Unpacking
Prayer
Part 21: Intercession in the
Bible
Is intercession a type of
prayer that is different than
others?
1 Timothy 2:1-4
Therefore I exhort first of all that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who
are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For
this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth.
enteuxis
(έντεύξις)
Intercession in the Bible
Intercession in the Old Testament
- Moses (Exodus 32): stands between God
and the people and pleads for them.
- Nehemiah (Neh. 1): identifies with the sins
of God’s people and pleads for mercy.
- Daniel (Dan. 9): claims the promises of God
according to His word and prays for their
fulfillment.
Intercession in the New Testament
- Verb form in the Greek:
Intercede = entugkano (έντυγχάνω), to light
upon, to fall in with, to meet with on behalf
of another whether in favour or opposition.
- Acts 25:24 (an example of opposition)
Acts 25:23-25
So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice
had come with great pomp, and had entered the
auditorium with the commanders and the prominent
men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was
brought in. And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all
the men who are here present with us, you see this
man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews
petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying
out that he was not fit to live any longer. But when
I found that he had committed nothing deserving of
death, and that he himself had appealed to
Augustus, I decided to send him.”
Intercession in the New Testament
- Verb form in the Greek:
Intercede = entugkano (έντυγχάνω), to light
upon, to fall in with, to meet with on behalf
of another whether in favour or opposition.
- Acts 25:24 (an example of opposition)
- Romans 8:26-27 and 8:31-38 (it is the nature of
God to intercede on the behalf of others)
Romans 8:26-27
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our
weaknesses. For we do not know what we should
pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows
makes
what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes
intercession for the saints according to the will of
God.
Romans 8:31-38
What then shall we say to these things? If God
is for us, who can be against us? He who did not
spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all
things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?
It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It
is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who
is even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? As it is written:
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am
persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor
things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other
created thing, shall be able to separate us from the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Intercession in the New Testament
- Verb form in the Greek:
Intercede = entugkano (έντυγχάνω), to light
upon, to fall in with, to meet with on behalf
of another whether in favour or opposition.
- Acts 25:24 (an example of opposition)
- Romans 8:26-27 and 8:31-38 (it is the nature of
God to intercede on the behalf of others)
- Hebrews 7:24-25 (it is the ministry of Christ as our
High Priest to intercede for us continually)
Hebrews 7:24-25
But He, because He continues forever, has
an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also
able to save to the uttermost those who come to
God through Him, since He always lives to make
intercession for them.
Intercession in the New Testament
- Verb form in the Greek:
Intercede = entugkano (έντυγχάνω), to light
upon, to fall in with, to meet with on behalf
of another whether in favour or opposition.
- Acts 25:24 (an example of opposition)
- Romans 8:26-27 and 8:31-38 (it is the nature of
God to intercede on the behalf of others)
- Hebrews 7:24-25 (it is the ministry of Christ as our
High Priest to intercede for us continually)
Intercession is
prayer that involves
the prayer for
anyone or anything
other than yourself.
Do you pray?
Do you pray for your own needs?
Do you pray for the needs of others?
Do you pray for world events?
Next week:
Intercessory Prayer