7 Threads of Intercession

I’m studying and researching for the Revealed series. I can’t wait to share what I’ve found.

Meanwhile…

I’ve recently read and meditated on John 11, the death and resurrection of Lazarus. As I did, there were some stirrings in my heart about intercession. I know there is so much more to this passage than the following thoughts. But if you will allow me, I’d like to share 7 threads of intercession I believe the Lord highlighted as I read–each one an invitation to more his heart.

1. Appeal to God’s Love

When Lazarus became ill, “Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, “The one whom you love is sick.” (John 11:3)

Mary and Martha appealed to Jesus’ love for Lazarus, begging him to come.

Love should be the impetus behind our intercession. Intercession is coming into agreement with God’s heart, which can only be love—God is love. As we are interceding, holding people or groups of people (churches, families, cities, nations) before the Lord, it should be done so out of His love for them.

It’s embarrassing how many times I have started praying and interceding for someone out of judgement or selfishness. But God has called me out on my stuff every time and extended an invitation to learn more about his love, his love for them, and his love for me.

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4

2. Expect Delays

Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. So, when [Jesus] heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let’s us go to Judea again.” … Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.” (John 11:6-7 & 17)

There is a time coming when the miracle, the answer, the provision, the (fill in the blank) will seem all of a sudden and immediate. The necessity of waiting is hard to understand. It drives us crazy. It tests our limits. It questions our faith. While we wait, though, something is happening. As we keep pursuing, echoing the cries of the Psalmists, “How much longer?!?!?!” (emphasis mine) something eternal is forming inside of us. Perhaps, like diamonds, it can only form under pressure and time. And though I’m often the first to complain about waiting, I know I don’t want to shortcut that process.

There is an unshakeable truth in the waiting. Jesus is aware and moving, even when there’s no trace of evidence. When he reveals himself in the situation, probably out of nowhere and seemingly late, everything will change.

3. Beware of Doubt

[Jesus] said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?…So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:7-16)

I am learning that intercession, continual committed prayer for someone, is really an invitation from the Lord. In the same way Jesus says to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea…Lazarus is sleeping/dead,” he says to us, “Let us go and speak life into some dead things”. It’s worth repeating that intercession is coming into agreement with God’s heart for someone. Sometimes our response is reason-based and doesn’t fully understand the resurrection as redemptive, creative power that has taken up residence inside of us. Let’s be honest with each other, it’s easier said than done. When our reasoning isn’t submitted to trust and faith in Jesus, it creates doubt.

James tells us that doubt makes us double-minded and unstable, tossed around like waves in the sea. (James 1:5-8) Faith, on the other hand, is substance and conviction (Hebrews 11:1). So, when we are interceding it is crucial that we stay in agreement with God’s heart without letting doubt toss us around. If we find ourselves feeling nauseated from going back and forth between faith and doubt, our best action is to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what we are believing. Does it agree with what God is saying about the situation? What has the reins, reasoning or faith? Then, let the Holy Spirit do what he does—help us believe in the word God has spoken.

Just as a personal amusement, I can totally identify with Thomas’ response, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” It is both committed to following Jesus and convinced of doom. I like to believe that I will follow Jesus anywhere, but it is often with one eye open and one eye shut.

4. More than Meets the Eye

Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “ I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:20-27)

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40)

When we accept the invitation to intercede for someone or a group of people, we are also saying yes to all the layers that come with it. I have never walked away praying for someone (especially over an extended amount of time) when there was only one thing that came to fruition. When God works it is layers upon layers upon layers of work. He is into the details, leaving no stone unturned. Lazarus’ story wasn’t just about him, it was also about Martha, Mary, and the disciples.

Another great Biblical example is the book of Ruth. The work God did in Ruth’s life overflowed into Naomi’s life and Boaz’s life. It even was retrospective to Rahab’s life and prospective to David’s life, Jesus’ life, and, therefore, our life.

In a more personal example, I prayed for my prodigal husband for seventeen years before he turned around and came back to Christ. The Lord was faithful to complete what he began in Jonathan before his passing in 2014. Amen! But, in addition to the answered prayer for Jonathan, there are layers upon layers upon layers of work the Lord did in my heart, soul, mind, and strength during those seventeen years. I am who I am today because of how the Lord changed me in the process.

Coming into agreement with God’s heart is going deeper into those Sunday School answers. Martha knew the right answers as Jesus probed her belief. Yet, she was still missing what was right front her. Jesus was already in the world, the resurrection and life was talking to her face, and Lazarus was only a foretaste of what was coming.

5. There Will be Tears

Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” they said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. (John 11:32-35)

Emotions, like reason, are a gift that God fashioned in us but should be submitted to the leadership of Christ. I’ve heard it said that, “Emotions are great servants, but terrible masters.” When they are serving us, I believe they are (can be) conversation starters with God. He uses our emotions to prompt his heart for people. Not in a manipulative kind of way—God is never like that—but in an invitation kind of way. Come see the depths of my heart for this person, for this family, for this city, for this nation. Ask me about it!

If you accept the invitation to intercede for people, there will be tears. I’ll open the definition of tears to include strong emotions. It’s hard to fathom coming into agreement with God’s heart for someone without experiencing intense feelings. The appropriate response to those tears and emotions is bringing them back to the feet of Jesus. Mary was grieved by the death of her brother and confused by Jesus’ absence. She fell at his feet, and underneath her statement, she was really asking why had he been. Her weeping deeply moved Jesus, and he wept too.

With intercession, we will be moved by his heart, and he will be moved by our heart—everybody will have ugly cry faces. In the middle of all that love, Jesus is moving closer and closer to that which is dead. And [Jesus] said “Where have you laid him?” (John 11:34)

I’m not saying if you cry your prayers will be answered—that’s not truth, and God can’t be manipulated. I’m saying that when we’re moved by the heart of God, he is moved by our heart.

6. The Work of Jesus, the Work of the Body

[Jesus] cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (John 11:43-44)

In this passage, it is Jesus who called Lazarus from the dead. But, then he called the family and disciples to unbind Lazarus, and let him go. There is a work in our hearts that only our savior, Jesus Christ, can do. It’s by no other name that we are saved, his blood speaks the better word, he calls us from death to life. We do not have the power to save anyone from sin and death and make them new creations. However, the process of freedom—unbinding and removing grave clothes—is done by the Body of Christ. It is the Spirit powerfully working in us as we come alongside each other and minister.

How much fun is it to be on the side lines as Jesus calls someone from death to life? I admit, sometimes it’s a real nail biter as we appeal to Jesus’ love for someone and wait. But when they respond to Jesus’ call, it is an irreplaceable joy—unexpectedly expected.

I’m learning—unfortunately from mistakes, but learning no less—that it’s important to stick around after the intercession and after the prayers have been answered. We need each other. Can you name the people in your life who removed your grave clothes, who have been a part of your freedom-in-Christ process and your discipleship? I hope you can!

7. Bigger Picture

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with [Jesus] at the table. (John 12:1-2)

I mentioned earlier the many layers of intercession, and that there is always more going on than we can see. In Lazarus’ story we see that it wasn’t just about him being raised from the dead, but it was also about Mary, Martha, and the disciples understanding who Jesus is, trusting him, and a foretaste of what was coming.
Continuing that thought, I love that John writes about Lazarus reclining at the table with Jesus in the next chapter.

One of the stirrings in my heart about intercession as I scoured this story is that it is never just about the miracle we are praying for. As my friend Matt Jackson versed, “I want the healer, not just the healing.” There are many layers that come with praying for someone, but the greatest one has to be relationship with Jesus.

Jesus not only calls us out of death and darkness, he brings us into life and marvelous light. He brings us to his banqueting table where his banner over us is love. (Song of Solomon 2:4)

Jesus, thank you for the invitation into your heart!