Intercession is more than prayer. Prayer is a form and expression of intercession, but it alone is not intercession. Intercession is not petition. Intercession is position. It’s not something we do—it is something we are. It’s not an exercise we engage in at a certain time of the day—it’s a life that we live.

In this fourth blog about prayer, I will again borrow insights and quotes from Ronald Dunn’s great book, Don’t Just Stand There, Pray Something: The Incredible Power of Intercessory Prayer.

God sought for a man among them to make a wall “to stand in the gap before Him” (Ezekiel 22:30). In other words, God is seeking someone who will assume a certain position and live a certain life.

Jeremiah describes a similar search to “find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth” so God can “forgive this city” (Jeremiah 5:1). It’s positional praying.
Christ made intercession for the transgressors by living and dying for them (Isaiah 53:12). Christ’s position at the right hand of God is where He intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25). If intercession is a position we live in and pray from, how is that position gained?

Gaining the Position
       
1. Stage One: Identification

In the Luke 11:5-13 story, the intercessor identified with the traveler and his need as though he was the hungry one. He took the guest’s place. To intercede, we identify ourselves with the needs of others. Christ identified with humankind by becoming a man and walking where man walked. Jesus’ baptism was an act of identification with sinners.

“Jesus is named for every need of man: to the hungry, He is the Bread of Life; to the thirsty, He is the Fountain of Living Waters; to the sick, He is the Balm of Gilead; to the dying, He is the Resurrection and the Life; to the lonely, the Friend that sticks closer than a brother; to the outcast, the Friend of Sinners.”

     2. Stage Two: Sacrifice

The friend at midnight not only identified himself with the need of his guest, acting as if he was the hungry one, but he also sacrificed to meet that need. Intercession is a ministry of sacrifice.

Christ, as intercessor for transgressors, prayed for His executioners: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). The only way the Father could forgive them was through crucifixion, for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.

       3. Stage Three: Authority

From the host’s identification and sacrifice came authority to obtain all he needed from his reluctant friend: “He will get up and give him as much as he needs” (Luke 11:8).

Here’s the pattern of intercession:

  •  Identification with the needs of others.
  • Sacrifice to meet those needs.
  • Authority to obtain what is needed.

“Jesus identified Himself with man by taking on the form of a servant. He sacrificed Himself for man by taking our sins on His own body on the tree. And with authority in heaven and earth, He loosed man from his sins, stripped satan of his armor, tore the stinger out of death, and flung open the gates of glory.”

“Only as death works in us will life work in those for whom we pray. That is the law of spiritual harvest. I believe when we, in order to stand in the gap for another, take to ourselves death to advantage and ambition, to consideration, comfort and convenience, then and only then do we have a right to expect a harvest.”

Are you willing to assume that position?  

Below are some entry points to begin that position of intercession:

Entry Points for Intercession:

  • Pray weekly on Tues. 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. CDT:
    https://duc-nj.claytonig.com/mark  (launch in the web, not the app)
  • Pray weekly on Thurs. 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. CDT (for those living in Nebraska interested in praying for disciple-making movements) 
    https://duc-nj.claytonig.com/mark (launch in the web, not the app)
  • Pray4Nebraska Facebook link: https://bit.ly/facebook_pray4nebraska
  • Anyone who wants to initiate prayer at a different day or time, please text or call Mark Pomeroy for more information to hear your heart: (402) 617-4959 or team@pray4nebraska.org   
  • Those who live outside of Nebraska, but want to join or possibly initiate praying for a disciple-making movement in your state. For more information, text or email Michael Sove: (443) 880-1716 or michael@pray4maryland.org

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