and really pray seriously. Thank you so much
Thank you for your kind words. Prayers that your prayer life would grow to new heights every day!
I have been asked to join an intercessory prayer group at my church. But I’m having trouble praying is it possible to be an intercessor an be struggling in your own pray life
Joyce
Hi Joyce, it will be in your service to others that the Lord will do a work in you. He never calls us by our abilities, but by His. Maybe you heard this quote, “He does not call the equipped, but He equips the called”. Praying is hard to do. We need His help in order to pray rightly. People think they need to do better for God, but they need to surrender more that He would be the better through them. I pray you would join this group. You will find that as you help others, it will be in that selfless helpless place that He will help you. Blessings to you on this journey, Paul.
Thanks I think this it just another confirmation that this is where I need to be for God to use me. Thanks again may God continue to bless your ministry
Praying that the Lord will fill you with the Holy Spirit to guide you in intercession. Thank you so much for your blessings.
I host a small group of intercessors in my home on Tuesday nights. I like to encourage them so tonight I will be sharing this with them. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much. I pray that it will be a blessing. Intercession is such a special ministry in that it enters the throne room in heaven. Praying for your group.
Thank you servant of God may you be blessed, indeed this message has changed my heart and my mind. Thank you again
Thank you, it is such a joy when I get an encouraging word like this! Blessings to you!
Your article helps me understand the call of the Spirit to intercede for my church and those I love as we face what is to come in the days ahead.
Hi Donald, thank you so much. It is a great privilege to intercede for our church and our loved ones. We are blessed when we can sit in the presence of God and ask Him to help those around us.
Amazing post. Words straight from the throne room of the Father to me. Thank you very much. I have found the missing link and the key that I was looking for. PRAY FOR OTHERS. Thank you Paul. Many blessings
Thank you so much for your kind words! Oh how much we would benefit, to spend more time in prayer and less time worrying over things. We have a mighty God just waiting for us to come to Him.
I have just found this blog and Pastor and I am thankful that I did. I have a question. Should you make a list of all the people you want to pray for when praying for others?
Hello Mary Ruth, thank you for this most blessed question! My mother is an intercessor, and at 90 years old she has had a long time to work out how best she can serve in this ministry. It is a ministry, and a very powerful one too, as it is tapping into the power of God. My mom will make lists to help her remember all the people she is praying for. This also serves as a wonderful encouragement for her, as when a prayer is answered, she will cross it off the list. Her list has been things crossed off! Prayer is a personal and intimate relationship with our Lord, He wants us to be ourselves and to pray with our hearts. If a list helps us to do that then a list is what is needed! Blessings to you as you intercede for others, they are most blessed to get onto your list. Paul
Seriously I don’t know where to and how to start expressing my gratitude.
But in all situations we give God all the glory and more grace to the writter of the post.
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words!
This is great, deep, impactful and timely. We need intercessors today in a world so terrible! God needs men to be his heart. I want to answer the call more than ever.
Thanks for this. God bless you more and more.
That is a wonderful desire you have to be one of God’s intercessors. The intercessor has the ear of God and is a blessing to the kingdom. Blessings to you!