Let’s chat a little bit about intercession.

Some parts of the church have been taught and have begun to believe that intercession is a specialised part of prayer. They believe that intercessors are people who have been called to a special ministry; they are anointed to be “intercessors” in an office called “intercession”. They are the specialists who dig into the unseen realm to find out what’s going on there.

When crises arise in the family, church, or country, we must call in the “intercessors” to deal with the situation. They will discern and “pray against” the evil spirits causing the problem. They will “take authority” over principalities and powers and command them to leave “in Jesus’ name”. They will pull down their strongholds and and take them captive to obey Jesus!

How Biblical is this teaching and practice? Is intercession a separate office or function in the church, together with apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers?

First, nowhere in the New Testament, not even in Paul’s masterful description of the way the church functions, in Ephesians 4, are intercessors part of Jesus’ gifts to the church.

Ephesians 4:11 NLT
[11] “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.”

This group of people Jesus “gifted” to the church are to train the members of the church to use their spiritual gifts for the good of all.
They all work together to move the church as a whole towards spiritual maturity.

Ephesians 4:12-13 NLT
[12] “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. [13] This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

Instead of an office or spiritual gift, intercession is listed as an integral part of the “all kinds of prayer” that Paul urges all believers to pray.

Ephesians 6:18 NIV
[18] “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Paul specifies to Timothy some of the “all kinds of prayer” he is to pray for all people…

1 Timothy 2:1 NIV
[1]” I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people… “

It seems, then, that prayer is the general description of our interaction with God, and “all kinds of prayer” the various ways and purposes for which we engage with the Father.

What is intercession, and who are the intercessors?

An intercessor is one whose specific function is to act as a mediator or go-between, between God and people, to stand in the gap and represent people to God.

A true intercessor must have access to the Father as well as to those he represents. He must understand both parties he represents. He must make a valid case for the one he represents. He must seek God’s favour on behalf of those he represents.

There are examples in Scripture of people standing in the gap for others before God. In fact God is looking for those who will comply but…in Israel’s case,

Ezekiel 22:30 NLT
[30] “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.”

Sadly, God was obliged to judge Israel because there was no one fit for the task of interceding for them.

Who, then, are the intercessors God has appointed to represent us before Him?

Only two in all of Scripture qualify, Jesus for us and the Holy Spirit in us.

Jesus qualifies to intercede for us because He will never die again. Unlike the earthly high priests in Israel’s religious syistem, Jesus is our eternal intercessor.

Hebrews 7:23-25 NLT
[23]” There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. [24] But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. [25] Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”

Jesus qualifies to represent us to the Father because He is one of us.
He came to earth as a true human, born of a woman and born to live and die under God’s law to free us from its curse.

Galatians 3:10 NIV
[10]” For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Galatians 3:13 NIV
[13]”Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

Jesus experienced life just as we do.

Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV
[14]”Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. [16] Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Jesus qualifies as our intercessor because He shed His blood for us.

Jesus is qualified to intercede for us because He presents His own blood to the Father as an atoning sacrifice for sin.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 NLT
[5] “For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. [6] He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”

The Holy Spirit intercedes in us because He takes our bungled prayers and reinterprets them to the Father. He helps to us understand and regulate our walk in righteousness on earth.

Romans 8:26-27 NIV
[26″In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. [27] And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

Can you see, then, that Jesus and the Spirit are the only ones who hold the office of intercessor. This is their ministry on behalf of humans who would otherwise have no right to approach the Father. Jesus stands before God for us; the Holy Spirit represents us to God because He is in us.

All of our “intercession” is part of the “all kinds of prayer” we are to pray as partners with God in His work of perfecting His saints for their role in glory.

How important it is for all God’s people to play our part according the Word and not, first, addiing to Scripture what is not there and, second, wasting time and energy in useless rituals that achieve nothing instead of encouraging all God’s children to partner with Him in managing the earth as He decreed.

Through prayer, we commune with the Father, we speak, He speaks, we learn to discern His will, and we partner with Him, again, through prayer, in His, work of administering His kingdom on earth.