Isaiah Roman

Intercede on Their Behalf

“In the multitude of words there wants not sin: but he that refrains his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19). Throughout scripture Christians are exhorted to put a sentinel or guard on the mouth. Words mean things! There is a modern proverb, “When all is said and done; usually, there is a great deal more said than done.” When dealing with Christian conversation there a number of proverbs of Solomon’s wisdom that deal with conservation of words. “A word to the wise is sufficient” (anonymous). “Choose your words wisely; make them soft, you may have to eat them some day.” (anonymous).

“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication [intercessory prayer] for all saints” (Ephesians 6: 17-18).

Situations and conditions as well as the people a Christian meets daily are all governed by God; they are not random chance encounters. “Walking in the light”1 and keeping the relationship with God through Jesus Christ determines what he does in those encounters. God gives discernment concerning the individuals in those encounters in each situation. It is God’s way Christians are all directly connected to every other Christian when they are “in the Spirit.”
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do,2 do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).

Be aware of each situation and individual. The first “great” commandment3 should be considered; the second “great” commandment4 gives the manner in which a Christian regards God’s intent in creating the encounter. “On these two commandments5 hang all the law and the prophets.”6 (Matthew 22: 40)

God does not give us discernment concerning those encounters in order to correct or criticize them; discernment is sent to know how to intercede on their behalf in prayer. Jesus did not criticize Zacheus, the women taken in adultery or “the woman at the well.” The two major intercessors, the Holy Spirit and the Son of God, intercede for each Christian constantly before the presence of God.

One way for Christians to “love one another” is to spend more time interceding privately in prayer than criticizing them, either in thought or out loud; but, refrain from doing so publicly. There is a military axion, “criticize in ‘company punishment;’ but, criticize an individual who requires it in private in order to show and maintain proper respect and discipline.” Perhaps critiquing [def. “evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way”] should be preferred over criticizing.

1. “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).
2. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another…with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3: 12-16)
3. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22: 37-38).
4. ”…the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22: 39).
5. These two “great” commandments embody all Ten Commandments Moses brought down from Sinai! The first four are covered in the first “great” commandment; the Fifth Commandment carries a “promise” of a long life. The last five commandments are covered in the second “great” commandment.
6. The entire canon of scripture!