A CRY OF AN INTERCESSOR
KEY SCRIPTURES: EZEKIEL 22:30; PSALM 56:9; MARK 10:47
INTRODUCTION
An intercessor is more than someone who prays; an intercessor is a spiritual watchman, a burden bearer, and one who stands in the gap between God and humanity.
An intercessor carries the burden of others in the place of prayer and refuses to remain silent when lives, destinies, families and nations are under spiritual attack.
In Ezekiel 22:30, God searched for a man who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Him for the land. This reveals the heart of intercession: God is looking for people who will stand in the gap when others cannot stand for themselves.
“The language of an intercessor is prayer.”
Prayer is not merely what an intercessor does; it is the spiritual language through which the intercessor communicates with God, enforces God’s Word, and contends for the fulfilment of His purposes on the earth.
An intercessor cannot afford to be spiritually careless, prayerless, or silent in the face of opposition. When the enemy attacks, the intercessor rises in prayer!
THE CRY OF AN INTERCESSOR IS A DESPERATE CRY FOR HELP. PSALM 56:9
“ When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”
The cry of an intercessor is not an ordinary cry. It is a cry that comes from the depth of the spirit, a cry born out of spiritual burden, desperation, and dependence on God.
An intercessor understands that there are battles that human strength, wisdom, money, and connections cannot resolve. There are situations that require divine intervention. When the intercessor sees the enemy attacking a family, destroying a marriage, afflicting a destiny, or holding people captive, the response is not gossip, fear, or complaint. The response is prayer!
The cry of an intercessor is a spiritual weapon against the works of darkness. It is a focused, persistent appeal to God that stands upon His power and His promises.
When you cry unto God, you are not crying because you are defeated; you are crying because you know where your help comes from!
An intercessor does not surrender to the situation; an intercessor carries the situation to God.
THE CRY OF AN INTERCESSOR IS A CRY FOR MERCY. HEBREWS 4:16
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
An intercessor must understand the power of mercy. We do not stand in the gap because we are perfect, but because God is merciful.
When you intercede for a nation, a church, a family, or an individual, you are appealing to the mercy of God. You are asking God to intervene where human weakness has prevailed, to restore what has been damaged, and to give another opportunity where judgment is deserved.
Consider Moses, who stood before God on behalf of Israel when the people sinned. He pleaded for God’s mercy rather than abandoning the people to their consequences (Exodus 32:11–14).
A true intercessor does not rejoice in the downfall of others. The intercessor cries for their restoration, repentance, deliverance, and salvation.
The heart of an intercessor is not a heart that condemns people, but one that carries people before God in prayer.
THE CRY OF AN INTERCESSOR IS A CRY FOR ENCOUNTER. MARK 10:46–52
Blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by, and he began to cry out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”
The crowd tried to silence him, but he cried out even more.
Bartimaeus understood that an opportunity for an encounter had come, and he refused to allow the voices around him to silence his cry.
Intercessors must possess this kind of spiritual desperation. There are times when you must refuse to allow distractions, discouragement, weariness, or the opinions of people to silence your prayer.
Bartimaeus cried until Jesus stopped and called for him.
What situation have you been carrying before God? What burden has been upon your heart? Have you allowed the voices around you to silence your prayer?
The cry of an intercessor says, “Lord, I cannot continue like this! Let Your power be revealed. Let Your mercy speak. Let there be an encounter that changes this situation!”
An encounter with God can change what human effort has struggled to change.
THE CRY OF AN INTERCESSOR IS A CRY FOR CHANGE. EZEKIEL 22:30
An intercessor does not pray merely to fulfil a religious obligation. An intercessor prays because something must change according to the will and purpose of God.
When you stand in the gap, you are contending in prayer for transformation. You are asking God to turn hearts back to Him, restore broken lives, strengthen the weak, deliver the oppressed, and establish His righteousness.
Intercession is a call to spiritual responsibility. It is a do-it-yourself warfare mechanism in the sense that every believer must take personal responsibility for standing in prayer rather than waiting for someone else to do all the praying.
You cannot always delegate your prayer life. You cannot expect your pastor, prayer leader, or another believer to carry every burden on your behalf.
There are battles for which you must personally take your stand in prayer.
You cannot always delegate your prayer life. You cannot expect your pastor, prayer leader, or another believer to carry every burden on your behalf.
There are battles for which you must personally take your stand in prayer.
However, our confidence is not in the volume of our voices or our human strength. Our confidence is in God, who hears prayer and acts according to His Word and His will.
If you desire to see change, become a person who consistently stands in the place of prayer.
AS AN INTERCESSOR, YOUR TONGUE MUST CARRY FIRE. JEREMIAH 23:29
“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”
The tongue of an intercessor must be disciplined, spiritually alert, and filled with the Word of God.
You cannot effectively contend in prayer while remaining ignorant of what God has said. Prayer must be built upon the knowledge of God’s Word, His promises, His character, and His revealed purposes.
Your tongue must carry the fire of God’s Word, not the fire of anger, bitterness, gossip, or empty threats.
When you pray, speak the Word. When fear rises, declare God’s promises. When darkness appears to prevail, stand upon the truth of Scripture. When the enemy brings accusations, answer with the truth of God’s Word.
Jesus demonstrated this when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. His response was, “It is written” (Matthew 4:1–11).
An intercessor must know what is written!
You must know the Scriptures that strengthen your faith, guide your petitions, and help you pray in alignment with God’s will.
When praying for healing, know what God’s Word says about healing.
When praying for deliverance, understand the authority of Christ over the power of darkness.
When praying for your family, stand upon God’s promises concerning His purposes for the household.
When praying for salvation, pray according to God’s desire that people come to repentance and the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1–4).
When praying for restoration, remember God’s power to redeem and renew.
The Word of God is your spiritual ammunition. Do not enter the place of prayer without knowing what you are standing upon!
AN INTERCESSOR MUST BE A WATCHMAN. ISAIAH 62:6–7
“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night…”
A watchman is alert. A watchman observes. A watchman understands that silence at the wrong time can be costly.
An intercessor must develop spiritual sensitivity to recognise burdens that require prayer. This does not mean living in fear or suspecting everyone around you. It means remaining spiritually alert, discerning, and committed to praying as the Holy Spirit leads.
An intercessor watches in prayer over the family, the church, leaders, children, marriages, communities, and the nation.
When others are sleeping spiritually, the intercessor remains alert in the place of prayer.
When others are discouraged, the intercessor continues to pray.
When others have lost hope, the intercessor remembers the faithfulness of God.
The watchman does not merely identify danger; the watchman takes the burden to God in prayer.
Your assignment as an intercessor is not only to see the need but also to stand before God concerning that need.
THE INTERCESSOR MUST BE READY TO STAND IN THE GAP. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”
Intercession is an expression of love, responsibility, and spiritual service.
It is easy to criticise a person who is failing, but it takes spiritual maturity to carry that person before God in prayer.
It is easy to complain about the state of a nation, but it takes commitment to pray for its leaders and people.
It is easy to talk about the challenges facing the church, but an intercessor takes those challenges to God.
Instead of merely discussing the weakness of others, pray for their strength. Instead of spreading the failures of people, pray for their restoration. Instead of allowing the condition of the world to fill you with despair, become a voice of prayer before God.
This is the heart of an intercessor: to stand in the gap and faithfully carry others before the throne of grace.
CONCLUSION: LET THE CRY RISE!
An intercessor is not called to be silent in the face of spiritual responsibility. The language of an intercessor is prayer, the foundation of an intercessor is the Word, and the strength of an intercessor is the Lord.
Your cry must be a cry for help, mercy, encounter, and change.
Your tongue must carry the truth of God’s Word.
Your heart must carry a burden for people.
Your spirit must remain steadfast in prayer.
Your life must reflect the discipline of someone who understands the importance of standing in the gap.
Never forget that intercession is not about shouting the loudest; it is about seeking God sincerely, praying in faith, standing upon His Word, and persevering in obedience.
When the intercessor refuses to give up praying, the battle is continually brought before the God who has the power to save, deliver, restore and transform.
PRAYER
Father, in the name of Jesus, set our hearts on fire for intercession. Give us the grace to stand in the gap, deliver us from prayerlessness, and fill our mouths with Your Word. Help us to pray according to Your will until Your purposes are fulfilled in our generation. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen! 🔥🙏
