Intercession is the kind of prayer that is done on behalf of others. In the Old Testament for example, we see the prophets always making intercession for the sins of Israel. A good example were Elias and Isaiah. Isaiah interceded many times for Israel:
“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa 53:12)
God often hears the prayers of intercession. He likes those prayers for these kinds of prayers are done on behalf of others and their situation. When we pray, we usually pray for ourselves. We all have our needs and we all have to pray for these to be fulfilled to God. Nevertheless, we also have to pray for others. Even though this kind of prayer may not be on your priority list, it is imperative that you make time, whilst you are praying to God, to pray for others As Christians we are servants of the most High God. As a servant, you must render service for the benefit of others. This is done through intercession.
Some people are called to intercede in prayer for others. This kind of intercession is an office, called the office of intercession. God lays a heavy burden of intercession on these people’s hearts. A famous intercessor was Howard Reece. I recommend you to read his biography, for it will open your eyes as to the importance of intercession. God worked wonderful miracles through the intercession of this man. Intercession is very important, dear brothers and sisters. The well-being of your country may depend upon it! Modern intercessors for example are Cindy Jacobs and others.
You too have a intercessor in the person of the Holy Spirit. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”(Rom 8:26). The Holy Spirit helps us to pray. Often enough when we pray we pray about our needs and when we have prayed about them, we do not know what else to pray for. Sometimes we even do not know how to pray for our own needs. This is where the Holy Spirit steps in to help you pray in such a manner that God will hear your prayers. Isn’t that wonderful?
“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:27).
Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit makes the intercession according to the will of God. The Holy Spirit as you know is part of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and the Holy Spirit). Therefore you may assume that the Holy Spirit knows the will of God. He knows it and knows how to pray according to His will. It is therefore a great blessing that we can count on Him to assess and help us by interceding with us in our prayers.
However, and I do not say this lightly. God will not hear your prayers of intercession if you harbor any sin which is not confessed nor repented off. Neither will he hear the prayers of intercession made on behalf of a wicked church. I am sorry to say that nowadays we see more and more churches whose only aim is to make money. They do not care about their flock at all. Often enough their church leaders live in open sin. God will not hear prayers prayed on behalf of such a church or such a leader:
“Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. (Jer 7:11-16)
You may now ask yourself if God answers any kind of intercessory prayer. He does! Many intercessors who pray for the benefit of their country, openly repent of the sins of their country. You see, interceding often enough means to stand in the place of. These kind of people confess the sins of their country as theirs, and in this way God will hear the prayers. The same goes for a church where sin is rampant. If only one would stand up and confess on behalf of that church the sins of that church, God will start to hear those prayers of intercession again. A good example is Daniel, who confessed the sins of Israel (Dan. 9:20) and received an answer from God. Daniel was seeking God to obtain revelation about their captivity. Daniel had a heart for his people. He wanted them free from their captivity in Babylon, but he also knew that in order for God to hear him regarding Israel, he had to confess their sins first.
The same goes for the intercession you make on behalf of others. If you know that a person is afflicted by something, and you want to pray about it, try first to repent of their sins on their behalf. In this way you will find an ear with God. In this way that person may be set free from whatever ailment might be afflicting them. The same goes for your nation. Do you want to improve your nation? Do you want changes for the benefit of all of the nation? Repent of the sins of the nation first and then intercede. I have to make a point though, not every one is called to intercede. You must have this calling from God!