October 19, 2022
Author: Pastor Mark Bauer
October 19, 2022
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers and intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.”
1Timothy 2:1
In this verse there are a number of different forms of prayer that
are listed, and within this list we find the word “intercessions.” And
so tonight I'd like us to briefly just consider intercessory prayer.
So, as we think of what does it mean to intercede, several definitions
that we have to intercede is to intervene in someone else's cause.
Another definition is to make an appeal on someone else's behalf. Then
again, another is to seek to persuade someone in authority to forgive
another. So as we think of interceding as in terms of prayer.
Intercessory prayer then I think is not focused on ourselves. But it's
prayer that's focused on behalf of others. I think, there are a number
of examples of intercessory prayer in our bible. But one example that
came to mind was that of the centurion who goes to Jesus on behalf of
his servant. Now, while the example of the centurion is a great
example of faith, I also see in him a great example of a man who is
interceding on behalf of the needs of another person. Another man in
this case is the servant in the account (Luke 7:3-4). In Matthew,
chapter 8 beginning in verse 5, we read this: when, he being Jesus, had
entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,
Lord my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.
We
see here a centurion. I think as we all know a centurion is an officer
in a Roman army. I think it’s unusual that he came to Jesus a Jew.
What now? Whether he came in person or whether he came by proxy,
because in Luke's account and the parallel account, Luke says that the
centurion had sent elders of the Jews asking Jesus to come and heal a
servant. But in either case we see that that the centurion is going to
Jesus. Coming to him, and the manner in which he comes, I see it as a
manner of humility. He doesn't come demanding that Jesus do this, not
expecting some type of preferential treatment because he's a Roman
centurion an officer with great rank. No, he comes to appeal giving us
the sense that he's begging Jesus for help in the account, and in Luke
are the proxies that he sends. The Jewish elders are also said to be
pleading earnestly on behalf of the servant. Note again that this
appeal is not for himself. It's not for his personal needs. it's not
even focused on his family, not his own flesh and blood. It's not even
focused on a peer or a colleague. It’s no focused on another Roman
soldier or a friend. No, it is focused on a servant, and this term
servant could actually be translated “slave.” He's coming to Jesus on
behalf of a slave of his. I think it's also interesting for us to note
that the centurion is aware of the needs of his servant. He took
notice of the sufferings of his servant in his household. He knew the
condition of him, that he was paralyzed and that he was suffering
terribly as a result of it. The servant wasn't able to go to Jesus
himself and because of that he is in desperate need. The centurion then
takes action himself and goes on behalf of his servant to seek help
from Jesus. He appeals to Jesus to heal His servant and in response to
this centurion’s appeal we read that Jesus said to him, I will come and
heal.
But then we read of the centurion's faith in verse 8. He
the replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but
only say the word, and my servant will be healed, for I am a man under
authority with soldiers under me, and I say to one Go, and he goes, and
to another, Come, and he comes, Do this, and he does it.” And then in
verse 10 we read: “When Jesus heard this, he marveled, and He said to
those who followed him, truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I
found such faith.” Jesus answers the request and heals the servant. In
verse 13 we read and to the centurion Jesus said, “Go, let it be done
for you, as you have believed.” The servant was healed at that very
moment.
Well, I think there are many of us who are very
familiar with this account of the centurion, but as I was thinking about
it in terms of intercessory prayer, I think there’s some lessons we can
learn that should mark our intercessory prayers. I think one thing
that should mark our intercessory prayers is to begin with knowledge.
When we intercede in prayer for others we need to be aware of their
needs. The centurion was aware of the needs of his entire household,
even down to his servants within the household. So we should too be
ready to take notice of the needs of others in order that we may offer
prayers on their behalf. Charles Spurgeon said, You cannot pray well
for those you know nothing about, and so I think it's an encouragement
for us to seek to have a knowledge of the needs of our brethren and the
needs of others so that we can intercede on their behalf. Secondly, I
think our intercessory prayers should be marked by humility. Dependency
on Jesus for any accessory prayers should be a response recognizing
only Jesus is the one who can meet the needs for those that we're
praying for. The centurion knew he was unable to save his servant. He
was not able to heal his servant, who was suffering despite his high
rank, despite his office in the Roman army, and a commander of a 100.
He probably was a greatly capable man, but yet this issue, this need of
his servant was beyond him. He recognizes that he himself is unable to
heal his servant, and then that drives him to humbly go to Jesus.
So I suggest that we seek to learn of the needs of others, needs that
may be physical, emotional, or perhaps spiritual. Often times we
ourselves, we realize we cannot meet the needs of our brethren—those
that we hear of who are in great need. There's nothing we can do to
help them nothing other than to pray for them--go to the throne of grace
and intercede on their behalf. And as we go we should go humbly
recognizing our own inability and trusting in and having absolute
dependence upon Christ and Him alone to be able to answer our prayers.
But I also think that in this example of the centurion we see that he
comes to Jesus with fervency in his prayer request. So I suggest
that as we intercede in prayer for others, we need to come with a
sincere concern for their needs. When the centurion came he was making
an appeal. As I said before, it was though he was begging, pleading
with Jesus, asking for help for his servant, who was suffering greatly.
And so, when we see the needs of others, and we see their desperate
condition, it should, stir our hearts to come before the Lord, and
plead Him earnestly on their behalf, bringing the needs of others to the
throne of grace, praying that God would be merciful to help the person
who is in need. Finally, I suggest that in this example, so like the
centurion, we should pray in faith as with all of our prayers. We
should pray in faith to the Lord—the Lord who has the authority over
all. His ears are open to our cry. He hears our prayers, he hears our
requests, and he is the one who has power. He is the one who has
authority. He is the one who can answer our intercessory prayers.
So as I considered the centurion, I think it should help us. Consider
our intercessory prayers and see if they are marked by our knowledge.
Be aware of the needs of others, our humility and our dependency on
Christ, a level of fervency. Let us have a sincere concern for the
needs of others and have faith in Christ to hear and answer our prayers.
Go to the throne of grace and intercede on their behalf. And as we go
we should go humbly recognizing our own inability, trusting and having
absolute dependence upon Christ and Him alone to be able to answer our
prayers.
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