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Although we have several examples in the Bible concerning intercessors like Moses, Job, Esther, Samuel and many more, to understand what INTERCESSION really means, we first have to lay down the foundations of the word "Intercession". The word Intercession occurs seven times in the KJV and NKJV. The first occurrence is Isaiah 53:12
Isaiah 53:12 (NKJ) "Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors".
The Hebrew word for Intercession is the word PAGA (pronounced PAWGAH). Strong s -6293 The general understanding from the Vine's and Strong's dictionary has a two-fold meaning that almost seems contradictory. However, it shows the two main aspects of intercession.
Vine's Dictionary To collide with To encroach upon To drive in To strike up against To be violent against Strong's Dictionary To invade To come in between To entreat To meet together Intercession or to pray To be a peace maker
Here we see the two main streams of intercession - Strong Prayer Aggressive Loud and intense Warfare Declarations Soft Prayer Pleading Weeping Petition Travail
Strong prayer and soft prayer are generalised terms to attempt to classify how people pray differently. Those who are weepers and tearful should not look down on the shouters and warfare style prayers. Many times people switch in between these two streams going from tears to declarations. Bottom line you cannot box God into styles and definitions or classifications. Stay open to The Holy Spirit!
Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJ) "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 (TLB) "I looked in vain for anyone who would build again the wall of righteousness that guards the land, who could stand in the gap and defend you from my just attacks, but I found not one."
True intercession always comes before the Lord on behalf of others! In the same scripture, we also see the two-fold significance of the intercessor: responsibility and power. He/she would create a spiritual wall - this suggests that they would restore a breach or an opening caused by sin or an enemy. They would also stand "in the gap or plug up that breach" against repercussions of sin or the enemy throughout the building or restoration process.
Job 9:33-34 (NIV) gives us an Old Testament picture of what that means. "If only there were someone to arbitrate (mediate) between us, to lay his hand upon us both, (building the bridge) someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more."
Galatians 4:19 (NKJ) shows us a New Testament example of one of the most powerful intercessors - Paul, who said "My little children for whom I labour in birth (intercession) until Christ is formed in you" (until the process is done).
Numbers 16:47-48 NET So Aaron did as Moses commanded and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague was just beginning among the people. So he placed incense on the coals and made atonement for the people. 48 He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.
Then the LORD said to Moses: I have seen this people. Look what a stiff-necked people they are! 10 So now, leave me alone so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them, and I will make from you a great nation. 11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God and said, O LORD, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
12 Why should the Egyptians say, For evil he led them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth? Turn from your burning anger, and relent of this evil against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel your servants, to whom you swore by yourself and told them, I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken about I will give to your descendants, and they will inherit it forever. 14 Then the LORD relented over the evil that he had said he would do to his people.
a. Intercession has to flow out of a relationship with God. b. It is not something we switch on and off like a light bulb. c. It is not a "prayer meeting" with a few prayer requests. It is a LIFESTYLE. d. It is not trying to convince God to act, it is joining with JESUS AS HE IS ALREADY PRAYING before the father. (Romans 8:34)
e. Intercession is PARTNERSHIP with Christ in what He is praying already, giving us the privilege to join with Him in what He does. (Romans 8:27) f. Intercession is not performing in prayer, or dependent on how long we pray, or what methods we are using. g. It is praying what is on the mind of the Spirit of God
Romans 8:27 & 28 (Amplified Bible) "And He who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the (Holy) Spirit - what His intent is - because the Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) on behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will. We are assured and know that (God, being a partner in their labour), all things work together and are (fitting into a plan) for good to those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.
h. True prayer starts in the heart of the Father!. Jesus God Holy Spirit. Us
i. God made full provision: He prepared a "channel" via Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit in us. Jesus, in heaven before the Father for us. (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25) Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. The Holy Spirit on earth, in and through us. (Romans 8:26-28) In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God s will. 28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose
The Greek word for "helps" is SUNANTILAMBANOMAI (Romans 8:26) SUN - together with ANTI - against LAMBANO - to take hold of j. When you start to feel a burden or a need to pray for someone, then be assured, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are already praying for that person. In making you His partner in prayer, you can affect that life in partnership with Christ, according to His design and purpose for that person
The Holy Spirit prays for you:...because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God s will. Rom 8:27 Jesus prays for You:...who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. Rom 8:34 If we can eavesdrop on what they are praying, we are bound to get results!
The Holy Spirit allows us to eavesdrop! But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you. John 16:13-14
The Holy Speaks in various ways: A word of knowledge A promise A Rhema word A dream A picture All of these are linked directly or indirectly with the Word of God and this is how you pray properly and get results!
1 Samuel 15:10: Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: Genesis 15;4: But look, the word of the Lord came to him: This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir. John 5:19 So Jesus answered them, I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.
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