Intercession

What a mystery of glory there is in prayer! On the one hand, we see God, in His holiness and love and power, waiting, longing to bless man; on the other, we see sinful man, a worm of the dust, bringing down from God by prayer the very life and love of heaven to dwell in his heart.

But the glory of intercession is even greater! Through it, a man comes boldly to God to say what he desires for others, and through it he seeks to bring down on one soul—or even on hundreds and thousands—the power of eternal life with all its blessings.

Intercession! Would you not say that this is the holiest exercise of our boldness as God’s children, the highest privilege and enjoyment connected with our communion with God? It is the power of being used by God as instruments for His great work of making men His habitation and showing forth His glory. Would you not think that the church would consider this one of the chief means of grace and seek above everything to cultivate in God’s children the power of an unceasing prayerfulness on behalf of the perishing world? Would you not expect that believers would feel what strength there is in unity and what assurance there is that God will certainly “avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him” (Luke 18:7)? When Christians cease from looking for help in external union and aim at being bound together to the throne of God by an unceasing devotion to Jesus Christ and by an unceasing continuance in supplication for the power of God’s Spirit, the church will put on her beautiful garments and her strength (see Isaiah 52:1) and will overcome the world.

Our gracious Father, hear our prayer and teach Your church the glory, the blessing, and the all‑prevailing power of intercession. Give us, we pray, the vision of what intercession means to You; how it is essential for carrying out Your blessed purpose and for bringing down the Spirit in power. Show us what it means to us as the exercise of our royal priesthood, and what it will mean to Your church and to perishing men. Amen.