By the time the book of first Timothy was written the original apostles and leaders of the church were dying off. Many of them were martyred for the cause of Christ. It was important that the Body of Christ retain its original purpose and function. Among those practices unique to the church was to intercede in prayer for the saved and the unsaved, those low or those in high society, those they knew well and those they did not know it all. When the church meets, it is to imitate the love of Christ. It is to offer prayers that sustain what the world cannot even produce. The prayer of intercession returns back and blesses the one praying for others.
God was the first to intercede. Look at the Scriptures that indicate this. Isaiah 53:12 prophesied about Christ and his ministry. Long, long before Jesus was born Scripture in the Old Testament foretold him to have the love and care for others. Then in Genesis 3:15 God planned for Jesus to be God’s extension addressing man’s need for salvation. Paul discuses the early prediction of Jesus in Romans 8: 34. When Jesus hung on the cross, he made intercession for his enemies saying that they did not know what they were doing. (Luke 23:34) We are safe in the arms of Christ because our salvation is secure in him according to Hebrews 7:25. The Holy Spirit also makes intercession for us as reported in Romans 8:26,27.
Modeling after the example of Jesus, we are exhorted to make intercession for others. This demonstrates our relationship with God as our friend as well as our Savior that we want to share with others. When we intercede with God for someone else’s need, it recognizes God supreme rule over the world. It also releases his authority over the problems and needs of every one of us. When we intercede for those in our private world, we are taking action in their behalf for those who may not even realize their own need, especially for salvation. In addition, when we pray for others, we are doing so for those who may not be able to seek help out of their own ignorance or inability. Also, as we pray for others we are doing so for those who may not even want what should be and for their needs to have what would facilitate their spiritual, physical, and emotional situation.
Our intercession as dedicated Christians is a fulfillment of Scripture that Jesus authorized for us to bind or lose on earth or heaven.(Matthew 18:18) When we pray for others, we are doing so to address human behavior for what is good, for what is the best result, for what is the best outcome according to God’s will. Our intercession for others is most important when it leads them to salvation and forgiveness. We are offering them a quiet and peaceful life no matter what circumstances they are experiencing. When you pray, realize that you are following the example of Jesus. You are expressing concern for those in great need. Sometimes they don’t even know what to pray. But our intercession is a result of the tender and burdened heart for the world.
Christian Writer 