Have you ever seen the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem? I’m sure you’ve seen it on Television, if not in person.
But let me refresh your memory. The Wailing Wall is this large wall made with gigantic cut stone. It got its name from the British who occupied the territory years ago and who heard people crying out as they prayed there. The Jewish people prefer to call it the Western Wall, as it is the western foundation of the second temple.
If you visit the site it is just like visiting a synagogue, men on the left, women on the right. Going to the wall you’ll see many devout Jews praying, reading the Scriptures and stuffing little bits of paper in the cracks of the wall. On each piece of paper is the name of a person, a loved one, asking God to intercede in the life.
When Janet and I were there we were told that we should offer a prayer for our loved ones. Someone asked, “Why?” And they said jokingly, “Because it’s a local call. No long distance charges.”
Thankfully we can make a direct call at any time to our Father who is in heaven. And what a privilege is ours to intercede for another person in prayer. It was the privilege of the ancient priests as they ministered in the tabernacle (Exodus 28:29; 30:1-10). And it’s our privilege as a “holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5) to do the same.
The prayer of intercession is the kind of prayer in which we stand in our minds eye between the person for whom we are concerned and God. We stand in the gap and we intercede for the person who may or may not be able to ask for him or herself.
It has been called prayer at its highest. This in not to say that the other kinds of prayer, are of less value – that’s not the point – it’s that in the prayer of intercession our heart is joined with the very heart of God when we fall on our knees in prayer for another. And it is here in intercessory prayer that the real work of the Kingdom is done. Intercessory prayer is not preparation for the work, nor is it the asking for blessing after the work is done – IT IS THE VERY WORK ITSELF.
Nothing can protect a person more, nothing can grant the kingdom more success, nothing can aid the progress of the Kingdom more than believers uniting and agreeing together in intercessory prayer. And it is through prayer that we are able to be a blessing to all peoples.
Can I encourage you to take up your priestly role today and pray daringly, specifically, lovingly, and persistently for those around you? Christ has made it possible for us to enter into God’s presence with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Praise God, our prayers are a direct call!
Joining with you in prayer, Pastor Tom.