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By Rev. Michael Simpson
Here we reprint an article from the Goodnews of many years ago. “I chose it because it still seems so fresh and practical for the guidance of prayer groups and individuals alike” - Michelle Moran |
Prayer
of Intercession|
Prayer of intercession is to bear the burden of God for our world. When God looks at the world and sees so many whose lives are broken, wounded, lost in sin, God grieves over us. For God’s longing is for all people to turn to Him, to receive His love, to come into the fulness of the life He longs to share with them. Those who are truly in touch with God know this grief and this burden in their own hearts. When Jesus lived on earth he bore the burden of his Father for the world. Before he ever prayed in intercession he lived a life of intercession. To live in intercession is to enter into the place of the poor, the lost, the broken and to BE the presence which brings healing and life. Jesus “emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as all men are” (Philippians 2,7). He took the brokenness of the world upon himself. ‘During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears . . . and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard’ (Hebrews 5,7). Called to live lives of intercession A well-known song of the St Louis Jesuits has the line; ‘I will hold your people in my heart.’ This is prayer of intercession. It is not simply to offer petitions to God - though this is good as it expresses our trust in God and his loving providence in our lives - but it is to hold in our hearts the needs of the people and situations in the world around us and there to enfold them in God’s love. Like Jesus we are called to live lives of intercession. We have to be with the poor and the lost and the broken and to BE the presence of Christ for them which brings healing and life. Our hearts: A meeting place The standpoint of intercessory prayer is one of faith. We know that however broken or wounded or captive our world may be Jesus, through his death and resurrection, has reconciled the world to his Father (2 Corinthians 5,18) and done all that is necessary for the full liberation and healing of all people. Jesus has overcome the world (John 16,33) and reigns in victory (Revelation 4 and 5). In intercessory prayer we take our standpoint in faith with the risen Christ. Our hearts become the meeting place, the point of contact, between the pain and darkness of our world and the life and victory of the risen Saviour. When we come to intercede we do not simply bring our own needs and concerns before God. Rather we pray, ‘Lord, place your burden for intercession within my heart.’ And if we pray in the Spirit, perhaps using the gift of tongues, God will do that: he will show us what he would have us pray for. Jesus continues to intercede While on earth Jesus often prayed in intercession (cf. for example, Luke 22,32; John 11:4l-42; John 17:9-26; perhaps, above all, in his agony in the Garden). Now, risen with his Father, he continues to intercede for us: ‘his power to save is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him’ (Hebrews 7,25) When we pray for the needs of others we need to pray for what God desires for them. God’s desire for his people is that (a) they should repent and be converted to him; (b) they should come to know Jesus and yield their lives to him; (c) they should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be vessels of his life for others. If we pray for these then whatever other needs they may have God will also meet in his own way: ‘Set your hearts on his kingdom first. . . and all these other things will be given you as well’ (Matthew 6,33). This is true for others as well as for ourselves. Steps to effective prayer How to enter into prayer of intercession? A number of steps are helpful in leading into effective prayer. (These have been brought out through the experience of the Lydia Fellowship and others). We need firstly to repent ourselves in order that we have a pure conscience before God. For without this we could not be channels of divine life for others. Then we need to pray in faith for the energy and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Effective prayer is always the prayer the Spirit prays in us and through us. We must let go We must then let go of our own desires or needs or concerns for prayer: what we feel we should pray for. We ask God to place his burden for prayer within our spirit. We then praise God for what he will do through our prayer. It is important that we have an expectant faith really to believe that God will work powerfully through his Spirit during the time of intercession. We take the authority of Christ to protect us against any influence of powers of evil. For deep intercession engages us in spiritual warfare for which we need to put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6,11-20). Sometimes during such prayer powers of evil manifest themselves and some situations need to be delivered from demonic captivity. This can only be done through the power and authority of Christ. Silence We then wait in silence - or perhaps with a quiet praying in tongues - for God to prompt us with his burden for our time of intercession. This may come through a prophetic word or vision or through an inner conviction in the heart. This is where it is very helpful for a small group, say of three or four, to enter into a ministry of intercession together. Then the prompting of one can be discerned and confirmed by the others. When we do have some clear awareness of the person(s) or situation(s) for which God would have us pray we hold this need in our heart before God. We try to be sensitive to the guidance of the Spirit. Sometimes the Spirit will move us to pray in tongues, sometimes with deep groans and tears, sometimes in silent entreaty. Sometimes a word of Scripture or a prophetic word will guide our prayer. At times a prayer of deliverance will be needed. God moves in different ways It is difficult to describe what takes place during this time of deep intercession: it is like prayer for inner healing. God can move in many different ways according to his wisdom and the need of the situation. We have simply to be open to allow the Spirit to lead us. And the Spirit will accomplish God’s purpose beyond all the limitations of our own understanding. When the burden is released within our hearts then we know that God’s purpose is fulfilled, at least for the present time. We end by thanking and praising God for what he has done. For everything that happens through intercessory prayer is God’s work. But in his loving providence he calls us to be his intercessors: to be the ones through whom he directs his healing, saving power upon the needs of our world. Charism of intercession All at times will be led into intercessory prayer.
But some are called by God to a special ministry of intercession. These
will be gifted by God with all the charisms needed for this ministry.
This is a work of loving service which calls for great generosity of
heart and a dying to oneself. For it takes us into the heart of God
and in these critical days will be the means whereby God’s salvation
will come to many people who are caught in the turmoil and destruction
of our time. Who knows what God can do through even one faithful person
willing to intercede before him? May our hearts be ready to respond
to the urgency of God’s loving call.
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