What is Intercession?
by John David Hicks
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1).
The high calling of God to prayer is not just another obligation; it is the most important ministry you can do. Many are busy for God and have substituted busyness for prayer. At times all their work and energy appears to be in vain. They have little to show for their labor. The reason is that we are labors together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). Human energy must have the anointing of God (Acts 10:38) “Without me,” said Jesus,” you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
There are five elements in prayer: worship, or adoration; thanksgiving; confession; petition and intercession. Real prayer should have all those elements. Jesus teaches us this in the “Lord’s Prayer.” Our worship, thanksgiving and confession are the first part given to God. The second part is manward, petition and intercession. In the Greek, petition means “to beg.” It comes from a sense of inadequacy, helplessness to meet your needs. It’s crying out (Hebrews 4:16). Intercession is by nature bringing together a person with a need to another who has the answer. Thus, intercessory prayer is a petition, or appeal for a favor from God for another. It is like your father is the king, and you go into the king’s presence and petition him in behalf of another.
Intercession is also unselfish, agape love for the needs and interests of others. God rewards the prayer for others by blessing the one who prays. God made this plain in the life of Job. “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10). Prayer helps others, but it also helps you. Your prayers for others during a time when you are inwardly dry spiritually will releases personal renewal, blessing and power into your life (Psalms 34:18). Prayer for others gets your mind off yourself and on to others and God. When you pray for others, the side benefits are that you will be ministered to by the Holy Spirit. But the greatest benefit of intercession is in fellowship and identification with Jesus, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Heb 7:25).