Intercessory prayer is asking requests of God for others. It is a characteristic of a true Christian. The Bible has many examples of those who prayed for others, most notably Jesus Christ. He even prayed for those who were crucifying Him saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34 Luke 23:34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
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In his epistles, the apostle Paul consistently mentions his prayers for his brethren. He wrote to the Philippians, “Always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy” (Philippians 1:4 Philippians 1:4Always in every prayer of my for you all making request with joy,
American King James Version×). In another instance he tells the Colossians that he and his companions, “do not cease to pray for you” (Colossians 1:9 Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
American King James Version×). As he prayed for others, Paul asked others to pray for him and his fellow workers. He wrote to the Thessalonians, “Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified” (2 Thessalonians 3:1 2 Thessalonians 3:1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
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Paul is a great example of a true Christian who kept the needs of his brethren in mind. His chief concern was for their spiritual welfare and standing in the faith. Christians ought to pray likewise for their brethren. There is also continual opportunity to pray for the health needs of others. The apostle James wrote about this when he told Christians to “pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16 James 5:16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
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Since Christians are to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14 Matthew 5:14You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
American King James Version×), we should also pray in hopes of the world’s salvation. This is how Daniel prayed for his nation, asking God to forgive the sins of his people which had caused their captivity in Babylon. Daniel chapter 9 records his remarkable prayer. Daniel set his “face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications” (Daniel 9:3 Daniel 9:3And I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
American King James Version×). He pleaded with God saying, “O LORD, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:16 Daniel 9:16O LORD, according to all your righteousness, I beseech you, let your anger and your fury be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
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Likewise, Moses beseeched God for the nation of Israel saying, “Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy” (Numbers 14:19 Numbers 14:19Pardon, I beseech you, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your mercy, and as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
American King James Version×). Also, Paul exhorted that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1 1 Timothy 2:1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
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All these biblical examples of holy people making intercessory prayer, beseeching God for others, demonstrate the role of a mediator. This mirrors Christ’s role as the “Mediator between God and men” (1 Timothy 2:5 1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
American King James Version×). Centuries before Christ’s ministry, Isaiah prophesied of Him pouring “out His soul unto death” and being “numbered with the transgressors” for whom he “made intercession” (Isaiah 53:12 Isaiah 53:12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
American King James Version×). Indeed, He died for our sake, and now, the risen Christ “always lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25 Hebrews 7:25Why he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
American King James Version×). He has entered “into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24 Hebrews 9:24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
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We have many biblical examples to follow showing how to make intercessory prayer. As Christians, we are called to “be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1 Ephesians 5:1Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children;
American King James Version×). Therefore, as Christ appears for us before God, so ought Christians come before God’s throne in prayer on behalf of others. Making intercessory prayer to God for others is a defining characteristic of a true Christian.