1 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV
“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.”
INSIGHT
-Intercession in Hebrew is written as ‘paga’ and it means an action of intervening in prayer on behalf of another. Intercession is a type of prayer just like supplication. The Lord calls us to intercede for those who He has placed in positions of authority. Thus, we have an obligation to pray for our leaders in our families, at our work places, our county and national leaders; our clergy and church leaders, and all leaders. The Lord values intercession as a key thing for those in authority to function well and the leadership of the Lord will be instilled to all our leaders. Before complaining about what has been done and what has been omitted, we are required to intercede. Let us therefore be encouraged in the Lord to follow His Word of God revealed to us.
PRAYER
Dear Almighty Father, we thank You for all You have done unto us. You have been a faithful Father and our Great Leader. We cannot count or even be able to number all the blessings and all the wonders You have done in our lives. We can only say thank You Lord. Father, we repent for the many times we have not heeded Your instruction. The many times we have not prayed for our leaders and those In authority. We repent in behalf of our leaders that You may forgive us. Father may You forgive us and wash us with Your precious blood. May You purify and sanctify us from all sin and iniquity. May You fill all leaders with Your wisdom that they may hearken to Your voice. Today we surrender to Your will and to Your Word. We commit all the leaders unto Your able hands, that You will guide them with Your eye, and lead them by Your right hand. May You lead through them and may You use them to establish Your will here on earth as it is in Heaven. Father, we intercede for all men that You shall visit us and remember all those who are in need for You are our Jehovah Jireh. May You impart in us the Spirit of prayer and intercession that we may intercede and not faint. We bless Your name and exalt You Lord. You are worthy of our praise, honor and adoration. We thank You for we believe You have heard us. We pray this in the name of the Father, the Son Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Further reading: Proverbs 21:1
Exodus 32:11-14 NKJV
“Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.”
INSIGHT
-Moses interceded for the people whom God put under him. When the people sinned against God and worshipped the golden calf they had created, God’s anger arose. Moses reminded God of His mercy, and repented on behalf of the people. He asked God to turn away His wrath from the people. God answered and relented from the harm He had intended to bring to His people. As leaders we learn from this, to stand in the gap for those we lead. To go into the presence of God in repentance on behalf of our people whom we lead and make intercession and supplication for them. Truly just as God heard the prayers of Moses, He shall hear the leaders prayers. Joshua son of Nun also interceded for the people God had made him leader over. In Joshua 7:6-9, he tore his clothes and asked God to remember His great name that His people will not be wiped off from the face of the earth by the Amalekites and the Canaanites. All leaders should learn to take up the burdens of the people whom we are leading and present the to God. Also to refer to God’s Word on behalf of His people. This will enable leaders to lead effectively in the Lord and bring God’s will onto His people, for the glory and honor of His name.
PRAYER
Lord You are Holy, You are Righteous, You are our Lord in who we trust. Some trust in idols, but we trust in You Lord our God. May You show Yourself strong and glorify Your name in our lives, families, churches and nation. May Your name be exulted in all the heavens and the earth. May Your purposes come to pass on earth as it is in heaven. May You forgive us all our trespasses, those of our families, communities and all people. I pray that Your people may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that they may approve the things that are excellent. That they may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Amen
Further reading: James 5:19-20, Philippians 1:9-11
Job 1:5 NIV
“When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.”
INSIGHT
-Job regularly prayed for his children lest they sinned against God. Interceding and repentance for our children is vital and should not be overlooked. Some among us find joy in joining their children with the ancestral spirits through offering libations etc. In contrast, Hannah offered Samuel to the temple as a young boy, and he served God all his life. Like Job, we discover the importance of interceding for our children and other family members. When we pray for our families, God takes away every accusation against us and our families and puts a hedge of fire of protection around us all. Job was a man who God considered righteous, and He boasted about him to the enemy. This brings us to the question; can God boast about you? Can you repent and intercede on behalf of your family members? Job knew the power of intercession, and when he prayed for his friends, he was restored double what he had lost (Job 42:10). Let us therefore pray for all our families and friends, and trust God for their forgiveness of sins, for the knowledge of Christ to come into their heart and His will to be accomplished in our lives.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father we come to You with humility in our hearts. We come with sincere repentance for we have sinned and fallen short of Your glory dear Lord Jesus. May You forgive us, our children, family members and all our relatives and wash us with Your precious blood. May You cleanse our family trees with Your precious blood and remove every accusation against us in the courts of heavens, our Righteous Judge. May You order our steps and take delight in our ways. We believe that even though we fall we will not be cast down for You Lord Almighty uphold us with Your hand. May You bless our children and our family member and give them the gift of salvation. May Your grace abound upon us and bless us in every sphere of our lives. Children are gifts from You Lord and a reward from You. May You bless all our children and elevate them from one glory to the next. May You dear Lord Jesus grant our leaders wisdom as they deliberate on issues at the climate summit. May Your will prevail about all else Jehovah God. We worship You and give You praise. In Jesus mighty name we pray trusting and believing. Amen
Further reading: Joshua 24:3, Job 42:12-15
Romans 15:30-32 NKJV
“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.”
INSIGHT
-Those who are called to minister God’s word to others often pray for their brethren. Paul realized and reveals the value of the prayers from his fellow believers. He saw prayers from the eye view of effectiveness in ministry. Paul also requested for prayers when he was locked up in chains, that he may find boldness to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:19-20). Ministers of the word of God are faced with diverse challenges as they adhere to see people transform by the grace of God. It is paramount that we pray for our pastors, teachers, bishops, apostles, prophets, and all other ministers of God’s word.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus we thank You for this new day. We praise Your name and honor You for there is none like You. You are our God and Savior, we bless Your holy name. You are our good Shepherd and Shield, we honor You our Lord and Master. You are the same yesterday, today and forever. You are God Almighty Father. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords, all glory and praise belong to You. We place all pastors, teachers, bishops, apostles, prophets unto Your able hands. May You anoint them afresh and grant them new strength to serve You better. May You bless them and grant them the wisdom and grace to keep preaching Your true word and to practice what they preach. May You guide them in territories that they should go and fight for them in every battle. May You deliver all ministers all over the world when they face persecution. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Philippians 1:12-26, Ephesians 4:11-16
Romans 8:26-27 NKJV
“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 what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
INSIGHT
-The Holy Spirit our Helper intercedes for us when we are weak, when we do not know what to pray or how to pray or lack the strength to pray. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. Jesus Christ also makes intercession for us, and none can separate us from His love (Romans 8:34-35).
SUMMARY
Intercede in Hebrew is written as palal which means to intervene, interpose, pray or mediate. Intercession benefits both the person(s) praying and the one(s) being prayed for. Although we do not intercede to personally benefit from our prayers. We intercede with pure hearts filled with care and love and the by-product is sincere compassion and desire for God’s blessings in our lives is that we are blessed as well. For instance; we see Job who regularly prayed for his children lest they had sinned against God or cursed Him (Job 1:5). Job also interceded for his friends and the Lord restored him double what he had before (Job 42:10). Intercession should also be made for all those who are in authority, for kings and all men that they may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Paul also begged his fellow brethren to pray for him since he was a servant of God in chains, that he might be refreshed together with them and gain new strength to continue in ministry (Romans 15:30-32). Leaders should also pray for the people. When the Israelites made a golden calf and and worshipped it, the Lord’s anger rose against them and planned to harm them. Moses interceded for the people and consequently they were spared from looming calamity (Exodus 32:11-14).
PRAYER
Holy Spirit we love You. May You intercede for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we love You, thank You for loving us first. Thank You for offering Yourself as a sacrifice once and for all for the attornment of our sins. Thank You for allowing us to become co-heirs with You. Thank You for loving us and choosing as Your royal priesthood, a holy nation and Your special people. May You ignite the fire of intercession in our hearts. May You grant us the grace to pray fervently for the prayer of the righteous man avails much. May You bless us Lord and keep us. May You shine Your face towards us and be gracious unto us. May You shine Your countenance unto us and grant us peace. Amen
Further reading: Hebrews 7:22-25