#13 “The Difference Between Prayer and Intercession”

"I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness
that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap
in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land, but I found no one...”

Ezekiel 22:30

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

What is the difference between “Prayer and Intercession?” Let’s take a look at both of these words and find out. In the book of 1 Timothy 2:1—“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men.” Here Timothy is admonishes us to first make “supplications, then prayers and then intercessions, why? Let’s take a look at each of these words this morning.

Prayer - encompasses your personal relationship with the Lord. This is where you spend time before Him, inquiring of His will for your life, your daily instructions from Him. All men should pray and seek the face of God on a daily bases. This is how we get to know His heart and what He desires from us. When we pray the Lords pray this is in essence what we are doing. We are acknowledge that He is our heavenly Father and declare His Holiness, ask that His Kingdom and that His will be done in this earth. Give us daily provision, forgive us as we forgive others, keep us for sinning and protect us for evil. And lastly we declare that He is God, all powerful today and forever! This is prayer, simple and direct yet so many find it difficult to pray daily. There are many types of prayer; nevertheless, today we are only focusing on the two mentioned specifically in I Timothy 2:1. However be assured that at a later time we will cover the various other types of prayer and how they are used and why.

Now let’s look at intercession according to Webster’s dictionary it means, “to intercede, to go or to pass between parties with a view to reconcile those who differ or contend, to mediate or make intercession: mediation. Jesus is our greatest example of an intercessor in fact He is the ultimate intercessor; because He bridged the gap between God and mankind. There are numerous examples of man interceding before ruler, kings and even God Himself on mankinds behalf. Abraham interceded on behalf of the whole cities of, Sodom and Gomorrah, that God would not destroy it because of their sinfulness. Moses interceded before God for the children of Israel when they had sinned by worshiping idol gods, which they had made. Who can forget the story of Queen Esther who at risk of losing her own life went unannounced before the king, to petition for their salvation? For anyone to come before the kink unenvited was sudden death. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle had asked her to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people and she did and their lives were spared.

The Prayer of Intercession - is standing in the gap before God on the behalf of man. The Lord said in our opening scripture Ezekiel 22:30 —"I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land, but I found no one...” God search heaven and earth for someone to stand in the gap, to petition Him for the life of mankind; however, there was not man on the earth that was righteous enough to stand. Then Jesus said, “I’ll Go…”, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” —Isaiah 6:8

Now the Lord Jesus is asking the same question, “Who will go for Me, who will stand in the gap?” Men and women are dying at an alarming rate today and many of them are dying without knowing the Lord Jesus as their personal savior. Who will intercede for their salvation? Who is willing to stand in their behalf before God that they might be saved? We must always remember that; although, Christ died for the sins of the world, the world must still receive Him as Lord and Savior. We must continually petition heaven for their repentance and salvation until they do. Intercession is not regarding the one who's praying; rather on behalf of those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord. I can recall a song the old mothers use to sing when I was a youth. “Somebody, prayed for me, had me on their mind and took the time to pray for me. I’m so glad the prayed, I’m so glad they prayed, I’m so glad they prayed for me!” where would we be if someone had not taken the time to pray for us? Now it’s time to pay it forward, so to speak and take the time to pray for someone else.

My Prayer: Father, today we stand in the gap for those who don’t know you, who have not accepted your Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Father, you said 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act." So Father, we interceede for them, Lord turn their hearts to You. Cause them to see that they need You, that they will call upon your name that they may be saved. Father, place someone in their path that can speak words of life to them, don’t let them die in their sins. We thank you for your grace and mercy which cover them. We give you praise for what you are going to do in their lives! In Jesus name Amen!!

Have A Blessed Day… go in God’s Peace!

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