What is an intercessor?

One of the favourite books I use alongside my Bible when studying is Webster’s Dictionary! This is what it says about interceding and intercession:
      Intercede - to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences : MEDIATE
      intercession - prayer, petition, or entreaty in favour of another

Ezekiel 22:30  And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

An intercessor is someone who stands ‘in the gap’ for another. An intercessor is a mediator, an advocate (someone who represents or goes alongside), one who goes between people or groups to bring about reconciliation, one who bridges the gap between opposing sides.

In the beginning man was given dominion on earth under God, man was the mediator or representative of God. After the fall, a need arose for God and man: man needed someone to represent him to God and God need a mediator between Him and man.

Isaiah 59:16 And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. Therefore His own arm brought salvation to Him; and His righteousness sustained Him.

God’s arm is Jesus and He lives to intercede or stand in the gap for us so that we can be reconciled to the Father. That is what intercessors do: they pray for reconciliation between God and man, calling people back to righteousness and asking the Lord for mercy.

Intercession can be two-fold, standing between the Lord and those who deserve the Lord’s wrath, pleading for mercy or standing between a person and the enemy shielding them, destroying the works of the enemy and declaring victory.

In Exodus 32:9-12 we see Moses as intercessor. Israel had fallen into idolatry by worshipping a golden calf and the Lord’s wrath ‘burned hot against them’. The Lord told Moses to leave him alone so that He could consume them. However Moses reminded the Lord of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Israel and pleaded for mercy and not judgment. Verse 14 says “the Lord relented from the harm which He thought to do to His people”. We can apply this to our intercessions, by reminding the Lord of His promises for us in every area, health, finances, blessings. We have a covenant sealed by His blood.

In the same chapter v 31-32 Moses continues in intercession saying to the Lord that if He will not forgive Israel to blot him out of the ‘book He has written”. This is the true heart of an intercessor, willing to lay down his life and identify himself with those for whom he is interceding. This is what Jesus did for us, the ultimate act of intercession, He lay down His life.

In Numbers 16:41-48 the Israelites had sinned by murmuring against their leaders. The Lord told Moses and Aaron to get away from among the congregation ‘that I may consume them in a moment’ . Moses told Aaron to take the censer, put fire from the altar and incense in it and make atonement for the people as “wrath has gone out from the Lord”. The plague had begun when Aaron “stood between the living and the dead” waved the censer and made atonement for the people. The plague was stayed because of this act of intercession.

Rev. 5:8 tells us that the golden bowls were full of incense which are the prayers of God’s people. James 5:16 tells us that the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available” (AMP). Because of Aaron’s intercession judgment ended and mercy began.

In Ezekiel we see that there was widespread corruption among the prophets, priests, princes and the people. The Lord “sought for a man” to ‘stand in the gap’ between Him and the land but He could find no one so he poured out his indignation upon them and consumed them with the fire of His wrath.

To me this shows a picture of how important intercessors are for this day and hour. If the Lord had found one person judgement may have been averted.

Psalm 106:23 tells us that God would have destroyed the Israelites “had not Moses His chosen one, stepped into the breach before Him to turn away His threatening wrath.” This is the picture of an intercessor standing in the breach to hold back judgment.

What about Sodom and Gomorrah where God’s judgement was not averted? Abraham stood before the Lord on behalf of the righteous in Sodom; he was willing to risk the Lord’s anger to save the city for ten righteous men. When the Lord’s judgement was imminent, Lot and His family were removed from the city and judgement fell. Ten righteous were not found. Nevertheless Abraham had ‘stood in the gap’ and had seen his family delivered. We have to realize that, as with Lot, sometimes the Lord removes the righteous to a place of safety before He brings judgement.

In all these examples the Lord had warned of His judgement, and not hidden His intent and men had risen to the occasion and interceded on behalf of the people. Amos 3:7 “For the Lord Jehovah will do nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (NKJ). God will warn when judgment is coming and we need to have ears to hear what the Lord is saying and act upon it.

How should we pray about what is happening in the church right now? We need to cry out for mercy for those who are in error and that the Lord will reveal His truth. We base all our prayers of intercession on the finished work of cross. We ‘remind’ the Lord of all He has promised just as Moses reminded Him about His covenant. We need to be willing to ‘lay down’ our life in intercession; our motive should be mercy and not judgement. That is the heart of God.