SCRIPTURE: “Therefore He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 HCBS)
QUOTE: “We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.” – Corrie ten BOOM
NOTE:
Intercession is a ministry of Jesus Christ and we are to do the work with Him, but accusation is a ministry of Satan and we must not help him by becoming an accuser of the Brethren. Three important concepts in intercession are:
INTERVENTION: To “intervene” means to step into a situation with divine purpose in view
INTERSECTION: An intersection is the place where two roads meet and cross each other. God will bring all kinds of people with needs and problem “across” our paths. When we bring the victory and power of Christ across into such meeting places, they become divine “crossroads”
INTERCEPTION: To “intercept” means to stop, take over and even reverse the direction of something, like it is done in a football match. These are actions deployed in intercessory work of leaders. When we fail to acknowledge our sins, we must be prepared to experience psychological repercussions as well as physical ailments that are caused by intense guilt. To help new believers mature in their faith, spiritual leaders must consistently pray for their spiritual growth.
ILLUSTRATION:
Paul lived out this principle again and again as he interceded for New Testament believers (Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-13). His prayer for these Thessalonians believers focused on what he mentioned in his Corinthian letter as the “greatest of these” (1 Corinthians 13:13)—their growth in “love for one another and for everyone” (1 Thessalonians 3:12). Paul also prayed that his converts would more and more reflect God’s holiness, which cannot be separated from Christ like love. Paul prayed for the Thessalonians that their “spirit, soul, and body [would] be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”
REFLECTION:
In what specific ways can we help all Christians to become an intercessor and not an accuser of the Brethren?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Samuel 8 – 9, Proverbs 24: 1 – 22