Intercessory Prayer - Highlights
Praying for the Needs of Others - God Listens to Intercessors
Jan 2, 2009
The Israelites, wandering in the wilderness (after fleeing captivity in Egypt - Old Testament), had aroused God's anger to such an extent that He sent fire upon them. Some of them were consumed by the fire. Others ran to Moses and begged for his help.
"The people therefore, cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died out." Numbers 11:1-2.
Peter (New Testament) was imprisoned with no apparent means of escaping. In fact, he was chained and guarded by, "...four squads of soldiers...but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church of God...Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison."
An angel appeared in the jail cell, and a bright light flooded the cell. Peter was sleeping. The angel kicked him.
Peter awoke and followed the angel clear out of the jail to the home where people were praying for him. Scripture doesn't say anything about the guards. Perhaps they were blinded by the light of the angel? Acts 12:1-17.
Clearly, God listens to intercession, and when He chooses to intercede, He can do so, mightily!
The Apostle Paul Exhorts Intercessory Prayer
Writing in 1Timothy 2:1-3, the Apostle Paul states, "...I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority...this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior." For God cares, "...casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.
Petitioners may boldly approach God as well, according to the New Testament, "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in a time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
God's Will and Prayer
Obviously, not only does God invite prayer, but He supports intercessory prayer. However, prayer requests must be within the will of God, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked of Him." 1 John 5: 14-15.
How is God's will known? If the Bible is understood and accepted as God's inspired word, then reading and searching the Scriptures reveals the will of God.
Likewise, asking contrary to God's will means receiving nothing, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." James 4:3.
A Visual Image of Prayers Before God
Prayers are like incense before God, "May my [David's] prayer be counted as incense before Thee." Psalm 141:2.
"And when He [Jesus] had taken the Book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb [Jesus], having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Revelation 5:8.
Clearly, it appears that not only is prayer pleasing to God, but prayer, like incense, is a fragrant aroma before His throne.
Source
New American Standard Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee 37234, no date of publication, pgs. 150, 632, 1094, 1178, 1189, 1205,1200,1211-1212,1218.
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