John 17:9 “I ask on their behalf…” from the NASB version is commonly known as Jesus’ High Priestly prayer because Jesus as our mediator stands between us and God the Father praying. “We stand before God as Christ because Christ stood before God as us,” Charles Spurgeon wrote.

I urge you to read all of John’s chapter seventeen which tells Jesus’ prayers to His Father as His death loomed near. It’s a beautiful picture of how Jesus prayed for us to emulate as we pray for others. He asks God to keep us from the evil one; to sanctify us by His Truth; to make His people one as He and the Father are one and that “the love that You loved me with may be in them and I in them”.

God has taught me more about Intercessory prayer (prayer for others) the longer I do it. As we bring another person’s needs before the throne of God and we war for them, we pray what Jesus lays on our hearts. We literally ask Jesus the Great Intercessor to pray for them through us. We pray for them by name, mentioning their life in heaven, making Spirit-led requests as guided by God’s Word.

By faith, we seize the answer spiritually. Picture yourself reaching out, grabbing a water bottle, refusing to let it go. We SEIZE the answer, not ripping it away from God, but rather ripping it away from the devil who is attempting to rip it away from us.

Let the words of Eric Gilmour, author of Delighting In His Presence instruct you.

“If we knew Christ’s intercessory prayer for us, we would never fear. Imagine the Lord taking you into a vision and you see Jesus on His knees before the Father, praying by name for you. Can you see the Melchizedek-Christ standing before god with your name glowing on His chest? My friend, David Popovici, one of the greatest men of God that I know is currently giving his life to preach the gospel in hostile areas, told me he was once yearning, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” and in that moment the Lord showed him Jesus looking at the Father, saying, “David, David, David!” Their cries met.

The glory of intercession is when the tears of Jesus come out of your eyes, when you give voice in the earth, to the Voice before God in heaven.” –Eric Gilmour

I began 2024 writing on What is Fervent Prayer? and it is only fitting I close the year on this same topic. If your hungry heart desires additional readings/teaching on this subject, see Pressing in for More of God written amid the Covid-19 epidemic. I wrote about desperation for God, intercessory prayer, and how the revelatory voice of God is released through the Body of Christ when she recovers her voice, using it in the throne room. Finally, my post How to Heap Coals of Fire written in 2018 explains the function of the high priest (Leviticus 16:12) and how we as high priests unto the Lord with unfettered access to God’s presence can pray for others and burn up their wrong thinking in the fire of God.

I plan to return for a final December entry on camellia flowers that choose the cold of winter to release their fragrant blooms, complete with pictures from my two-story-high camellia bush. Until then, Merry Christmas, dear readers. May the light of Christ shine in your hearts and through you unto those around you!

Categories: Intercessory Prayer Intimacy with God Kingdom of God Prayer Talking with God

Tagged as: bible Christianity Eric Gilmour Faith God how did Jesus pray? how to pray for others Intercessory Prayer Jesus Jesus our High Priest John 17 John 17:9 on prayer Kate Leach writer prayer praying for others What is the high priestly prayer? What Jesus prayed in JOhn 17

Kathryne

Christian author and truth teller whose words make darkness tremble. Author of two non-fiction books at https://www.instagram.com/tattooedking_book/