Lesson Six: Building Process 3 - Growing in the Life of Intercession

Questions Concerning Intercession in Light of God’s Attributes

The practice of intercession in light of some of God’s qualities has generated questions in the minds of believers. These questions need to be addressed and clarified or they may become a stumbling block in the life of intercession.

I. If God is Sovereign – He does what He pleases.

Why is intercessory prayer still necessary? Can it actually affect the will of God in people’s lives or in the world?

Consider the example of Moses in Exodus 32 as discussed in prayer principle no. 6. Did Moses change the sovereign will of God when God relented in His decision to destroy Israel in response to his intercession?

While God did not carry out His plan to annihilate the Israelites as a result of Moses’ intercession, it did not change God’s sovereign plan for the nation of Israel – they continue to exist until today. Moses may have moved God from implementing His judgment on rebellious Israel at that time, but eventually, God still judged that generation as they continued in their unbelief and rebellion by not letting them enter the promised land.

Consider the passage that Paul wrote in Romans 8: 29,30. If Paul believed in God’s sovereign predestination of people to be saved, why did he earnestly intercede for the salvation of the unbelieving Jews?

God is sovereign in choosing the people who will be part of His eternal kingdom according to the Apostle Paul, but this truth did not prevent him from praying for the unbelieving Israelites.

II. If God is Good and All-knowing – He knows what people need and cares for people.

Why do we need to intercede for people so that God will meet their needs? Doesn’t God already know and doesn’t He have more compassion than we have over the needs of people? (Matthew 5:45; James 4:2)

God’s goodness is always manifested to people whether they pray or not.

God reserves additional blessings for those who ask from Him.

C.S. Lewis views prayer (intercession) as part of God’s gift to man – the gift of "causality". God can do all things. He does not need man to do anything. But through prayer, God allows man to experience the wonderful privilege of `causing God’s hand to move’ in answer to prayer. It is like the experience of sowing a seed and seeing a plant grow from this tiny seed. Lewis calls it the "dignity of causality". What is actually more exciting than receiving what you asked for is the knowledge that God hears you when you pray and you can cause God to act in your behalf.