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The Importance of Intercession
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:1–4
If we kept careful record of our focus during the time we spend in prayer, most Christians would find that a great majority of our praying is self-focused. Yet while we are invited and encouraged to pray for our needs to be met, and we do so, there are many more commands given to us in Scripture to pray for the needs of others. If there is one single missing ingredient in the prayer life of the modern church that keeps us from seeing God work as we long to see, it is no doubt the lack of intercession. E. M. Bounds wrote, “Prayer must be broad in its scope—it must plead for others. Intercession for others is the hallmark of all true prayer. Prayer is the soul of a man stirred to plead with God for men.”
A Christian who prays only for himself is not only self-focused, but he is self-limiting. At his disposal is the incredible opportunity for prayer to impact the lives of others, yet he is using prayer only for his own needs. We need Christians who will pray beyond the confines of their home, their family, their job, and their health.
The night before His death on the cross, Jesus certainly spent time praying for His own strength and the coming trial. But first He prayed, not just for His disciples, but for us as well. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” (John 17:20). The Apostle Paul, likewise, prayed regularly and fervently for others. He began almost each epistle sharing that he was giving thanks and praying for the spiritual growth of those to whom he wrote.
1 Timothy 2:1–4
If we kept careful record of our focus during the time we spend in prayer, most Christians would find that a great majority of our praying is self-focused. Yet while we are invited and encouraged to pray for our needs to be met, and we do so, there are many more commands given to us in Scripture to pray for the needs of others. If there is one single missing ingredient in the prayer life of the modern church that keeps us from seeing God work as we long to see, it is no doubt the lack of intercession. E. M. Bounds wrote, “Prayer must be broad in its scope—it must plead for others. Intercession for others is the hallmark of all true prayer. Prayer is the soul of a man stirred to plead with God for men.”
A Christian who prays only for himself is not only self-focused, but he is self-limiting. At his disposal is the incredible opportunity for prayer to impact the lives of others, yet he is using prayer only for his own needs. We need Christians who will pray beyond the confines of their home, their family, their job, and their health.
The night before His death on the cross, Jesus certainly spent time praying for His own strength and the coming trial. But first He prayed, not just for His disciples, but for us as well. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” (John 17:20). The Apostle Paul, likewise, prayed regularly and fervently for others. He began almost each epistle sharing that he was giving thanks and praying for the spiritual growth of those to whom he wrote.
Today’s Growth Principle:
The impact of our lives on others will be strongest through prayer.
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