What is Intercession?

09/06/2025

What Is Spiritual Intercession?

Spiritual intercession is the act of praying to God on behalf of another person or situation. It is rooted deeply in Scripture and modeled throughout the Bible by prophets, priests, and above all, Jesus Christ.

The word "intercede" literally means to go between — to mediate or plead on behalf of someone else. In spiritual terms, it means standing before God and asking Him to move in the life of another.

Biblical Examples of Intercession:

Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:22–33).
Moses interceded for Israel after they sinned against God (Exodus 32:11–14).
Samuel said, "Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23).
Jesus Christ is our ultimate intercessor: "He ever lives to make intercession for us" (Hebrews 7:25).

Intercession is not merely sympathy; it is spiritual warfare. It's stepping into the battlefield on someone else's behalf, asking God to intervene according to His will and mercy.

How Does Intercession Work?

Christian intercession operates through the authority given to believers in Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

1. Alignment with God's Will

Effective intercession begins with seeking God's heart. As we pray, we don't impose our will — we ask for His. 1 John 5:14–15 says, "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." The intercessor's goal is not manipulation, but submission to God's perfect plans.

2. Standing in the Gap

In Ezekiel 22:30, God says, "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land…" To intercede is to place yourself between judgment and mercy, pleading for God's grace to prevail.

3. Authority in Christ

Believers have authority in Jesus' name. Jesus said, "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13). Intercession isn't based on our righteousness, but on Christ's finished work on the cross.

4. Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit "helps us in our weakness… the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." True intercession is Spirit-led. Often, the Holy Spirit will burden us to pray for someone without even knowing their full need.

Why Is Intercession Effective?

1. Because God Responds to Prayer

Scripture repeatedly affirms that God moves in response to the prayers of His people. James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Intercession opens the door for divine intervention.

2. Because Christ Intercedes for Us

We are never interceding alone. Hebrews 7:25 assures us that Christ "lives to make intercession" for us. Our prayers are united with His — the perfect High Priest who knows exactly how to pray.

3. Because It Breaks Spiritual Strongholds

2 Corinthians 10:4 reminds us that "the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." Intercession confronts darkness, breaks bondage, and releases spiritual freedom in the lives of others.

4. Because It Fulfills the Law of Christ

When we intercede, we carry the burdens of others, fulfilling Galatians 6:2 — "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Intercession is an act of love.

The Heart of an Intercessor

An intercessor is not a spiritual elite — it's any believer willing to carry the burdens of others to the throne of grace. It requires:

Compassion, like Jesus weeping over Jerusalem.
Persistence, like the widow who kept knocking (Luke 18).
Faith, believing that God hears and answers.
Humility, knowing the power comes from God, not from us.

Whether you're praying for a lost loved one, a broken nation, a sick friend, or a persecuted church — your intercession matters. Heaven responds to the prayers of God's people.

Final Word: A Call to Intercede

Be encouraged: your prayers are not wasted. Every time you bend your knee for someone else, you are echoing the ministry of Jesus Himself — our Intercessor, our Savior, our King.

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men…"
—1 Timothy 2:1