Intercessory Prayer

Ok, I promise this is my last post on Charles Spurgeon's book, The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life! It was just such a great book. : )

Intercede: to act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition

Spurgeon says:

"Do you go into prayer and in the face and presence of God not thinking of anyone but yourself? Surely the love of Christ cannot be in you, for the Spirit of Christ is not selfish."

Interceding for others is taking them in prayer to the throne of grace and laying them down at the feet of Christ. It's asking on their behalf for something they need. If you are a Christian someone did this for you.

Spurgeon continues here:

"How can you and I repay the debt we owe to the church unless we pray for others? How was it that you were converted? It was because somebody else prayed for you."

When he refers to the church here he is not talking about a building or an organization that promotes Christianity. He's talking about human beings. He's talking about people who have surrendered their lives to Christ and follow Him.

He's talking about someone who interceded for you.

He later goes on to talk about grace for others in our prayers:

"It is utterly impossible that you should have a large measure of grace unless it prompts you to use your influence for others. If your soul has grace at all and you are not a mighty intercessor, that grace must be but as a grain of mustard seed - a shrivelled, puny thing. You have just enough grace to float your soul clear from the quicksand, but you have no deep floods of grace or else you would carry a rich cargo of the needs of others up to the throne of God. and you would bring back for them rich blessings that they might not have obtained without you."

"It is impossible for a mature saint to live or pray for himself alone."

Have you ever been frustrated with someone's doctrine which you felt was just a bit off? You wanted so badly to correct them and make them see what you see?

Spurgeons advice:

"It is better to pray than it is to argue. Sometimes you think it would be a good thing to have a public discussion upon a doctrine. It would be a better thing to have prayer over it. Carry your dear friends who are wrong in practice - not to the discussion room - but before God, and let this be your cry, 'Teach me if I am wrong, and teach my friend wherein he errs, and make him right.'"

Finally, here is my favorite quote from this chapter on intercessory prayer: 

"Remember that intercessory prayer is the sweetest prayer God ever hears."