Perpetual Intercession

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.

Ephesians 1:15-16

One of the outstanding characteristics of Paul’s praying for the Ephesians was that it was incessant.  He declares, ‘I…do not cease to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers.’  As a person who was in Christ himself, Paul had a deep appreciation for these Ephesians who were also ‘in Christ.’  Therefore, he gave thanks to God for them and continually prayed for them.  This is significant because it reflects the work of God in the life of Paul to make him like Christ.  Paul was perpetually interceding for these who were ‘in Christ.’  Christ also intercedes for us, as does the Holy Spirit.  The intercession which Christ offers on our behalf is the objective plea of His Blood.  The intercession which the Holy Spirit offers for us is ‘with groanings which cannot be uttered.’  What Paul had learned, and displayed in his incessant intercession was to bear these fellow believers up before the Throne of Grace.  We can learn much from these examples.  This will transform our prayer life and increase our love for one another.  If Christ and the Holy Spirit are interceding for us and such a saint of God as Paul incessantly prayed for those whom he knew who were ‘in Christ,’ then we can learn to pray for one another.

Our Glorious Living Christ,
we rejoice at Your intercession for us.
We praise You that we learn to intercede for others,
by observing the work of both You and the Holy Spirit.