WORD STUDY: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INTERCESSOR

An intercessor is a person who by calling or by nature chooses to be a mediator on behalf of those who cannot intervene for themselves. Intercessors make requests, urge, plead, beg, counsel, discuss, risk, sacrifice, and make war on issues relating to the weaker ones, and thus they have an impact on the final outcomes for those they serve.

There is a difference between a person who is called an intercessor and a person who prays. Any person can pray, but not all praying people are intercessors. The opposite is true also - an intercessor may live his entire life and live to make only one great act of intercession. The differences of an intercessor are subtle - hidden in the life and heart behind the prayer. There are many examples of intercessors in the Bible, and they walked with the favor to impact and change God’s heart. Consider the following role models and their characteristics:

[I] THE FUNCTIONS OF AN INTERCESSOR

TO RISK & SACRIFICE

1) Moses was willing to be blotted out of God’s book. (Ex 32:32)

2) Abraham was willing to suffer God’s possible displeasure by negotiating Him down to 10 godly men in Sodom & Gomorrah. (Genesis 18:22)

3) When king David disobeyed by taking a census, he was willing to be destroyed in order to seek safety for his people. (1 Chron 21:17)

4) Daniel was willing to talk with God when He was very angry. (Dan 9:16)

5) Jesus was willing to become sin and lay down His life so that others could find forgiveness. (Isa 53:12)

6) The Centurion was willing to approach authority as well as subject himself to it. (Matt 8:5)

7) Martha dared to risk her friendship with Jesus to challenge His decision of delay. (John 11:21-22)

8) A father risked public exposure, fear of man’s opinions, and disappointment for the sake of interceding for his possessed son. (Mark 9:17)

9) The Nobleman risked his self-sufficient pride. He could not help his son but he knew who could. He also risked public exposure and reputation. (John 4:49)

10) Stephen was willing to face the murderous rage of a crowd and asked God to forgive them. (Acts 7:59)

11) Esther was willing to perish at risk of defending her people to the king. At the very least she was willing to face a life of ill-favor, isolation and banishment from the king’s court. (Esther 4:16)

12) David as a young boy was willing to face death from Goliath for the sake of Israel. At the very least he was willing to face humiliation, failure and defeat. (1 Sam 17:37)

TO BOLDLY DEFEND

Each of the above role models defended with boldness. This does not necessarily mean they had naturally bold personalities. Watch a mother or father bird when a threat comes too close to their nest! God has placed within His creation an instinct to defend the young. An intercessor’s heart comes to the surface when they perceive a threat. Suddenly the heart of a pussy cat turns into the roar of a lion. (Heb 4:16)

TO VOLUNTEER

One of the marks of an intercessor is a willingness to do something. A volunteer is someone who is not necessarily asked, rather he/she steps forward in order to accomplish something. Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13)

[II] THE HEART OF AN INTERCESSOR

MERCY

As in the above list, intercessors stand in the gap for another, seeking mercy instead of judgment, life over death. They are willing to face a risk and sacrifice in order to obtain mercy. (James 2:13)

HUMILITY & SERVICE

In each one of these cases, these powerful intercessors wanted to serve those they were interceding for. Their willingness to serve resulted in humility, laying down that which they highly esteemed. (Matt 23:11)

[III] THE RELATIONSHIP OF AN INTERCESSOR

FAVOR

The above role models lived in a place of favor, having a personal and loving relationship with God. They knew what it was to walk and talk with Him, and trust in His goodness. (Prov 12:2)

Others who did not have a personal relationship with Jesus prior to their request, knew His works, listened to His Words, understood His authority and nature. Thus, they anticipated His favor in spite of the risk.

[IV] THE RESULTS OF AN INTERCESSOR

MULTIPLIED SEED

Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." (John 12:24 NKJV) The most powerful intercessors, past and present, are ones who have laid down their lives, their dreams, their ambitions, their own personal agendas, everything they have held dear, in order to follow Jesus’ footsteps to their own personal cross. The results of such a journey is His promise of multiplication. These intercessors can pray a prayer, make a request, make a stand and have it bear fruit for the masses.

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In the Old Testament, the word intercessor comes from the Hebrew word: paga` (paw-gah'): 06293 paga` {paw-gah'}

¤ a primitive root; TWOT - 1731; v

This Hebrew word is translated:

¤ AV - fall 12, meet 11, reach 7, intercession 4, intreat 2, entreat 1, misc 9; 46

¤ 1) to encounter, meet, reach, entreat, make intercession 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to meet, light upon, join 1a2) to meet (of kindness) 1a3) to encounter, fall upon (of hostility) 1a4) to encounter, entreat (of request) 1a5) to strike, touch (of boundary) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to light upon 1b2) to cause to entreat 1b3) to make entreaty, interpose 1b4) to make attack 1b5) to reach the mark

In the New Testament, the word intercessor comes from the Greek word (en-toong-khan'-o): (# 1793 entugchano from NT:1722 and NT:5177.

This Greek word means:

1) to light upon a person or a thing, fall in with, hit upon, a person or a thing 2) to go to or meet a person, esp. for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication 3) to pray, entreat 4) make intercession for any one

Scriptures share that He wants our input. He still makes the final decisions, but He listens and what we say can have a part in the outcomes. For those who like to study, here are some additional scriptures stating that God is looking for volunteer intercessors, those willing to lay down their lives for a cause: Isa 64:7, Jer 30:13, Isa 59:16, Jer 27:18, Isa 53:12, Ezek 22:30-31, Psalms 106:23.

The Lord is restoring the callings of intercessors to the body of Christ. He is raising up an army of volunteers, who are willing to count THEIR cost because they see what is AT cost.

May we answer His call in Jesus Name.

Lovingly,

Sandy