Intercession
Dear Children of God! how are you? How is school? Are you studying hard? You shall start you study soon! You must also ask what you do not understand and learn a spiritual education in your leisure time. If you study hard now, you will become what you aspire in the future! What you have to do when you enter you home, is not only to do your homework; but also to revise what you have learned! Then, ask your teachers; good!
In our previous lesson, we presented to you some questions and you have send us your responses. And we have send you the answers. And for now we teach you about “Intercession.” Follow us!
Dear Children of God! before we proceed to our lesson entitled “Intercession”, let us tell you a few about interceding. It is to “pray, plead.” Interceder is “a person who prays and pleads for others.” In interceding, there is a prayer and an interceder. (one who asks for mercy, Who is asked mercy and one who is asked mercy for)
Saints are the ones with the grace (gift) of intercession and mediation. When we say they intercede, we mean they pray and plead for mercy of sinners. The one Who is being pleaded, God, receives the prayer and pleading of the interceder (Saints) and have mercy for others. The one who is interceded for (sinner) has a role in the intercession route. That is to believe in the interceder’s (saint’s) prayer, the work of intercession and the mercy of God. Regarding, the sinner should have the heart of regret and repentance.
Dear Children of God! Saint Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians said, “God is Who willed for the grace of intercession. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (1 Corinthians 5:19) Saints intercede for people and reconcile them with God and with this we can comprehend (understand), they have the grace of putting forward the prayer of sinner in front of God.
Let us see examples from Holy Scriptures. A King called Gerar, was told by God to warn a man called Abimelech not to commit guilt. But as for the aggress who think of committing, He told a man called Abraham to pray for him. “For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live.” (Genesis 20:7)
When the friends of righteous Job aggress and God’s wrath (anger) was to be upon them, the Lord told him to seek Job’s intercession. “My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly.” (Job 42:7-9)
Dear Children of God! we mentioned some of these notions but can find many stories as evidence. The intercession of Saints is significant because God accepts their prayer and pleading instead of sinners. By this, our prayers are to be received by Him quickly and He is to have mercy on us. It is written in the Holy Bible that The Lord hears the prayer and intersession of Saints. “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.” (Job 42:10)
The Prophet David also witnesses saying, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.” (Psalm 34:15)
The Saint’s intercession is necessary as they are the cherished one before God. Saint’s embrace holiness by the persistence of their fight endowed by God’s grace. The life of Saints is the disclosure of God. He makes mercy through Saints.
Saint James in his epistle have told us saying, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:13-20)
Dear Children of God! we have seen some concepts about intercession, its significance and who willed it. On our next lesson, we will see the intercession of Saint Mary, Saint Angels, Holy Fathers and Mothers.
As we usually tell you, you shall learn attentively. You must not forget to obey your parents and do good for others. You shall learn spiritual education by attending Church on Sabbath.
Farewell Little ones! Hope you have grasped what we have taught you in this lesson. We leave you with good wishes of meeting next time in good health and peace.
May God be with you, Amen!