ON THE CALL TO INTERCESSORY PRAYER

ON THE CALL TO INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Prayer Is Intercession
Prayer, yet again, is intercession which I have defined as petition on behalf of my neighbor, my friend, a relation and any other; an entreat for his good, his prosperity, physical, mental and spiritual, his beatitude petitioning God to forgive them their sins, to provide them the saving and enabling Grace so they shall be kept to keep watching and praying and walking God’s strait and narrow path of righteousness and mercy and truth. Consider Paul’s burden for Israel found in Romans chapter nine and chapter ten: the apostle intercedes for Israel of the flesh so that they shall come to the saving and eternal knowledge of God revealed in Jesus Christ whose body is the whole constitution of spiritual Israel; he prays for their salvation, their forgiveness, and their prosperity, he beseeches the God of heaven for their wellbeing and their safety  and  in all this it is clear that  any egocentric- self centered interests are completely obliterated, it is for the salvation and the  good of the  other that we intercede. In the Book of Numbers chapter six verses 23-27, the prophet Moses is instructed by God to admonish Aaron and his sons that they intercede for the children of Israel. In Job 42 verse 8, Eliphaz the Temanite is spoken to by God that in offering his sacrifices, Job shall pray interceding for him that his offering shall be acceptable before Him; and in Isaiah 62:6, we are told by the prophet that God has “set watchmen upon thy walls…which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence.” That is to say, keep not silent, pray, intercede for the peace and  victory of the city of Jehovah, the church of the Firstborn, Jerusalem, the place of righteousness; and in I Timothy 2:1, the great apostle to the world, Paul, wrote to young Timothy exhorting him saying, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks, be made for all men.”(emphasis mine). And James writes, “Is any sick among you ? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord…Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a Righteous man availeth much.” James 5:14, 16; that Righteous Man is Jesus Christ Himself the Mediator of the new covenant, the Great Intercessor for those who call upon His great Name.
Yes, the Word of God contains many instances of the Lord God answering the intercessory prayers offered by His children for others that His Name may be known and exalted;-
-God answered the intercessory prayer of Abraham when Abraham prayed for his son Ishmael, and God said, “…as for Ishmael, I have heard: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful…” Gen 17:18-27.
-In Gen 20:7, 17-18, God instructed Abimelech to restore to Abraham his wife and that the prophet was to pray interceding for him; “So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech…”
-It is in Exodus 17:8-16 that we are enabled by God to see that in the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites, the Israelites became victorious when Moses prayed for them interceding for them, lifting up his hands, lifting the Banner of God and that Banner is the Cross of Jesus Christ, which is the banner of victory.
-When the children of God transgressed the law by their idolatries, Moses the prophet of Jehovah prayed interceding for them; the God of  heaven answered this prayer for His Word tells us that “… the Lord repented of the evil which He thought to do unto the people.” Exodus 32:11-14, 30-34; read Num 21:7-8
-In Deuteronomy 9:20, Moses recounted to the people the incident of the golden calf and because the Lord was angry with Aaron, the servant of God prayed interceding for Aaron and the Lord heard and answered that prayer.
-When Miriam and Aaron had become bitter with the way God had been leading His people by the hand of Moses, the Holy Scriptures inform us that “…the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and He departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow…” verse 9-10, and so Moses interceded for Miriam as written in Num 12:13 and the Lord God answered the petition of His servant and Miriam received the healing touch of God.
-Samuel prayed for Israel even when the ark was brought from the Philistines: “And the children of Israel said unto Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that He will save us…” I Samuel 7:8, and Samuel answered and said, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way.” 12:23 showing us clearly that there is a transgression in ceasing to pray, and more so in ceasing to do intercessory prayer for others.
-It is in II Chronicles 6: 12-42 that we find the intercessory prayer of Solomon, in which he was praying for the manifestation of the glory and the truth of God amongst His people; and the Lord God answered the prayer for “…the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt- offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house…” ch 7:1-3
-Elijah the prophet interceded for the woman of Zarepath whose son had died and God revived the woman’s son. I Kings 17:20-22
-In the Acts 9:40, the apostle Peter  prayed interceding that  Tabitha be revived  through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus answered the request of His people, reviving Tabitha and the Apostle Peter stood up  presenting her to the people who were there. read Acts 28:8
-And it is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who intercedes for us and prays for our safekeeping in His program of our salvation that in John 17, the Master Intercessor prays for all of His dear children to be kept in Him who is the Truth.
-On the cross of ignominy and death, our Saviour who is Himself the High Priest and yet the Sacrifice for our sins, prays for us that the forgiveness of our sins be effectual, be completely expiatory. -So we are able to learn and understand that God hears and answers prayer; yes, He answers my prayers, and He has answered me now and again, and will yet answer me again. It is for the truth of His love upon you  that He waits on you to speak to Him so your prayers can be answered speedily. Yes friend, the ministry of praying is the ministry which our God has given to everyone of His children. Each one of us has been called upon to engage in the work of praying for the other, for their good in Christ Jesus, for their sanctification in Him who died and rose again to bless us with a new life. Many of us have neglected this ministry of praying, this ministry of the prayers of intercession and Jesus Christ our Lord and friend is in this instance calling us to our duty to pray interceding for others"- Evangelist Titus Brown Banda, Speaker, Banner of Truth Ministry- 00260961000077