One of the greatest ministries of the Church is the ministry of intercession. The Church should stand as representative of God to people, and as a representative of people before God. Peter views this as the role for the Church so much that in 1 Peter 2:9 he says we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood — a priest intercedes on behalf of the people. The Church’s role is to help and intercede for those who cannot help themselves. Jesus saw that as an important part of his mission, for He stated that He came for people in need of a physician.
If we are going to be a strong church, a vessel God can use, we must first learn to be a praying church that not only prays for Herself, but for the needs of the community and world. One biblical leader that understood this responsibility was Nehemiah. He was characterized as being one of the strongest administrators of his time. Several leaders read his book for insight on leadership. But one of Nehemiah’s strongest attributes was that he was an intercessory prayer warrior.
Nehemiah had the position of the cupbearer to the king. The office of royal cupbearer was of high antiquity and was a place of great honor in the Persian court. The cupbearer had many opportunities to ingratiate himself into the goodwill of the monarch and thus could obtain many favors that were denied others. A mighty monarch such as King Artaxerxes of Persia would select a man who was wise and discreet, and consistently honest and trustworthy to be his cupbearer, which was a position that many saw as only second to the king. Nehemiah’s position alone reveals much about his intellectual capabilities, his emotional maturity, and his spiritual status. However, Nehemiah did not allow his success to inflate his ego. He did not forget where he came from and he did not allow his position to make him forget that he was in exile and still captive.
In this text, Nehemiah heart breaks when he hears people talking about Jerusalem’s condition. He hears two men saying that the city was lying in waste and that the walls were broken down. During this time, a city’s walls were crucial to the city’s survival. The walls represented a city’s security, boundary, and identity. Physically, the city had no protection; politically, broken walls represented a dead and captive city and the reality that they were still in bondage; psychologically and spiritually, broken walls were how the people saw their identity and their God.
It was a tragedy that the walls were broken down — a tragedy that required Nehemiah’s prayer and the intercession of the body to heal the community. However, as I take inventory of our community, the walls are broken down here and now! When African Americans represent 13 percent of the United States population, but 38 percent of those who are incarcerated nationally and over 80 percent of the NYS Prison System, the walls are broken down! When HIV is highest among African American females, the walls are broken down! When a majority of black wealth has been wiped away due to foreclosures and job loss, the walls are broken down! The walls are broken down and we must be in a place where we can meet the needs and intercede on behalf of our brothers and sisters!
Two principles I admire Nehemiah for is the fact that he had already attained the resources to complete the project before he even showed the people his vision, and that Nehemiah organized his own people to pray and help rebuild their own walls. Too many times we want others to help rebuild our cities, but we must rebuild right where we are because the city belongs to us. Parents, churches, and pastors: do not tell me your philosophy, for it is vain idealistic words; just show me where you spend your money and time. Politicians: please do not merely tell us that you value future generations when the New York Times reports that the money we have spent in Iraq and Afghanistan could pay four year tuition for every graduating high school senior this year, and when one day in the Iraqi War could fund 34,904 four-year scholarships. Then the audacity of political movements to argue that seniors are the marginalized population, even though they pass budgets that contradict their rhetoric, should carry the debt load of the deficit for this nation. No one group should carry the debt load, especially seniors, when this is one of the most profitable times for corporations who have shipped many positions overseas! We must intercede on behalf of our community, be a strong and prayerful church, and turn to God! 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “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.”
The blueprint to intercession can be seen in as simple of an example as a little girl and her grandmother. The grandmother had become sick, but she taught the little girl to pray. The grandmother’s sickness was a result of there being no heat and food in the house because they could not afford it. While the grandmother was lying in bed sick, the little girl had an idea: she said she would write a letter to Jesus. In the letter, she said, “Dear Jesus, my grandmother is sick and needs a doctor. We are also hungry and cold, please help us!” The little girl signed it and placed it in an envelope and addressed the letter to Jesus. When the mailman saw the letter he laughed and thought, “Who would address a letter to Jesus?” He took it to the post office to show his friends. However, one of the postmen knew a doctor, and they showed the letter to the doctor. The doctor agreed to go see the grandmother. He also knew a grocery store-owner who he showed the letter to. The grocery store-owner agreed to bring groceries. He knew a wood and coal person. He showed him the letter and the man agreed to bring wood and coal. When the little girl returned home from school, she walked to her grandma’s house. She saw smoke coming from the chimney, so she began to run towards the house. The closer she came home, the more she could smell food in the air. When she opened the door, she saw her grandmother standing by a table filled with food beside a hot fire. The little girl began to cry and write a letter. The grandmother asked the girl who she would thank: the doctor, the grocery store-owner, or the wood owner? The little girl responded that before she could thank all of them, she must tell Jesus thank you!
This is the message of intercession: the little girl never gave up hope and because of her prayer God was able to use people who had the supplies and heart to help her grandmother. As believers, we must never give up on anyone or any situation, because with our God all things are possible.
Pastor Rogers serves as Co-Pastor of Grace Baptist Church and professor of religion of University of Phoenix. D. Min candidate at Colgate Rochester Divinity School and holds a Master's of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary
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