“… I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land…” Ezekiel 22:30
The Lord considers it tremendously valuable when a person makes himself or herself available to intercede in prayer. When someone intercedes in prayer, he or she is accomplishing what needs to be done in the spirit on behalf of another person or persons.
Many times we give value to ministry that is seen or promoted; however, God values all ministry, whether it is visible or behind the scenes. Intercession is often done without anyone watching, but God is pleased when His will is done and spiritual tasks are accomplished. Sometimes we are impressed with ourselves and the great things we can do to attract the world; however, when a person makes intercession to the Lord on behalf of a nation or a leader, is that not a great thing as well?
For example, in Genesis 18, the Lord went to Abraham to make him aware of His decision to bring judgment on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to cleanse the world of its wickedness. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and Lot’s family lived in Sodom. Abraham asked the Lord if He would spare the city if there were fifty righteous people found in it. God agreed. Abraham asked if there were forty-five, and God agreed. Abraham then interceded for thirty, twenty, and then ten. God agreed. However, there were not even ten righteous in those cities, so God caused fire and brimstone to fall from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. If ten righteous had been found, God would have spared the city based on Abraham’s intercession. However, the Lord did save Lot and his family by sending them to a nearby city with the messenger of the Lord saying to Lot, “I cannot do anything until you arrive there (Genesis 19:22).” Our prayers make a difference. Intercession changes things.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells a parable about a lost sheep, showing us that God would leave the rest of the flock in safety to go after the one who was lost. God cares about the weaker one, the hurting one, and the poor one. God cares enough that he would go after the one, so when someone who is stronger in faith makes himself or herself available to intercede for the weaker one, God can have His way. There is great value in that.
Application: We all are intercessors; there is no gift of intercession that some have and others don’t. When we make ourselves available to God in prayer, the Holy Spirit will use us to make a difference in the life of someone else, or in the lives of people of a family, a business, a city, a state, or a nation.