Hold unto the word of God and Intercede: 1 Samuel 7, 9

And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him (1 Samuel 7, 9).

As we progress in our fast, we continue to study this book to see what the children of Israel did for them to obtain divine help from the Lord and what they did is still relevant for us today under the new covenant because the principles of God are ageless.

In the midst of their fear, Israel turned to the prophet and ask for continuous prayer on their behalf. Samuel therefore offered sacrifice unto the Lord and cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel in other word, he interceded for Israel.

We study earlier that we need to watch and pray. This time around, we need to take it a step further in pleading with God in intercession on behalf of our families, our churches, our cities and nations. Intercession is praying on behalf of others like Daniel did on behalf of his nation (Daniel 9).

Intercession is praying the will of God concerning others, is laying hold of His word to see it come to pass and persist in prayer until breakthrough like Daniel. Even if the answer delays. In intercession, we begin to engage the word of God in spiritual battle against the enemy to see the fulfilment of that word.

Though Jesus is our ultimate intercessor, as believer we encourage to intercede for one another and for things happening around us and seek divine intervention and see the will of the Father be done on earth as it is in heaven (“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” 1 Timothy 2, 1-2).

Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot and his family were saved. The church prayed for Peter in prison waiting for execution and an angel of the Lord was sent and he was delivered. Samuel the prophet who has the word of God, interceded for Israel and God answered him.

We can do the same if we want to see things changed in our churches, in our nations, in our families. Intercession is not only for some few special anointed people but for all of us as believer.