God's gifts, especially intercession, are intended to strengthen the Body of Christ. God-given intercessory missions are intended to patch holes, cover gaps, and construct hedges that protect and maintain.
Before You Continue...
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What is the difference between prayer and intercessory prayer?
Prayer, as we've seen in so many of the previous series, is primarily about conversing with God, having a one-on-one conversation with Him, talking and listening; in other words, knowing God via communication with Him. Standing in the gap, intervening, or stepping in on someone else's behalf through prayer is what intercession entails.
Why do we have prayers of intercession?
St. Paul thought intercession to be one of the most significant components of faith and praying life, according to Lionel Swain of St. Edmund's College, Ware, because praying for others is a frequent motif in his works. St. Paul uses prayer as a means of acknowledging God's might. The Apostle can also “share in… the Father's redemptive love” through intercessory prayer. Paul thought that prayer changed both the one praying and the person being prayed for, resulting in a closer link between him and God.
Prof. Dr. Johannes van Oort, Professor Extraordinarius in the Department of Church History and Church Polity of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, adds that, in addition to praying for wisdom, the early church was heavily involved with various charismas, one of which was healing. Intercessory prayer was very significant in the early church for praying for other people's ailments, since healing was a proof of “God's Kingdom power.” Irenaeus of Lyons mentions this gift of healing, among the other charismata, as a proof of being a true Christian in his treatise, Against Heresies.
What is the difference between intercession and supplication?
Intercession and supplication differ as nouns in that intercession is the act of intervening or mediating between two parties, whereas supplication is the act of supplicating; a humble request.
Who intercedes for us in prayer?
The Christian concept that the Holy Spirit assists and directs believers who seek God in their hearts is known as the Intercession of the Spirit.
In the same manner, the Spirit assists us when we are weak. We don't know what we should pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us in the form of wordless moans. And whoever searches our hearts knows what the Spirit is thinking, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people according to God's will.
Theologically, the Spirit's intercession has been interpreted in a variety of ways. It refers to the “teaching ministry of the Spirit,” according to John Calvin, which informs believers on what to pray for and what to ask for in their prayers. Abraham Kuyper, on the other hand, saw the Spirit's work as separate and distinct from the efforts of Christians who pray.
Which woman in the Bible was an intercessor?
I praise you, Lord, for your desire to perform great acts via ordinary individuals like me. Release me from any constraints that I, others, or the enemy have placed on my life, preventing me from pursuing the big plans you have for me, so that I may wake up and reflect the glory of the Lord! Amen.
Key Scripture
“The highways were abandoned in the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, and travelers turned to twisting trails.” Villagers in Israel refused to fight; instead, they remained silent until I, Deborah, arose, until I, Deborah, a mother in Israel, arose. ‘Wake up, Deborah! Wake up!' Get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up Barak, get up! ‘Son of Abinoam, take captive your hostages.'
Introduction to Deborah in the Bible
Deborah's story in Judges 4 and 5 starts off like so many others in the Book of Judges: the Israelites rebelled against the Lord, and he sold them to King Jabin of Canaan. The Israelites called out to the Lord for help after 20 years of this. Deborah was serving as a judge in Israel at the time. She summoned Barak, an Israeli army leader, and urged him to go attack Jabin's army, which was led by Sisera.
Barak stated that he would only go if Deborah would accompany him. Deborah consented, but informed Barak that the honor would not be bestowed upon him because Sisera would be delivered into the hands of a woman by the Lord. The Lord routs Sisera's army when Barak's army advances, and Sisera flees on foot. Because King Jabin and Heber's family had formed an alliance, Sisera travels to the tent of Jael, Heber's wife.
Sisera was invited in, and Jael offered him beverages. Sisera was so tired that he dozed off. Sisera was killed when Jael drove a tent peg into his temple with a hammer. King Jabin was defeated by the Israelites after a long battle. Deborah and Barak sung a praise hymn, and Israel enjoyed 40 years of peace.
Digging Deeper
Deborah had a lot on her plate. “She held court between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim beneath the Palm of Deborah, and the Israelites went up to her to have their issues decided,” reads Judges 4:5. Deborah was a wise, revelation-seeking, and discernment-seeking woman. She also had a prophetic gift, which included knowing the Lord's periods and seasons. She certainly heard the Lord's voice.
“Wake up, wake up, Deborah!” exclaims Judges 5:12. Get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get up Barak, get up! Take your captives captive, Abinoam's son.” Deborah and Barak needed to “wake up and ascend” to a greater level of understanding and dimension in their callings. The Lord was warning them to be on their guard and pay attention because he was about to do something spectacular.
“Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I, Deborah, a mother in Israel,” reads Judges 5:7. Deborah chose the title of mother over all the other titles she may have had: judge, prophetess, deliverer, intercessor, and worshiper. She was a mother first and foremost. This much seemed to be obvious. Her children, however, are unknown: she was a mother “in Israel,” as well as a mother “over Israel” (it can be translated both ways). She considered all of Israel as her children and wished for peace and security for all of her children (literal and figurative).
No one in Israel would battle until Deborah “arose,” according to the scripture. Slavery for 20 years had beaten the Israelites down. They couldn't fight because they were exhausted and demoralized. Deborah was chosen by the Lord to be their inspiration. Nothing would have changed if she had not acted on what the Lord had ordered her to do. She utilized the position of trust and authority she'd been given as a judge to persuade Barak to form an army.
Deborah was a warrior who worshipped God. She found strength and inspiration in worship to be obedient to everything the Lord asked of her. Deborah would not have had all of the experiences that led to her being used by the Lord to free Israel from slavery if she had played small in her life. She would not have had the knowledge or revelation to resolve conflicts. As an intercessor, she would not have heard the Lord's strategic battle preparations. She would not have extended the loving heart of her mother to the entire nation of Israel. She would not have been able to heal and empower an entire nation.
“Arise and take captive your hostages,” Barak was commanded (5:12). He was hesitant to go to battle without Deborah, but he eventually agreed to create an army and follow Deborah's orders. This act of obedience was also required to carry out the Lord's purposes.
Deborah's story would be incomplete if she didn't mention Jael, another woman who took the initiative to make her claim in history. Jael was in the right place at the right moment, and she did exactly what she needed to. “Most blessed of tent-dwelling women,” Deborah said of Jael (5:24). Jael was a stay-at-home mom who was crucial to the war's success.
She Is Called and We Are Called
Because I was a mother, I was given one of the most wonderful and thrilling chances I've ever had. Twelve years ago, I was invited to join a group of women who were forming a radio station with the goal of filling it with women radio hosts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Because many of the show's issues were around being a mother, I was invited as a financial advisor, and my tagline became “Financial Mother.” For five years, I hosted a weekly radio show and learned to talk for around fifty minutes of my hour time slot each week.
The Lord never wastes an opportunity, and I now recognize that this was the start of my preaching education. My financial counsel was always biblically based, and by the end of those five years, I was ministering to tens of thousands of people every week. Finally, this experience gave me the confidence to take the plunge and establish my own business. Looking back on my life, I see the Lord's hand in so many of my experiences, preparing me for where I am now: a co-vocational company owner and pastor of a church plant.
Allow me to bolster your confidence. We are frequently frightened to leave our comfort zones and become all that God has called us to be. It's a good thing the Lord doesn't give us the entire plan for our lives ahead of time, since most of us would say yes “No!” says the speaker. Don't let the enemy convince you that God will never use you to do great things. Don't let your fear of what others might think keep you from being faithful to God and being used to do remarkable things.
Deborah was prepared in her hidden place of worship by the Lord, who helped her gain confidence in hearing God's voice. As she discerned the right time to go to war, her intentional relationship to God via worship gave her confidence. The Lord will treat us in the same way. God will lead us to clarity about our call for this season of kingdom activity as we grow in our relationship with Him. God can use a variety of methods to repeatedly confirm it to us. We are about to embark on an amazing path of serving the Lord here on earth as Christ followers.
Conclusion
It's time for you, women and men of God, to step out in faith and do the extraordinary things God has called you to do. Will you embrace the challenge to be a light in the darkness for the Kingdom of God wherever the Lord has placed you? Will you persuade others to do the same? Rise up and reflect the glory of God in all that you do! You are the hope that this world desperately needsthe hope of Jesus Christand it is past time for you to stop hiding and acting small. You are being asked to obey a dying, dismal planet. Believe and trust that God has the best plan for your life, and then follow him to where he is now operating.
(Read Michelle McClain-Walters' The Deborah Anointing for a deeper look into Deborah's life.)
What is effective intercession?
Intercession is the act of praying for others, whether as an individual or as a community. Distractions, busyness, and conflicting priorities limit our ability to establish or sustain effective intercession in our human state.