Are You an Intercessor?

The Need for an Intercessor

Perhaps the best-known Old Testament story of an intercessor is Abraham, regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities of great sin. Abraham stood before the Lord and asked, “'Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?’ And the Lord said, ‘If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake’” (Genesis 18:22-26). 

Abraham did not stop at bargaining for 50 righteous people; he was able to bring down the number to 10. Because of his intercession, God rescued Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and Lot’s two daughters by sending two angels to Sodom. When they were out of the city, God rained down sulfur and fire from heaven. No one else escaped the destruction. 

We also have Moses as the intercessor for the Israelites. God no longer wanted to go with them to the land flowing with milk and honey, the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He said, “I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people” (Exodus 33:3). 

But Moses came before the Lord and made his appeal. “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people’” (33:12-13). Moses was reminding God that he was tasked by God to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, but they were still His people and not his. “Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” (v.16). 

People see the power of God in many ways, including answered prayers. But just like the Israelites, fear may still lurk in the hearts of many, pushing them to stand at a distance and ask for an intercessor instead. “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die,” as the Israelites pleaded with Moses (Exodus 20:19). 

The Profile of an Intercessor

The ministry I worked for had intercessory prayer as one of its pillars. Work always stopped at 10 a.m. for daily prayer to plea to God for those on the long list of prayer requests.

There are two very important traits of an intercessor to consider. First, the intercessor should have a deep love for God. There is no way a person can come before the Lord, especially on behalf of someone, without a relationship. But it’s not just any kind of relationship. It’s an intimate and rich one, where abiding through obedience to God’s commandments is taking place. This makes it possible to rightfully claim Jesus’ words of “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). 

Second, the intercessor should have real compassion for others. The Holy Spirit stirs up faithful believers to plead for men and women, especially our brothers and sisters in the faith. This compassion is born out of a deep love for God. The life of Paul displayed compassion for others, as he remembered the churches in his prayers. He was always grateful for the proclamation of their faith in Jesus, commended them for their obedience to God’s commandments and statutes, and lifted them up so they did not lack anything, especially spiritual gifts that produced good works. You can read some of these passages in the opening chapters of Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Ephesians. 

Jesus Himself showed how intercessory worked through His relationship with His Father and manifested in His compassion for His disciples. He said to His Father, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours…. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one…. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world…. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:9, 11, 17-18, 26). 

Note: these disciples were given by God to Jesus to train them for the work they were tasked to do. That is why it was important for Jesus to pray for them and to ask for His Father’s protection of them through the covering of His Word.

Jesus, the High Priest, the Ultimate Intercessor, brings His followers to His Father today! And we all continue the cycle of intercession.

How to Be an Equipped Intercessor

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:13-18). 

The work of an intercessor is not easy, as the devil is searching for someone to devour. He wants to make an intercessor fall and fail in his intercessory work! So, it’s important to always remain in God’s righteousness. With this in mind, we need to be equipped with the full armor of God daily, and always ready to respond in prayer when God lays someone on our hearts or recalls a person in mind at any time. There is no delay. The action required is immediate.

Are you an intercessor? If not, do you want to become one? First, pray for the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness for the Holy Spirit knows the will of God (Romans 8:26). Then, pray Colossians 1:9, “asking that you may filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” God will make you worthy of your calling as an intercessor, and you can bring glory to His name!

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/vadimguzhva

Luisa Collopy is an author, speaker and a women’s Bible study teacher. She also produces Mula sa Puso (From the Heart) in Tagalog (her heart language), released on FEBC Philippines stations. Luisa loves spending time with her family over meals and karaoke!