Praying in the Grace Dispensation -Part 3
The fallacy of Intercessory Prayer
Growing in Grace Ministry
As a brief review we note that the word translated as prayer in most English bible translations, originated from several Greek words.
1. proseuche (pros-yoo-khay')prayer addressed to God: a place set apart or suited for the offering of prayer
2. deesis (deh'-ay-sis) is translated as supplication, petition or request.
3. enteuxis (ent'-yook-sis) is translated as intercession or to pray for others.
Review of Prayer
In the last section , the discussion of intercessory prayer was initiated.
It was noted that intercession is prayer for others. intercession or the concept of praying for someone else, is as noted in 1 Timothy recognized in the dispensation of grace.
1 Tim 2:1-2
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. KJV
Now from the Greek text
I urge therefore first of all to be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgiving on behalf of all men, on behalf of kings and all those in authority being that a tranquil and quiet life we may lead in all piety and reverence.
An intercessor has been defined as one who takes the place of another or pleads another's case.
The belief that someone can be an intercessor for another, has it's foundation based upon the belief that we are called to be a priests unto God. Quoting the passage found in 1 Peter.
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: KJV
1 Peter 2:9 and ye {are} a choice race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired, that the excellences ye may shew forth of Him who out of darkness did call you to His wondrous light;YLT
This of course is related to the misconception that the entire bible is written not only for us but unto us, that there is no delineation between the body of Christ and Israel. The understanding of right division, gives the illumination that, the office of priesthood belongs exclusively to Israel. The background for understanding this priestly intercession is found in the Old Testament‘s example of the Levitical priesthood. The priests responsibility was to mediate between the sinful people and a righteous God, offering blood sacrifices as an atonement or covering for their sins.
Knowledge of dispensationally dividing the Word of God, sheds light onto the fact that principles of priesthood do not apply to the body of Christ 's program of grace. No where in the books of Romans- Philemon, the writings of the apostle Paul can there be found anything about us being identified as priests. Therefore in the present dispensation of grace, the principle of one being an intercessor is not applicable.
Let's look at the bible's definition of a mediator. It is from the Greek word mesites (mes-ee'-tace) a go-between, or (by implication) a reconciler (intercessor): A mediator is one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant 2) a medium of communication, arbitrator. Thus the bible's definition of a mediator is one who has the ability to bring about reconciliation. A misconception occurs when one feels that they have the ability to mediate or stand in the stead of another. Mankind in and of himself is totally depraved. How can one totally depraved man take the place of another totally depraved man to intervene unto God? The answer is " he cannot". Jesus Christ is the only one capable of fulfilling the role a mediator.
1 Tim 2:5-6
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. KJV
Now from the Greek text
For one God, one also mediator of God and of mankind, man Christ Jesus.
That having given himself a ransom on behalf of all, the testimony in it's own times.
Col 1:20-22
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: KJV
Now from the Greek
And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself having made peace through the blood of the cross of Him through Him whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.
And you once having been alienated and enemies in the mind by works evil. Yet now He reconciled in the body of the flesh of Him through His death to present you holy and blameless and without reproach before Him.
Jesus Christ known as Theoanthropic or of Hypostatic union, for He was both 100% God and 100% man. From previous studies it is known that the sin is transmitted through the seed of mankind. Because the seed was not provided by human, but rather from God there was no sin in Jesus Christ. Thus He was the only one capable of interceding on the behalf of others with a view to reconciliation. It is through our position in Christ that gives us reconciliation with God, for He has made us holy (sanctified) and blameless (justified) before God. Note the verses which verify that Jesus guarantees this position for us:
Rom 8:33-34
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. KJV
Now from the Greek
Who will bring a charge against chosen ones of God? God is the one justifying. Who is the one condemning? Christ Jesus is the one having died, but having rather been raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who intercedes on behalf of us.
The bible actually teaches that we in and of ourselves do not know what we should pray for, therefore the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
Rom 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: 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.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.KJV
Now from the Greek Text
And in like manner also the Spirit, joins in to help the weakness of us, for what we should pray as is necessary we do not know but Himself the Spirit intercedes on our behalf with groanings unexpressed. But the one searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because according to God He interceded on behalf of the saints.
Many have in error misinterpreted verse 26. to say that, the person praying is speaking in an unknown tongue which can only be understood by God.
However this verse grammatically bears out that it is the Holy Spirit which is speaking. in unexpressed groanings.
The Young's Literal Translation bears this out.
And, in like manner also, the Spirit doth help our weaknesses; for, what we may pray for, as it behoveth {us}, we have not known, but the Spirit himself doth make intercession for us with groanings unutterable, YLT
The Holy Spirit intercedes for us or pleads our case, He does so with
" immuterable groanings" or unspoken groanings or mute sighs. These non-language sighs and groans are produced by the Holy Spirit and have absolutely nothing to so with speaking in tongues.
The bible teaches us that we cannot know the mind of God. As a matter of fact the only mind that we really know is our own. It is the Holy Spirit which knows the mind of God .
1 Cor 2:10-14
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. KJV
Now from the Greek
But to us revealed them God through the Spirit, for the Spirit, all things seaarches even the deep things of God. For who of men knows the things of man except the spirit of man in him? So also the things of God no one has known except the spirit of God. Now we not the spirit of the world received ,but the spirit from God, that we may know the things by God having been freely given to us. Which things also we speak not in taught by human wisdom words, but in words taught by the Spirit of God for foolishness to him they are and he is not able to know them because they are discerned spiritually.
In conclusion, . Prayer does not change God's will, but rather is meant to bring the believer into alignment with the will of God. The bible teaches that we are:
When one comes to understand the Sovereignty of God and the essence of His eternal plan. It will be realized that, absolutely everything that occurs in the annuls of time was completed in eternity. An analogy of the plan of God for mankind can be likened unto the following example:
Imagine a picture taken with a Polaroid camera. Once the picture is snapped there is nothing that will be added. Slowly over time the picture comes into view. Likewise, God has already established in eternity all things that will occur. It is in time (an increment of space created by God) that His will and plan and purpose slowly comes into view, nothing changes His plan. Therefore our prayers are to be in alignment with His will. It is the Holy Spirit assures this.