The Limits of Intercessory Prayer by Milburn Cockrell

THE LIMITS OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER

By Milburn Cockrell

"Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth" (Jer. 15:1).

This text seems to contradict many plain Scriptures, which tell us God answers our prayers. There are in Holy Scripture numerous promises that say that when we call upon the throne of grace the Lord will hear us. But here we have an exception to this general rule.

This text does not teach that the saints in Heaven (men like Moses and Samuel) intercede for the saints on earth as the papists teach. The dead do not pray for the living. It is the prerogative of Christ to be the only Intercessor in the other world. I Timothy 2:5 says: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5).

PRAYER IS MUSIC IN THE EARS OF GOD

The God of the Bible is a prayer hearing God. When addressing God, the psalmist said: "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come" (Ps. 65:2). In these words of the psalmist we see the omnipotence and omniscience of God. He can hear our prayers in all places and at all times. Since God is immutable, He must always hear prayers. The hearing of our prayers is His usual practice and pleasure, His native glory. Dark and dismal would this world be without the Hearer of prayers.

How wonderful to know that our prayers, uttered on earth, go up to God's throne in Heaven: "Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven" (II Chron. 30:27). Prayers, which come up into Heaven in a cloud of incense, will come down again on the earth in showers of blessings upon our heads.

The prayers of the saints are sweet perfume to the Lord: "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Ps. 141:2). There is a fourfold resemblance between prayer and the offering of incense. First, the incense had to be beaten before it could be used. Acceptable prayer must come from a broken heart. Second, it was of no use until fire was put under it. Prayer has no power which is not kindled from the Spirit, which we have from our altar, Christ. Third, the incense naturally ascended upwards toward Heaven. Our prayers are designed to ascend unto God's throne in Heaven. Fourth, the incense had a sweet odor. Even so, our prayers are sweet perfume to God. "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints" (Rev. 5:8).

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

There is such a thing as intercessory prayer. I mean that one person prays for another person. On the great Day of Atonement the high priest in Israel entered with the blood and incense within the veil before the mercy seat, and he made intercession for the people of Israel . It was done in behalf of the nation for the purpose of averting the displeasure and conciliating the favor of Jehovah.

In Genesis 18:23-32 Abraham offered an intercessory prayer for the righteous who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah . He asked God to spare them if ten righteous souls could be found, but there were not ten righteous souls. God did not spare the cities of the plains, but He did deliver Lot , his wife, and his two daughters from the destruction.

Moses was a man given to intercessory prayer for Israel . It is written in Exodus 32:11: "And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou has brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?" Moses feared God would destroy the whole nation for worshipping the golden calf. Therefore he prayed for God to spare the people: "And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written" (Ex. 32:31-32). This intercessory prayer of Moses prevailed with God and preserved the nation. In Psalm 106:23 it is written: "Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them" (Ps. 106:23). Here we see the power of the intercession of a righteous man with God.

The Apostle Paul made an intercessory prayer for unsaved Israel : "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved" ( Rom. 10:1). The Peshtigo has it: "The desire of my heart and my intercession with God for them, is, that they might have life." It was the good pleasure of Paul's heart and his entreaty to God on their behalf to the end that they might be saved. We must use all proper means for the conversion of the unsaved. We must offer intercessory prayer in their behalf, for our Lord did: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34 ). He who cannot pray for the unsaved does not have within him the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

IT IS NOT WRONG TO REQUEST INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Israel asked the prophet Samuel to intercede with God for them when they were going out to fight with the Philistines: "And the children of Israel said unto Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hands of the Philistines" (I Sam. 7:8; cf. 8:6). When the Israelites committed a great sin by asking for a king God terrified them with thunder in harvest time (I Sam. 12:1-18). "And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king" (I Sam. 12:19 ; cf. Ps. 99:6).

When Israel sinned and was judged with the fiery serpents they went to Moses and asked him to pray for them: "Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people"

(Num. 21:7). Again the intercessory prayer of Moses prevailed with God.

A number of other examples of request for intercessory prayer are found in the Bible. Jeroboam made such a request (I Kings 13:6), and so did Hezekiah (II Kings 19:1-4). Even Zedekiah (Jer. 37:3) and Pharaoh asked for prayer (Ex. 8:8).

In many cases God heard these intercessory prayers of his servants. Abraham prayed for Ishmael: "O that Ishmael might live before thee!" (Gen. 17:18). God heard and answered this prayer, for in Genesis 17:20 God said to Abraham: "And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee..." Miriam spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married (Num. 12:1) and God smote her with leprosy (Num. 12:10 ). "And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee" (Num. 12:13 ). Because of this prayer of Moses she was completely healed in seven days. The intercessory prayer of Moses also saved the life of his brother, Aaron (Deut. 9:20 ). The intercessory prayers of the church at Jerusalem got Peter released from jail by an angel (Acts 12:5-12). As a general rule, God hears and answers the intercessory prayers of His people.

It is according to the teaching of Holy Scripture to ask for intercessory prayer in sickness: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Jas. 5:14 -16). This is probably one of the most neglected passages in the New Testament.

It is worth noting that the sick person must call for the elders of the church. It does not say the elders must call on the sick person. Here we have both prayer and medical means used by the elders of the church. Oil was used in healing (Luke 10:34 ) and so was prayer. Both these things were to be used in the name of the Lord. The anointing and prayer by the elders of the church was designed to result in bodily healing. Here we see the great worth of intercessory prayer when a church member is sick. It is not wrong to use medical means, but this must be mixed with effectual fervent prayer. This is to follow the example of our Lord's disciples: "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them" (Mark 6:13 ).

The Apostle Paul was a man of great intercessory prayer. To the church at Rome he wrote: "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers" ( Rom. 1:9). To the Thessalonians he wrote: "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith" (I Thess. 3:10 ). He prayed for many people, but he also wanted people to intercede with God for him: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel" (Eph. 6:18-19).

James Vaughan expressed so well how we need the prayers of those we love:

I need the prayers of those I love,

While traveling o'er life's rugged way,

That I may true and faithful be,

And live for Jesus every day.

I want my friends to pray for me,

To bear my tempted soul above,

And intercede with God for me

I need the prayers of those I love.

Mary, Queen of Scots, said she feared John Knox's prayers more than all her enemies. Her fears were well grounded. One night while he was praying word came to Knox that "bloody Mary" was dead.

THE VALUE OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Intercessory prayer is an exercise of great worth. First, it is to carry out the command of God. In our prayers we must not merely think of number one. We must give consideration to others. Jesus taught us in the example prayer: "Our Father which art in heaven..." (Matt. 6:9). Please note in this example prayer Christ taught His disciples to pray "our," "we," and "us," not "I," "my," and "me."

Second, it helps us to conquer a selfish spirit, which we have by nature. Intercessory prayer will help us develop love to our fellow man. Jesus taught us: "Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you" (Luke 6:28 ).

Third, when we engage in intercessory prayer we follow after some noble examples. We walk in the beaten path which was trod by Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Jeremiah, Jesus Christ, Paul, and many good and godly believers who lived in former times. In other words, it put us in some of the best company who ever walked the face of the earth.

Fourth, people who pray for others may be the means of these other people obtaining blessings from the Lord. The prayer of Abraham saved Lot and his family from destruction. The prayer of Moses preserved the nation of Israel on more than on one occasion. The prayers of the Jerusalem church resulted in Peter's deliverance from jail. The prayer of faith by the elders of the church can deliver a man from bodily sickness. Intercessory prayer may save a man from the chastening hand of God: "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death..." (I John 5:16).

THERE IS NO MERIT IN PRAYER

Prayer supposes the absence of all claims, for what a man can claim he needs not to pray for. It is not a demand, but it is an appeal for mercy. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16 ). In our sins and suffering we may merely seek God's pity and compassion. His mercy can only be obtained as we rely upon the advocacy of our Intercessor.

God is sovereign in His mercy, and He can heed or refuse our request, according to His good pleasure. "And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy" (Ex. 33:19). It is never written: "I will be angry at whom I will be angry," for God's wrath is always holy and just. But He does say He will show mercy on whom He will show mercy, for mercy is always free. God is a debtor to none. He will have mercy on whom He pleases.

Had God's mercy refused every prayer, justice would have received no violation. That God has a right to answer prayers is beyond challenge. If God were under obligation to hear prayer and bestow mercy, then mercy would no longer be mercy. Obligation is justice, not mercy. If we recognized the sovereignty of Divine Mercy, our prayers would be more humbly submitted and answers would kindle a loftier praise.

All prayers for mercy must be based on the atoning blood of Christ. Our prayers and services are "acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (I Peter 2:5). This is why we must pray in the name of Jesus Christ (John 16:24 ). To pray in the name of Jesus means to pray as a servant, bound to attend to Christ's interest, bound to consult His wishes, bound to carry out His purposes. This is how to pray an acceptable prayer for God's mercy and grace. Always ask God to answer your prayers for Jesus's sake.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER HAS LIMITS

That there are limits on prayer even when offered by the best of men is clearly seen in my text. Even the intercessory prayers of Moses and Samuel would not avail in the case of backsliding Judah . The Lord told Jeremiah: "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee" (Jer. 7:16 ; cf. 11:14 ). Here intercessory prayer is plainly forbidden.

People can become so steeped in sin until there is no remedy. Of Judah it was written: "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy" (II Chron. 36:16). Prevailing prayer is dependent on the conditions of the people for whom we pray. In some cases the hour of hope has been lost. When this is the case neither the intercession of Moses, Samuel, or Jeremiah can avail for such a people.

It is an ill omen to people when God restrains His preachers and people from praying for those He is determined to punish. God forbids prayer for those believers who sin unto bodily death: "There is a sin unto death. I do not say that he shall pray for it" (I John 5:16 ). We have no warrant to pray for a believer whose body is about to suffer Divine discipline.

THE GREAT INTERCESSOR

It is the prerogative of the eternal Word to be the only Intercessor in the other world. To mediate and intercede are both conciliatory acts. An intercessor interposes for the removal of sins. A mediator pleads for the attainment of good. Even so, our Intercessor, Christ, asks the Father to remove our guilt (I John 2:1). As our Mediator, He pleads for the blessings of grace and salvation for us (Rom. 8:34 ). Christ is our Intercessor by virtue of His relationship to the Father. He is our Mediator by virtue of His atonement, by which act He takes upon Himself the sins of all who truly repent.

Christ does not ask for undeserved favors as we do in prayer. Therefore there is a great gulf between His prayers and ours. Christ desires nothing on our behalf but for which He laid down the price. The blood of sprinkling, mentioned in the Book of Hebrews (Heb. 12:24), is a reference to the blood of the sacrifices, which were to be sprinkled before the mercy seat by which the high priest did intercede for the people of Israel. The blood of Christ is equivalent to the voice of a supplicant. The intercession of our Lord is grounded upon merit, and Divine justice demands that His prayers prevail. There is no limit to the intercessory prayers of Jesus Christ.

As God, He pleads for nothing but what is the will of God (Heb. 10:7-9). It was the Father's will that Christ give Himself as a sacrifice. It is upon the perfect fulfilling of the Father's will that Christ makes His pleas. If Christ's requests were denied, the Father would cross His own will. This cannot be. Hence the intercessory prayers of Christ always prevail with the Father. In John 11:42 our Lord declared: "And I knew that thou hearest me always...."

Our Lord is not interceding with a stranger, but with His Father, the One who loves Him (John 5:20 ) and withholds nothing from Him (Ps. 2:8). The Father and Christ have one essence and will. What Christ wills, the Father wills. What Christ desires is granted, for what He interceded for is the Father's will (John 10:30 ).

If we desire to make an intercessory prayer with God, we must pray for the same thing for which Christ intercedes. If while we are praying, and Christ is praying for the same thing, how can we doubt but what it will be granted? Though we deserve to be denied because of our sins, Christ's prayer always prevails with God for us. The pleas of our Lord are irresistible. They satisfy the law, magnify grace, and glorify the Father.

CONCLUSION

1. Intercessory prayer is well pleasing to God when it is offered according to His will. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (I John 5:14-15; cf. 3:22). If we pray under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will pray according to His will (Rom. 8:26 -27). To pray contrary to His will is not prayer, but rebellion.

2. There is a limit to our intercessory prayers. Our prayers cannot change God or His Divine purpose. Prayer does change us and makes us willing to submit to His will.

3. It is not wrong to ask favors from God for others. We are at liberty to fully unburden our soul to God. But we must intercede for others, knowing there is a limit to the long-suffering and forbearance of God. We must never attempt to dictate ultimate courses to the Supreme Being. We must pray and trust His righteousness and sovereignty. Our heavenly Father yields us many privileges as sons, yet as Lord of all He retains His majesty.

4. As Christians we are to pray for all kinds of men. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour" (I Tim. 2:1-3). To fail to pray for people who have asked an interest in our prayers is a sin. Samuel told the Israelites: "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you...." (I Sam. 12:23).