The Son of God, the Spirit of God, and the Father are all vitally connected in prayer. Brief glimpses into this heavenly mystery are revealed in scripture. And as we peel back the veil, we learn something of Jesus and the Holy Spirit praying to the Father. The prayerful correspondence within the God-head powerfully affects circumstances on earth. As we will see, believers are invited to join with the Trinity in executing the will of God on earth through intercession.
Jesus ever lives to intercede (Heb. 7:25). His priestly role is that of an intercessor. From the Father’s right hand, the Lord Jesus is communicating His concerns and our needs. His full-time occupation in heaven is intercession. The Father’s plan is being implemented by means of this prayerful interaction. And Christ devotes Himself continuously to this hidden ministry. Oh the magnitude of importance that Jesus ever lives to make intercession!
Even in His brief span on earth, Jesus practiced intercession. Isaiah recorded, “He hath poured out his soul unto death.. and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Even while suspended on the Cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The incarnate Christ, as a man, interceded for men. Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail (Luke 22:32). He prayed that all His followers would be unified (John 17:21). There are at least twenty-six references to Jesus’ prayer life in the gospels. He indeed is the great Intercessor.
As Christ was, and is a man of prayer, so the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of prayer. He assists us in our weakness, “For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). These “groanings” indicate unearthly praying. These intense longings are beyond words—groans. They are supplications without syllables. Paul gives further insight that the Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (v. 27). So the Holy Spirit joins Christ in this intercessory work.
I call this collaboration COSMIC INTERCESSION. It is outside earth’s realm and taking place within the Trinity in the very throne room of Heaven. Prayer is God’s chosen means to implement His will on our planet.
And saved people have two of the Trinity praying for them… AMAZING! On top of that, the redeemed are invited to join this Cosmic prayer meeting. Spirit-filled saints can join the intercession taking place between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This type of prayer is not engineered by men, but by God Himself. Spirit-filled prayer is initiated and directed by the Spirit. Under His guidance the burden of God’s heart is uniquely implanted within our hearts. Intercession on earth is merely echoing back to the Father the very desires that originated in His heart. It is breathing back these holy longings to their source. Just as salmon return to their birthplace, even so Spirit-born prayer returns to the heart of God where it originated.
The main purpose of prayer is implementing God’s will. Jesus instructed us to pray “your will be done in earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Praying saints import the will of God into the earth. It is our privilege, as well as our responsibility, to cooperate with heaven in implementing the will of God on earth. In prayer we export heaven’s desires into time. We pray the future into the present.
I don’t pretend to fully comprehend this mystery, but I believe we should place ourselves at God’s disposal in this matter of intercession. God has a plan, desires, and a will to fulfill on earth. And somehow, He has chosen to link Himself with His church to accomplish these divine purposes. In a sense, history is in the hands of intercessors. As we synchronize our hearts with the heart of God, we participate with the Trinity in executing His will in real time.
Wonder of wonders, that God would choose to partner with His Bride to pray His will into existence. That He would solicit us to participate in Cosmic Prayer—to join the Godhead in praying His designs into being… WOW!
History seems to be drawing to its close. Iniquity is rising at breakneck speed. Eternity is closer than ever before. And God has a plan for His people—a will that He wants to accomplish. He has a harvest He wants to reap. A latter rain of revival that will exalt His name and expand His kingdom. He longs to bring the atmosphere of eternity to bear upon time—that His glory would dwell powerfully in His blood-bought church.
So let every hungry heart cry out—”LORD, PLEASE TEACH US TO PRAY. Let us fulfill our destiny in seeing Your will accomplished on earth… just like it is in heaven. Amen and Amen!”
*Plan now to attend the Men’s Prayer Advance or the Ladies’ Prayer Advance.
