Praying for justice
Intercession as Advocacy
“Time spent in prayer will yield more than that given to work. Prayer alone gives work its worth and its success. Prayer opens the way for God Himself to do His work in us and through us. Let our chief work as God’s messengers be intercession; in it we secure the presence and power of God to go with us.” Andrew Murray
The Parable of the Persistent Widow Luke 18:1-8
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.
3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,
5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.
7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW ON INTERCESSION
God is our advocate, and He desires that we intercede. In Hebrews 4:16, God says “to come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy and help in time of need.” God wants us to come to him and intercede for the injustices in the world. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Lord said to Solomon “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
In the New Testament, Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). He explained how we should always pray and not give up. God says that He will bring justice when people pray and cry out to him day and night. We need to intercede for the poor and needy, for trafficked children, for families to stay strong, for integrity in government, for peace and reconciliation to name a few just causes. God asks us to pray individually and corporately for justice on the earth.
Intercessory prayer is advocacy in itself. It involves intercession for a cause (a cause of action) going before the throne of God’s grace, and pleading a case for that just cause before the Almighty Judge of all the Universe. It’s an appeal to heaven, in legal terms (and as Dutch Sheets says, “it still works” – it changes outcomes). Prayer has been known to change unjust legislation and egregious court decisions, and to change the course of history and justice in nations. We cherish its significance in justice work. Intercession in prayer can lead to intervention in deeds.
Jesus and the Holy Spirit are of course advocates. (See of Jesus: Isaiah 53:12, 1 John 2:12, Hebrews 7:25, See of the Holy Spirit: John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26;16:7.)
(Authors: © Patrick and Kathy Talbot, August 5, 2023)
Resources
PRINCIPLES FOR EFFECTIVE INTERCESSION
By Joy Dawson, Youth with a Mission
- Praise God for who He is, and for the privilege of engaging in the same wonderful ministry as the Lord Jesus.
- Make sure your heart is clean before God, by having given the Holy Spirit time to convict, should there be any unconfessed sin.
- Die to your own imaginations, desires, and burdens for what you feel you should pray.
- Acknowledge you can’t really pray without the direction and energy of the Holy Spirit.
- Deal aggressively with the enemy. Come against him in the all-powerful Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with the “sword of the Spirit”—the Word of God
- Praise God now in faith for the remarkable prayer meeting you’re going to have. He’s a remarkable God and will do something consistent with His character.
- Wait before God in silent expectancy, listening for His direction.
- In obedience and faith, utter what God brings to your mind.
- If possible, have your Bible with you should God want to give you direction or confirmation from it.
- When God ceases to bring things to your mind to pray for, finish by praising and thanking Him for what He has done.
Free WORLD PRAYER MAPS
Every Home for Christ has free geographical prayer maps actually naming governing authorities in each country.
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JOIN AN INTERCESSORY PRAYER GROUP FOR JUSTICE
Contact Isaiah Justice Institute at info@isaiahjusticeinstitute.com
to find out about an intercessory prayer group on justice in your area.