Where are the Intercessors?

Where are the intercessors?

This morning, I am listening to a powerful message on intercessory prayer.  So powerful, I ended up on the floor, weeping and praying.

For some of you, that might be an unusual thought.  For me, at one time, I would have said so, too.  I remember a time in my life when I’d ‘pray’, and it would be sincere, and heartfelt, and I felt compassion, but was really no more than a brief “Oh, God—help so-and-so with such-and-such”, and to use an image the Facebook/Instagram generation will understand, I’d soon scroll on by to the next thing.

I don’t mean to belittle such a thing completely.  I think it’s perfectly acceptable, even beneficial to call someone’s name and need out before the Lord.  I know God hears that kind of prayer as well.  But while we feel momentary compassion, is that the same as becoming burdened, becoming truly moved to action, by the needs of another?  We shake our heads, we tsk, tsk about the situation under our breath—but when was the last time we truly petitioned God to MOVE?  We say ‘prayer changes things.’  We might even have a pretty plaque on the wall, or a lovely floral screensaver on our computer that says this.  But do we really believe it?  Are we committed to becoming the intercessor God is looking for?  And believe me, He is LOOKING.

Isaiah 59:16 NKJV

He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.

Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV

³⁰ So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

More than once, Moses stood in the gap between God and the children of Israel.  More than once, his stiff-necked congregation, whom He’d delivered time and time again, angered Him with their short memories and unbelieving hearts.  I lost count of how many times God told Moses, in essence, “Get out of the way, Mo.  I’m SO DONE with them.  I’m taking them all out, and I’ll start all over with YOU, and make a new nation.”  And then, Moses would put himself between God and the people, and remind God that his people would become the laughing stock of the surrounding nations, that He’d brought them out of slavery and bondage only to kill them in the wilderness.  Then he’d beg the Lord to show the mercy for which He was so famous.

Exodus 32

¹¹ Then Moses pleaded with ^[d]the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? ¹² Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. ¹³ Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” ¹⁴ So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.

Thank God for the intercessor.  Intercessors save lives.  Intercessors turn situations around.

Intercessors change things.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Intercession moves God. 

Most important, intercession doesn’t just change the situation—it changes us.  It takes our focus off of ourselves, our needs, our petty offences, and turns it around to praying desperately, completely, on behalf of another.  Note the sequence in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

            IF God’s people, who are called by His NAME, will:

Ø  Humble themselves

Ø  Pray

Ø  SEEK His face

Ø  TURN from their wicked ways

THEN:

Ø  He will HEAR from heaven

Ø  He will forgive their sin

Ø  He will heal their land

To humble ourselves is to recognize that we are NOT the center of the universe.

To pray in our newly humbled state is to NOT make everything about ourselves, but we pray for others.

To seek His face is to pursue things that He has said are important to Him.  We only know that if we are in His Word, and if we are praying, and letting Him USE us to pray for others.  We have to make ourselves available.

We—the people called by His name—must turn from OUR wicked ways!  Did you see that?  It’s not just the drug dealer and the murderer and the prostitute that need to turn from wickedness.  It’s even those of us who are called by His name!  Dear Lord, that should humble us, if we haven’t yet humbled ourselves!

When we have accomplished all of these things, THEN He will hear from heaven—and THEN He will forgive OUR sin!  When we are praying for others with a pure heart of compassion, asking for His mercy, praying according to His will, THEN He will forgive our sins.  Why?  Because that is TRUE repentance.  That is the sign that there has been a change in how we think, in what moves us.  And THEN, He can heal our land.

Where are the intercessors?  Where are those who will lay down self, and make themselves available to be moved to action, to passionate, desperate, heartfelt prayer that moves mountains, breaks chains, and brings forgiveness from the King?

He is looking for the intercessor.  He is seeking the one who will stand in the gap.

Is it you?