News from Shawneetown First Baptist

   Several years ago, a church member (former church member now) tried to convince me that only certain people have the “gift” of intercessory prayer.  Intercessory prayer is the prayer that one believer offers to God in behalf of another person.  I rejected that idea then and I still do.  The Bible clearly teaches that any believer can pray for another or others.  In the New Testament, it is recognized as the doctrine of the Priesthood of Believers.

   However, I do believe that intercessory prayer is a wonderful “gift” that God has given to the New Testament Church that is available to every true believer who has made Jesus Christ the Lord of his or her life!  And, I must admit that as I read some of the intercessory prayers offered by some of God’s elect, it is obvious that there are some who pray more boldly and pray more effectively as they intercede for others before God.  Don’t misunderstand me!  I still believe that every true believer can exercise the gift of intercessory prayer.  But, I also believe that there are some prerequisites that enable the pray-er to pray more boldly and make his prayer effective.

   Take Moses for instance.  He had spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai with the Lord to receive the Ten Commandments from Him.  But while he was gone, the Israelites became restless in their camp as they waited for Moses.  They convinced Aaron, Moses’ brother, to make a golden calf so that they would have something visible to worship.  This aroused God’s anger and He said to Moses: “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.  Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them.  Then I will make you into a great nation” (Exodus 32:9-10).

   Now listen to Moses’ response.  “But Moses interceded with the Lord his God: ‘Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand?  Why should the Egyptians say ‘He brought them out with an evil intent to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth?’”  (Ex. 32:11-12).  Moses continued by asking God to “turn” from His anger and “relent.”  Moses reminded God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—that He would make their “offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky” and give them “all this land” that He had promised. (Ex. 32:13).

   Exodus 32:14 says:  “So the Lord relented concerning the disaster He said He would bring on His people!”  This is bold and effective intercession on the part of Moses.  There are other examples of bold and effective intercession in God’s Word.  Such as the intercession of Abraham’s pleas for Sodom in Genesis 18 when he asked God to spare Sodom if there were just 50 righteous people in the city.  Abraham kept pleading with the Lord until he got the number of righteous people down to 10.  But there were not even 10 righteous people in the city.  The point is that God listened to Abraham and agreed with his bold intercession

   Prayers of intercession are found throughout God’s Word coming from the prophets, from David, and from Paul in the New Testament as he prayed concerning his own people, the Israelites.  We should be thankful for the intercessory prayer of our Lord Jesus because He prayed for us.  In John 17, Jesus prayed for His disciples who were about to watch Him be crucified.  Then, He prayed for all believers, including those of us who are alive today:  “May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You.  May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe you sent me.”

   Why were the prayers of Moses, Abraham, the prophets, Paul, and Jesus so effective?  There are two reasons that I see as I read the Bible.  First, there is the intimacy these individuals had with God.  Each one knew Him and had a personal relationship with Him, spent time with Him, and was obedient to Him.  This intimacy gave them boldness to speak with Him in the way they did.  Second, there was the intensity of their prayer life.  They prayed consistently.  They prayed specifically.  And, they prayed according to God’s will and His promises.  Consequently, they could pray bold prayers!

   Does that mean only people in the Bible like Moses, Abraham, and Jesus can pray bold intercessory prayers?  Absolutely not!  By the grace of God through Jesus Christ, we too can have that intimate personal relationship with Him and we too can pray with intensity according to the gracious promises of our Lord.  God’s “gift” of bold intercession is available to every believer who is willing to spend time with Him on a consistent basis.  Surely God’s people need to begin praying bold intercessory prayers for their loved ones, for the lost, and for our nation today!  Spend some time with Him right now!

   “Reach Up!” Basketball & Cheering continues for the third week this Saturday.  Our numbers were down a little last week.  However, the children and parents present seemed to have a great time!  I hope those who missed will be back this Saturday. 

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Bro Jack
I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)