The Privilege of Intercessory Prayer

James 5:16New King James Version (NKJV)
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Today I was blessed with an opportunity to offer prayer for a friend.

When I realized how very honored I felt that she would ask me to pray for her situation I felt a need to look more into the history of intercessory prayer in the lives of Christians.

I found a wonderful article on intercessory prayer at http://www.allaboutprayer.org/intercessory-prayer.htm. I say wonderful because it was, first of all scripturally based, second clear and easy to read and third, brief.

This article describes intercessory prayer as:
Intercessory Prayer - What is it?Intercessory prayer is prayer for others. An intercessor is one who takes the place of another or pleads another's case. One study Bible defines intercession as "holy, believing, persevering prayer whereby someone pleads with God on behalf of another or others who desperately need God's “Intervention."

Hebrews 9:7 New International Version (©1984)But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Intercessory prayer was once the primary function of the priesthood. God, Himself, established the power of bringing the needs of others before Him and set aside an entire tribe to fill this function.

But we all have the privilege and responsibility of interceding on behalf of others and are encouraged to do so many times in scripture.

We have wonderful examples of intercessory prayer. Abraham prayed fervently for the people of Sodom and God heard his plea. (Genesis 18:20-33)In the book of Exodus, especially Exodus 32:11-13 and Exodus 32:31-32 we see Moses interceding on behalf of the children of Israel.

But what about us ordinary folks? Can we be as effective in our petitions to God?

1 John 5:14 New King James Version (NKJV)14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

And with this confidence comes an obligation to others.

1 Timothy 2:1-5 New King James Version (NKJV)1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

I thank God for every opportunity to be in His will. I praise God that He graciously adopted me into His Royal Family and encourages me to come to Him in prayer.

Hebrews 4:14-16 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus the Great High Priest 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!