The Ministry of Intercession: Praying On Behalf of Others

Praying On Behalf of Others

Intercessory prayer is a ministry that goes beyond merely petitioning God for personal desires; it is a deeply sacrificial and interwoven act of standing in the gap on behalf of others. It is an action that comes from the heart of God Himself—a reflection of His love, mercy, and desire to restore and reconcile His people. The power of intercessory prayer is immense, for when we pray for others, we are tapping into the very character of God and aligning ourselves with His will. The Word of God is full of examples of intercessors, from Moses to Daniel, to Jesus Christ Himself, each of whom provides us with insight into what it truly means to stand before God on behalf of others.

When we look at the life of Moses, we see an intercessor who, time and time again, stood in the gap for the people of Israel. After the Israelites had sinned by worshipping the golden calf, God’s anger burned against them. In Exodus 32:9-10, God tells Moses that He intends to destroy them and start afresh with him. But Moses does not merely accept God's judgment; instead, he pleads with God for the life of Israel. In Exodus 32:31-32, Moses declares: “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book You have written.” The Hebrew phrase machah (מָחָה) for “blot out” means “to wipe out” or “to erase.” Moses, though innocent, offers himself as a substitute for the people, showing us a powerful image of self-sacrifice in intercession. This kind of prayer, where one is willing to suffer for the sake of others, foreshadows the ultimate act of intercession—Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Moses’ willingness to be erased from God’s book is a profound image of selfless love, and it shows us that true intercession goes beyond just asking for mercy; it requires identification with the people we pray for.

Moses’ prayer is an example of deep empathy and selflessness in intercession. In praying that God would forgive Israel, he wasn’t simply asking for a “get out of jail free card” for the people; he was identifying with their sin and offering himself as a substitute. This act of intercession illustrates that standing in the gap for others requires a willingness to bear their burdens, to enter into their struggle, and to plead for mercy on their behalf. In essence, Moses demonstrates the power of vicarious prayer—praying not just for others but as though you were them, feeling their shame, their pain, and their need for forgiveness. This is a model of intercession that calls us to the deepest levels of sacrificial love, as Moses offers himself to God, praying for the very people who had sinned against him.

When we look to the book of Daniel, we find a different but equally powerful form of intercession. Daniel, though he himself was righteous, took on the sins of the nation and prayed on behalf of Israel. In Daniel 9:5, Daniel confesses, “We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from Your commands and laws.” The Hebrew word used for “sin” here is chatta’ah (חַטָּאָה), meaning “to miss the mark” or “to go astray.” This term paints sin as a deviation from the intended path, showing that to sin is to fall short of God’s glory. Daniel, in his prayer, acknowledges that the nation had not merely broken specific laws but had missed the very purpose for which they were created—to reflect the holiness of God. Yet despite the people’s disobedience, Daniel does not condemn them but instead pleads with God for mercy.

Daniel’s intercessory prayer is filled with humility. He asks God not to act because of Israel’s righteousness but because of His own great mercy. In Daniel 9:18, he prays, “We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.” The word racham (רָחַם), meaning “tender mercy” or “compassion,” is the core of Daniel’s request. His plea is not based on the merit of the people but on God’s character—His kindness, compassion, and grace. Daniel’s intercession highlights the essence of true intercessory prayer: it is not based on our own righteousness or worth but on God’s great mercy and compassion. Intercessors must always approach God on the basis of His love, not their own goodness, and seek the restoration of those they pray for by appealing to God’s heart of mercy.

Perhaps the most profound intercession in all of Scripture is that of Jesus Christ. In His High Priestly Prayer in John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples and for all who would come to believe in Him. His prayer is not just for their protection but for their sanctification, unity, and ultimate glory. In John 17:17, He prays, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” The Greek word for sanctify is hagiaszo (ἁγιάζω), which means “to set apart” or “to make holy.” Jesus is asking the Father to set His followers apart from the world and sanctify them by the power of His Word. This request for sanctification is at the heart of intercessory prayer—it is a desire for those we pray for to be transformed by the truth of God’s Word and to be made holy in His sight.

Yet, the most poignant moment in Jesus’ intercession is found in His prayer for forgiveness for those who are crucifying Him. In Luke 23:34, Jesus, in the midst of excruciating pain, says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” The Greek word for forgive here is apheimi (ἀφίημι), which means “to release” or “to send away.” Jesus’ intercession is not simply for their physical well-being but for their spiritual restoration. He is pleading with the Father to forgive those who are actively causing His suffering. This is the essence of intercession—praying for those who are causing harm, asking for God’s mercy even when it seems undeserved. Jesus demonstrates the heart of God in this act of forgiveness, showing that true intercession requires a heart that desires restoration and forgiveness, even for the most hardened of enemies.

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection embody the ultimate intercessory prayer. Through His sacrifice, He became the ultimate mediator between God and man, standing in the gap for all humanity. Hebrews 7:25 says, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” Even now, Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, interceding on our behalf, pleading for our forgiveness, our sanctification, and our restoration. He has made a way for us to approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that He is interceding for us.

Intercessory prayer, therefore, is not simply about praying for others—it is about participating in God’s redemptive plan. When we intercede, we are aligning ourselves with God’s heart for the world. We are pleading for mercy and restoration, standing in the gap for those who cannot stand for themselves. True intercession requires a willingness to sacrifice, a heart of compassion, and a deep identification with those for whom we pray. It is a reflection of God’s own heart—a heart that desires all to come to repentance, that all may be saved, and that none should perish. As we engage in intercessory prayer, we are joining with God in His mission to reconcile the world to Himself, praying not only for the forgiveness of sin but for the restoration of lives and the glorification of His name.

Thus, intercessory prayer is a powerful ministry, one that calls us to lay down our lives in prayer for others, to identify with their struggles, and to plead for God’s mercy on their behalf. Whether it is Moses offering himself for Israel, Daniel praying for the nation’s repentance, or Jesus praying for the forgiveness of His enemies, we are reminded that intercession is not a simple act of asking—it is a deep, sacrificial, and profound ministry that mirrors the very heart of God. Through intercession, we become co-laborers with Christ, joining Him in His work of redemption, and standing as vessels of God’s mercy, grace, and love.