Something significant happens spiritually when God’s people intercede or fail to do so. In the book of Ezekiel, some sobering verses tell us what happens when God’s people fail to intercede. Ezekiel 22:30 I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. 31 So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken! [1]
The Lord is searching for those who would stand in the gap to intercede on their behalf. This invitation to intercede is for all believers in Jesus to serve through intercessory prayers, which is a beautiful privilege.
The Jews Fast and Pray
In the book of Esther, an evil government official, Haman, convinced King Xerxes to destroy the Jews because he claimed they didn’t keep the King’s laws. Esther 3:13 Dispatches were sent by swift messengers into all the provinces of the empire, giving the order that all Jews—young and old, including women and children—must be killed, slaughtered, and annihilated on a single day. This was scheduled to happen on March 7 of the next year. The property of the Jews would be given to those who killed them. [2]
What would the Jewish people do? Their only recourse was to pray to God, so they did. Esther 4:3 And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes. [3] As the book of Esther unfolds, God answered the people’s prayers and saved them.
The Power of Intercessory Prayer
The Lord gives us the ability to pray for both ourselves and others. This is why Paul writes with such urgency. 1 Timothy 2: 1I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior.[4]
Our Heavenly Father works through intercession to do mighty things. Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:3-4 to put others before our needs and consider their needs more important than our own. Our human nature is to do the opposite, but humility allows us to pray for others earnestly. God’s word says that when we pray for others, we build bridges between God and those for whom we pray. The world desperately needs every believer to intercede for those around them and the nation they live in. Will you stand in the gap?
To learn what happens when God’s people intercede, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/for-such-a-time
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.