Biblical Basis for Intercession
Genesis 1:27-28 - "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (NIV)
Genesis 2:4-5 - "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens– and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground." (NIV)
Genesis 2:15 - "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (NIV)
Genesis 3:15 - "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (NIV)
Psalm 8:4-6 - "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet." (NIV)
Luke 4:5-8 - "The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, 'I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’’” (NIV)
Matthew 16:19 - "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (NIV)
In the beginning, God created man and woman in his image and gave them a task - to rule over the earth. God shared his authority with humans. From the very beginning, God always had intended to partner with humans in ruling over creation. In fact, when the earth was created, no shrubs actually appeared until Adam worked the ground (Gen. 2:5). Man was even given a specific area in which to exercise his authority - the garden of Eden.
When the serpent tempted Adam and Eve to sin, he wanted to get his hands on something - their authority. He knew that if the humans decided to rebel against God, they would hand over their authority to him. And that's just what happened. Satan became the "prince of this world", according to Jesus (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). As soon as this transaction took place, everything started dying… trees, animals, relationships and humans. Death entered the scene when humans gave up their authority to the enemy.
In an amazing move of mercy, God reveals his sacrificial plan to regain the authority that humans threw away. He foretells that one day, someone will come who will "crush the head" of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). His plan to sacrifice his son, Jesus, for the sins of the world, was already in motion.
The Father made good on his promise. His son, Jesus, came and lived among us. He was crucified, then died and was buried. The third day he rose from the grave and appeared to many people (1 Cor. 15:3-6). Jesus then ascended into heaven and sits at the Father's right hand in his place of authority. Before Jesus left his disciples, he said to them, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19 NIV). We also read in Revelation 1:18 that Jesus says - "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" (NIV). Jesus died to regain the keys of the kingdom, the authority. And what does he do with that authority? He gives it back to the church. How amazing!
As in the garden of Eden, God's people still have a choice whether to use their authority wisely or hand it back to the enemy through sin. In reality, Christians are seated on thrones in Jesus next to the Father (Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1-3). They are commissioned to exercise this authority on the earth (Matt. 18:18; 28:18-20). This is called intercession. We will learn how intercession is practiced in the following sections on this topic. It is important to understand that there are real implications today when the church chooses to exercise its authority or abdicate it.
For More Study
Thoughts and Questions for Application
Memorization
Psalm 8:4-6 - "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet." (NIV)
Genesis 2:4-5 - "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens– and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground." (NIV)
Genesis 2:15 - "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (NIV)
Genesis 3:15 - "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (NIV)
Psalm 8:4-6 - "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet." (NIV)
Luke 4:5-8 - "The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, 'I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’’” (NIV)
Matthew 16:19 - "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (NIV)
In the beginning, God created man and woman in his image and gave them a task - to rule over the earth. God shared his authority with humans. From the very beginning, God always had intended to partner with humans in ruling over creation. In fact, when the earth was created, no shrubs actually appeared until Adam worked the ground (Gen. 2:5). Man was even given a specific area in which to exercise his authority - the garden of Eden.
When the serpent tempted Adam and Eve to sin, he wanted to get his hands on something - their authority. He knew that if the humans decided to rebel against God, they would hand over their authority to him. And that's just what happened. Satan became the "prince of this world", according to Jesus (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). As soon as this transaction took place, everything started dying… trees, animals, relationships and humans. Death entered the scene when humans gave up their authority to the enemy.
In an amazing move of mercy, God reveals his sacrificial plan to regain the authority that humans threw away. He foretells that one day, someone will come who will "crush the head" of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). His plan to sacrifice his son, Jesus, for the sins of the world, was already in motion.
The Father made good on his promise. His son, Jesus, came and lived among us. He was crucified, then died and was buried. The third day he rose from the grave and appeared to many people (1 Cor. 15:3-6). Jesus then ascended into heaven and sits at the Father's right hand in his place of authority. Before Jesus left his disciples, he said to them, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19 NIV). We also read in Revelation 1:18 that Jesus says - "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" (NIV). Jesus died to regain the keys of the kingdom, the authority. And what does he do with that authority? He gives it back to the church. How amazing!
As in the garden of Eden, God's people still have a choice whether to use their authority wisely or hand it back to the enemy through sin. In reality, Christians are seated on thrones in Jesus next to the Father (Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1-3). They are commissioned to exercise this authority on the earth (Matt. 18:18; 28:18-20). This is called intercession. We will learn how intercession is practiced in the following sections on this topic. It is important to understand that there are real implications today when the church chooses to exercise its authority or abdicate it.
For More Study
- Genesis 2-3
- Psalm 8
- Matthew 16:13-20
- Matthew 28:16-20
Thoughts and Questions for Application
- Do you see that Satan's plan in the garden of Eden was a grab for power? Do you understand that his temptations in your life are purposed toward gaining authority over your mind, family and community?
- Do you understand the great lengths that the Father went through to regain the authority? Is he taking a risk by giving it back to you?
- Meditate on Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus sends you out with his authority. What is he calling you to do?
Memorization
Psalm 8:4-6 - "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet." (NIV)
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