The Power of Intercession: Jesus “seeing their faith..”
Also known as standing in the gap for others
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| As for the paralytic, Jesus will reach from the lowest depth when we intercede |
Do not underestimate the Power of Intercession within you. Jesus, our role model for intercession, had to die and get to the lowest point of life, the grave , to intercede for us. Jesus conquered death from underneath and rose again and we should never forget how low he got for us to obtain salvation. Likewise we also have to identify with the one we’re interceding for. An example is Daniel 9 when he interceded for Israel. He identified himself as part of the problem rather than pointing the finger. He said
“But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land. “Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you.”
Daniel 9:5-7 NLT
Daniel 9:5-7 NLT
The Bible says that Jesus continues to intercede or stand in the gap for us seated on the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34 ). Many times we forget how dependent we are on his mercy especially when all is going well. We all get to that point where we need to call on him and if we haven’t, we will. Such a time as when a person close to us needs some kind of Divine intervention. When all that is humanly possible has failed, usually triggers a need for intercession. It could be a family situation or a friend or even nation. Powerful and effective intercession requires empathy and identification with those you are praying for. That is Praying With Impact!
God honors our intercession and many examples are given in the Bible, we shall look at several in this article. In one incidence we see the importance of the faith of those interceding as an important connection to Jesus and the healing of the subject. The proceeding miracle resulted from Jesus "...seeing THEIR faith..."
Jesus meets with us from under our low point
Typically we lift our hands upwards or clasp them together to worship or petition God as we pray. But at times when we or the ones we love are really down and low, we find Jesus already lower than us or our situation “lifting” his open arms to receive us with our object of intercession or petition such as seen in the case of the paralyzed man in Mark 2:3-5. They had to lower the sick man from the roof to Jesus below them. Symbolically, that’s how it is many times spiritually. We are so low down and could not imagine going lower and if we do, we feel finished or done with. Be encouraged that Jesus is down under waiting to receive you or your loved one.
An interesting point to note here is that Jesus first cleared the consciousness of guilt by forgiving the paralytic’s sins before healing him. One of the hinderances to Divine healing, is the sense of guilt we may have especially if it relates to the cause of the illness. Satan knows and plays with our minds over it. Jesus showed us here that the guilty and ‘guiltless’ are on same ground and the Grace of healing is just as unmerited as the Grace for forgiveness of our sins unto salvation. Grace is not due to anyone’s works or goodness that any of us should boast and likewise his healing power is for everyone. He forgave the sin and then he proceeded to restore health.
Furthermore, Jesus did all this in response to the actions of the "third party” (friends) interceding for the afflicted man. When we intercede, the person we’re standing in the gap for, need not have to directly interact with Jesus. We can, and therefore should continue to pray for family, friends and nation because God gives attention to the heart of the intercessor (1Peter 3:12)
The friends of this man had the faith to intercede for him despite the immediate difficulty of trying to reach Jesus. The friends dismantled a whole roof to get the sick man to the healer. From the story, we don’t know what relationship they had with the house owner or if they paid to be allowed to dismantle the house. Intercession for others many times calls on the intercessor to carry an extra burden for those they pray for and it may be costly, financially, time wise and spiritually. The ones you are praying for may not even be in position to join your prayer. Your love for them conquers all nuances and sets up the spiritual realm for powerful results.
Here we see faith mixed with unselfish love that moved Jesus to compassion that he went an extra step of forgiving the paralytic’s sins as well, the man was made whole
Mark 2:3-5, 11 NLT
“four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!
Intercession requires selfless love
In another act of unselfish service Moses interceded for his people despite the fact that God was willing to make him great without them. Such selfless faith and intercession for others draws out God’s compassion and power because it’s a human expression of God’s Grace, the undeserved favor
Exodus 32:9-14 NLT
“Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.” But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’” So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.”
In Intercession, God is no respecter of persons
Intercession will cause Jesus to cross boundaries that we normally do not anticipate.
Jesus’ healing power is for all humanity, not just a few. A gentile woman endured Jesus’ on the spot testing of her determination to intercede despite her position of being an outsider, a Gentile. Jesus will accept intercession from those we regard as outsiders of our faith when they show great faith in him. Jesus does not discriminate and is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34 )
Matthew 15:21-28 NLT
“Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.”
All that call on the Name of Jesus in faith will be helped
God promises that all that call on the name of Jesus, shall be saved. Though a gentile, Jesus honored the centurion’s petition and commended his faith. He also showed that we cannot take his gifts for granted and he will give to those who have the faith that believes and trusts even from those we may consider as “outsiders” of the faith.
Matthew 8:5-13
“When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.”
Impact Prayer
Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus your Son I come to you with praise and thanksgiving. I am grateful for your overwhelming Grace and love for all who call on you. I am thankful that you are ready to receive my prayers of intercession for others and for burdens and situations even on a national or world level. It may be after a calamity, or for the persecuted, or for the sick. It maybe a domestic home issue. Father I have learned from your Word that your ear is attentive to me and that you are able to receive me even in the lowest dungeons of life.
Lord may you now intercede to cause change, in Jesus’ Name
Amen
