CALLED TO THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION


By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi
Acts 12:1-5 NLT  “About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church.  He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword.  When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.)  Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover.  But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.”
Num 16:44-47 NIV  “…and the Lord said to Moses,  "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown.  Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started."
   The importance of the ministry of intercession in the church cannot be over emphasized .  Believers in Christ are called to the ministry of intercession . The scriptures says in  1 Tim 2:1 KJV  “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL MEN;”  Intercession is a cardinal test of our love walk with Christ especially those who aspire for leadership roles in the church . It may amaze you to know that your present situation is as a result of a Christian leader who have been instructed by the Holy Spirit to intercede for you (Col 4:12.)  
    The word ‘intercession’ is the Greek word ‘enteuxis’ , it means a falling in with , meeting with , a coming together  , to visit , a petition , supplication . It involves speaking on behalf of persons who have taking God’s grace for granted as in Numbers 16 .1-50 , where a rebellion was led by Korah with his friends against Moses . They were not willing to be under the rules and regulations instituted by Moses and endorsed by God for the day to day running of the community. Consequently, they lost their spiritual cover and were struck with a life threatening plague.  Moses had to stand between the dead and living in intercession and offered an offering on behalf of the rebels and the plague was stayed. It is worthy of note that when a person begins to take God’s grace for granted, their religious offerings are of no value before God. The Lord prevents them from giving offerings.   
          The second condition requiring intercession is when a person  suffers overwhelming injury , under such circumstances , the person being prayed for may have given up on life and surrendered to his or her fate but because of his or her inputs in the lives of many , intercessions are made on their behalf , resulting in a supernatural intervention like in the case of Apostle Peter whose leadership qualities strengthened the church in a time of crisis . He experienced a supernatural deliverance from prison because of the prayers of the saints .
    To be an effective intercessor one has to be filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit . As a pastor I have been instructed be the lord to intercede for persons who have taken God’s grace for granted repeatedly and still do . I am able to do this by the unconditional love of God. By the Holy Spirit you have pity for them because of their ignorance of  the consequences of their actions . That was why Jesus Christ while on the cross said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do .“  Allow the Lord use your heart in prayers , he will direct your heart to persons needing intercessions  this is how we become effective in our prayer lives .
Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation , I receive him as lord and savior and receive grace and the strength for effective intercessory prayers in Jesus name.
+2348098536911, +2348035536911 email:michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Pics credit , pixabay

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