Freelance intercession

Freelance intercession

Intercession is the act of praying to God on behalf of another person.

I don’t think any of us have any problems with praying for things we want. It’s very natural to care exquisitely about our own small world interests. All you need is a little faith and a few wants and powerful motivations develop to nag God until he eventually relents. After all; even the unjust judge gave in to the widows supplications for no other reason than that she might not wear him out with her asking (Luke 18:1-8).

It’s also easy to understand the idea of praying with another about their wants or needs – perhaps we can call it “commissioned intercession”. Maybe we reason, banding together makes for a more persuasive argument.

Now “commissioned intercession” might be effective if the person has invited you to pray but what if they haven’t? What if we take it upon ourselves to ask God to intervene in someone’s life without their knowledge and/or express permission; call it “freelance intercession”? Surely, in the interests of preserving free will God would respond to our prayers with “great idea, but my hands are tied”. Isn’t it true that God set up the world with all its antecedent problems such that we can choose him or otherwise? Isn’t that the whole point? If we pray “God, let it be that he comes to know you” what possible power can such a prayer have? Do we imagine that God would conspire then to set up circumstances to trigger a salvation event or perhaps shine his “light” in such a way that a person has little choice to respond in the affirmative? Because if we do this begs the question, why would he wait for us to pray? Doesn’t he love everyone and desire to be in relationship with all? Should this be so, presumably he’s actively engaging all of us in some kind of dialogue or did until we told him to “get out of our face”.

So “freelance intercession”; how could it possibly make a difference in another’s life?

First, let’s set the scene. The world, according to Jesus, actually belongs to Satan.

I John 5:19

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

This all goes back to the time of the great choice (original sin) where even the physical world was infected and corrupted by the disobedience of man (Genesis 3:16-19). This is mankind’s pitiful legacy and we all live in its shadow.

Second, we are in a spiritual battle whether we are aware of it or not.

Ephesians 6:11-13

11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Third, we are given all that we need to avoid being ensnared. Take courage from the fact that by simply resisting the devil he will flee from you (James 4:7). Or remember the 72 that Jesus commissioned and sent out ahead of him two-by-two “like lambs amongst wolves”.

Luke 10:17-20

17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." 18He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Satan is a master tactician and uses many strategies to distract candidates for eternity from the truth. All of these we can counter through faithful prayer.

Did you get all that; 1. the world belongs to Satan and 2. whether we acknowledge it or not we are engaged in a spiritual battle 3. but it is a battle we can win.

Now for the argument:

The bible frequently calls us to intercede physically in others’ lives when we see injustice or poverty or hunger or thirst etc. In fact we are told that by giving food to the hungry or water to the thirsty, says Jesus “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mathew 25:31-46). To God, the practical counts as spiritual devotion.

It should not surprise us then that in the same way we are directed to care for one another practically we are called to do so spiritually. In the same way we are able to affect positive change in another’s life practically we are able to affect positive change spiritually.

For our benefit God chooses to act through us for the betterment of the world. So the sake of our personal/spiritual growth, God wants us to experience the privilege and the lessons of acting in his behalf.

Remember the Lord’s prayer:

Mathew 6:9-15

9"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.[a]' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Notice this detail, “…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”. Jesus suggests that when we pray we should ask that God’s kingdom come into the world and that God’s will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.

Jesus says a great deal about the “kingdom” and we sense its presence around us. God is sovereign in this Kingdom and the extent to which his Kingdom has come is the extent to which the world is subjugated to God’s will. If Satan does indeed have control of the world as Jesus says, then the coming of God’s kingdom on earth weakens Satan’s control and frustrates his plans.

When we pray for others, when we agree to stand for the interests of the oppressed, when we care enough to feed the hungry we engage in a spiritual battle. And God gives us a power to enact real positive change in the world.

Mathew18:18-20

18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be[d]bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven and in heaven (though prayer) is bound of earth.

The practical and the spiritual are always intertwined. Only faith expressed as action counts. Jesus’ crucifixion produces our redemption. The original sin corrupts not just the sinner but the land as well (which gives forth thistles). Jesus’ commissioning of the 72 allowed them to drive out demons (spiritual) and protected them from snakes and scorpions (practical).

So let’s return to my original question, “freelance intercession”; how could it possibly make a difference in another’s life?

Satan actively poisons the world.

John 10:10

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Satan blinds unbelievers from clearly seeing Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:4

4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

When we intercede in prayer on another’s behalf we stand against any plans Satan’s has for that person. By interceding we can restore sight to the spiritually blind. By taking any initiative in faith in the interests of another we establish something more of God’s kingdom on earth. Jesus gives us authority over the physical and spiritual realms. You have authority to pray on another’s behalf in doing so provide protection and create a haven for them to see Jesus clearly. It’s still their choice, but it’s a choice not a foregone conclusion.

We don’t often exercise this authority because 1. we don’t believe we have it 2. we don’t care enough about others to bother.

So my challenge to you is recognize that you have an important role to play in others’ lives. That you can bring to bear great affect in others’ lives. That practically and in pray, through faith, you can intercede and in so doing extend God’s kingdom in the world.

1 Timothy 2:1-4

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

So care enough to pray and believe that God will accomplish in the spiritual realm what you hope for in the physical realm. Satan will be cast down from heaven “like lightening” from the spiritual to the physical. And remember…

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.