Impossible Healings: Intercession

A centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, 'Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.'

Matthew 8:5-6 (NKJV)*

For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.

Mark 7:25 (NKJV)**

There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

John 4:46-47 (NKJV)***

Lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Mark 16:18 (NKJV)

Intercession is 'entreaty in favor of another, especially a prayer or petition to God on behalf of another.' (American Heritage Dictionary)

Intercession comes from a Latin word: intercessio: 'a going between' (Etymology Dictionary).

When we, as Christians, pray for someone else, we’re going between this person and God.

  • We stand in the gap.****

Because Jesus stood in the gap for us. Or more precisely, He hung in the gap. During the ordeal of crucifixion…

  • His thorn-crowned Head pointed up to Heaven.

  • His disabled Feet pointed down to Earth.

  • His extended Arms pointed east to west.

'As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us' (Psalm 103:12).

'For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus' (1 Timothy 2:5).

When His Holy Spirit lives within us, we are given the Gift of Salvation– which brings a compelling obligation:

  • Prayerful intercession for others!

So we intercede: 'If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you' (John 15:7).

But beyond the ask is the seek and knock:

  • 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you' (Matthew 7:7). Because Jesus said to take these three steps! 

  • Therefore, we ask… and we seek out the sick. We knock on doors to help them--and God heals… In a variety of ways and times,

Consider Jesus! He healed from a distance and from a touch. He healed immediately and later.

Because perfect timing is His to know, and perfect waiting is for us to learn.

Intercession invites the Hand of God to help those unable to help themselves.

Impossible Healings: Intercession (Part 8)

* Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208:5-13&version=NKJV

** A Gentile Shows Her Faith: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%207:24-30&version=NKJV

*** A Nobleman's Son Healed: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204:46-54&version=NKJV

NOTE: Additional Verse on standing in the gap: http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/22-30.htm

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban