The power of intercession in the supply chain of prayer - Part 1

The power of intercession in the supply chain of prayer - Part 1

Concepts of intercession in prayer

While there is no calculated formula for prayer of any kind, there are concepts and principles we can glean from the Bible. By looking at events and even prayers in the Bible we see that God is not haphazard and is a Being with a Supreme plan just like he says in Jeremiah 29:11.

God desires to see us work with him through prayer especially intercession, to change circumstances around others( Ezekiel 22:25-30). God is Sovereign and he can choose whatever and whomever he wants to use. Prayer is one the tools for interacting with us that he chose to use through anyone with a willing heart .  The Disciples of Jesus figured this out and they boldly asked him:  “Lord teach us to pray even as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1)

The Holy Spirit is the empowering person of God connecting our prayers to the resources and reservoir of his power according to Romans 8:26 “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.“

Jesus is the pathway for prayer and intercession because no one can reach God except through him. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6 )

These scriptures give us the the basis to understand  that intercession is a part of a chain involving many parts to it in the spiritual and natural realms. When we understand this, then we approach prayer with the confidence that whatever we ask of the Father, he will do it. We know this because we are praying his will and that is Praying With Impact.

1 John 5:14-15(NIV)

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 

We will see therefore that intercession is:

• The action of intervening on behalf of another (Jesus prayed for humanity )
• Mediation, advocating for another, negotiation to cause a reconciliation with God (Abraham for Sodom and Gomorrah) 
• Standing in the gap. The Hebrew Word in scriptures is Paga which also means releasing a precise power.
• In Job 36:32 Paga is used to imply an interception or intervention using  a precisely “directed power of lightening” from the hand of God. A Biblical  example is Moses praying for Joshua Exodus 17:10-13,15 while Joshua 

Why and when do we intercede? 

Request to stand with someone

A common initiation of intercessory prayer is  a request to join another in prayer on their behalf. The person requesting may be requesting for someone else or on their own behalf. It could also be a spontaneous action by the praying person or persons without the request of the recipient. It is God’s desire and will that we deal with the spiritual realm and so is willing to partner with us through prayer and intercession. 

Overwhelming circumstances current or future

When the one is overwhelmed by circumstances, intercession by others may be called for. However the situation doesn’t have to be dire for intercession  to be necessary or requested. 

Intervention for future situations and circumstances

Intercession to intervene may take place before situations take place. There’s a foretelling in the spirit that something in the future needs to be prayed for or against, before it takes place. Jesus gave us a good example below.

Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV)

“And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Two historical analogies to clarify “standing in the gap”.

To help understand what takes place in the spiritual realm of intercession, let us look at two historical analogies one a modern day event and the other Biblical.

Secret Service Protection- standing in the gap “Paga”

Secret Service Officers stand in the gap between the president and possible attackers or other dangers. We saw this with President Reagan when John Hinkley shot him in an assassination attempt in 1981

The secret agent next to the president jumped into action standing in the gap between the president and the attacker. In the process the agent was shot. However because he had body armor on, he survived the bullet. 

In the same way, in spiritual warfare, when we stand in the gap for others in prayer, we become target to Satan. So we have to have the full armor of God through prayer as the Bible advises in Ephesians Chapter 6. We have to know the Word of God and how to use it in these circumstances. This is known as spiritual warfare. As we protect we also are armed ready to fight (Job 36:32) 

Moses, Aaron  and HUR perform  Biblical interception “Paga” for Joshua

Moses commanded Joshua to fight back against the Amalek and told him to chose some choice fighters to do the job. Moses then proceeded to the top of one of the hills to perform one of the most dramatic demonstrations of intercession, “Paga” interception that the Bible mentions in the book of Job. 

He raised his arm upwards clearly calling on God of the heavens. Every time his arms stayed upwards, Joshua and his troops were winning. This kind of power transfer is mentioned in Job 36:32(GNT) “He seizes the lightning with his hands and commands it to hit the mark.”

Aaron and Hur assisted Moses in seizing this power and then transferring it to Joshua and his troops on the battle ground. It’s like the modern day taser that the police carry with an invisible electric jolt that disables anyone when it hits the mark. 

Exodus 17:10-13, 15 NLT

“So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.

Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”).”

In the continuation of this series we will explore other examples of prayer and intercession and the empowering position of the Holy Spirit in our prayer life. By the end of the series, the reader should be able to start Praying With Impact.

Pray this prayer below.

Impact Prayer

Father in the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, I thank for trusting me with such incredible power. The power that intercedes for others the same way Jesus and the disciples did. I thank you that the eyes of my spiritual understanding are being opened to these truths that are in your Word.

From today on, I keep my spirit open to your guidance in prayer, to be sensitive to the needs of others. I thank you that without hesitation you are enabling and anointing me to intercede in prayer. In the Name of Jesus,  Amen!

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