THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION

Highlights: Why some fall into sin while interceding for others.

                             How can I effectively make Intercession for others?

 Romans 8:26 KJV

“[26] 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.”

An intercessor is one who supplicates on behalf of another. He stands in the

 gap to initiate the reinstatement of one who has lost his place.

But in order for him to reinstate or introduce a candidate, he must pay the

 price. What is the price?

He must fight a battle that the candidate could not win.

For example: Christ, our perfect intercessor, came to reinstate man into

 his place with God.

What was the battle the first Adam lost? Purity. He became impure through

 disobedience and ungodly desire against the instruction of God.

That is the significance of the temptation in the wilderness. The Lord Jesus—

our perfect intercessor—was tested to make Himself impure through

 disobedience and an ungodly desire for worldly affairs.

But every soldier ought to detach himself from civilian affairs, to please He

 who called him. He cannot be caught making deals in the marketplaces.

Did the Lord Jesus win the battle? Emphatically, yes.

Hence, He was persecuted ( in an attempt to make Him fall into impurity), but

 He kept His confession: “I am the Son of God.” He would have told a lie if He

 had said, “Sorry my people, I was only joking. Please don't hit me

 anymore, my cheek hurts.” But when He was slapped, His other cheek was

 presented to receive more slaps. And they did more than that; they brutalized Him.

He fought the battle of the first Adam as the firstborn Son, and He won the

 battle for all the sons and daughters of God. He interceded.

This, my fathers, my mothers, my brothers, and my sisters, is the ministry

 of intercession.

Needless to say, when you find a brother who is stealing funds as a treasurer,

 and you set yourself on a course to intercede for him, you would face intense

 spiritual warfare in that same area. The question is: when you smell figures

 you have never heard of, would you pass the test?

He might be tempted by billions, but then you are in a position to steal

 trillions. Would you look away and win the battle? Or would you slice some

 of the bread?

When praying for a prostitute, you could face severe temptation toward

 fornication. Very good-looking people may come your way, tempting you

 every day. If you win the battle, you would set that prostitute free from

 prostitution, but if you do not, both of you would be doing the same thing.

This is why some Christians are called hypocrites. They genuinely start battles

 in all godliness, but they fall into the same sin they are trying to deliver

 others from. Would you have them stop warning others because they fell into

 the ditch? So because they fell, they should not yell out to others, “There’s a

 ditch here!”

The Apostle of the Lord did forewarn the body of Christ.

2 Peter 3:17 NIV

“[17] Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard

 so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from

 your secure position.”

What is the error of the lawless?

He does not abide by the principle of salvation, which is looking unto the Lord

 Jesus Christ. Salvation is not mere verbal confession; it is a continual life of

 faith in Christ.

That is why the next verse says:

2 Peter 3:18 NIV

“[18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Jesus is the Word of God. When you persistently look at God’s Word, you are

 made stable like a tree: immovable and unshakable. You are fortified to win

 your battles, and you fight every fight with an understanding that you have

 already won.

So you use this victory—the infinite victory that Christ has given you—to

 conquer dominions and principalities limiting others.

We have all been called into the ministry of reconciliation through

 intercession.

Even when you, the intercessor, stumble, your faith must not stagger. You

 maintain your confession with a sure knowing that you have the victory.

How do you successfully fulfill this ministry?

Matthew 5:28-30 NIV

“[28] But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already

 committed adultery with her in his heart.

[29] If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is

 better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be

 thrown into hell.

[30] And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. 

It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go

 into hell.”

Winning the fight as an intercessor requires you to mind what you look at

 and what your hands reach for. People lose battles when their eyes have no

 boundaries. When you learn to look away, there is little or no temptation.

Your eyes are the doors of your mind. Anything that wages war on your

 conscience must come through your mind.

Your eyes could cause you to sin. If your mind misdirects you after restricting

 your eyes, you correct it and bring it back on track.

The church is the body of Christ; we are one. Some brethren may be weak,

 while others are strong; hence, we bridge the gap for their shortcomings.

Praying for our leaders—whether political or religious leaders—is essential.

 We ought always to pray for one another.

Love your enemies, and pray for those who despitefully use you.

By Righteousness, Purity, and Persistent Prayer, we prevail continually.

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