Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man .... that should stand in the gap before Me for the land that I should not destroy it but I found none.
INTRODUCTION
According to Webster, intercede means to act between two parties with a view to reconcile those who differ or contend. In the same light, mediate means to negotiate between persons at variance with a view to reconciliation, bringing peace between two sworn enemies. 2 Corinthians 5:18c "...and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation."
Intercessory prayer therefore, is that aspect of prayer which invokes God's mercy and grace on behalf of others. It is pleading in the court of heaven on behalf of the perishing for God to tamper justice with mercy and save their souls from hell. In the court of law, lawyers are interceeding for their clients everyday, trying to persuade the judge with a view to secure the freedom of a suspected offender.
God seeks intercessors. Millions of souls are perishing, millions are living in darkness, millions pass into the outer darkness without hope. Millions bear the Christian name, but majority of them live in utter powerlessness and hopelessness. Churches labor with little result. All these awful conditions are waiting to be changed for good through intercession. There is a God in heaven, with His all-sufficient supply for these needs, waiting to be asked. But who will step up and ask, and keep on asking, until there is mighty release of showers of blessings.
EXAMPLE OF INTERCESSORS
Moses Interceded for Israel - Exodus 32:29-30. Moses urgently prayed for God to have mercy on His people when they sinned against God, he pleaded with God for forty days and forty nights. His concerns was so intense for them that his physical appetites were taken away. "Now therefore, let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, that I may consume them; and I will make of thee a great nation" - Exodus 32:10. v31 - And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou has written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold mine Angel shall go before thee. -Exodus 32:31-34
Moses Interceded for Miriam - Number 12:9-14
Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron his brother had spoken negatively about Moses at his back. "And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? and the Lord heard it." Numbers 12:1-2
Because of her sin, God smote her with leprosy. But Moses made tender and earnest intercession for his sister who had so maliciously spoken against him. His prayer was answered and God healed her of the incurable disease.
Moses Interceded for Pharaoh - Exodus 8:12-13
Four times Pharaoh solicited the prayers of Moses for relief from the fearful blow of God's wrath. "Entreat the Lord "- Exodus 8:8 begged Pharaoh while loathsome frogs were upon him. "And Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses - Exodus 8:12-13
Daniel Interceded for Israel - Daniel 9-3:23
Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments
Nehemiah Interceded for Israel - Nehemiah 1:5-6
5 And I said "I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments."
6 Please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned.
Jesus Interceded for Peter - Luke 22:31
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
Satan had desired to destroy Peter and he was ignorant of it, but the all seeing eyes of Jesus has seen the diabolical plans of the enemy against Peter and prayed and stopped it, what an awesome example for us to pray for each other.
God longs to pour out larger blessings on individual and nations. He longs to pour out His Spirit on all flesh. He longs to see sinners saved. He seeks intercessors in larger number, in greater power, to prepare the way of the Lord for this long awaited outpouring.
Intercede for Lost Souls
Intercede for the salvation of the perishing souls - 1 Tim 2:1
"I Exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty"
Intercede for our nation and nations of the world - II Chron 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Intercede for Leaders of our nation and nations around the globe. Intercede for church and its leaders. Daniel interceded for Israel - Daniel 9:1-20
Intercede for believers - Eph 3:19 14 "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.:
