Intercession by Leaders for Followers

Intercession by Leaders for Followers

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Luke.22.31-32.

This statement of Jesus really struck my heart, that Satan has asked for Peter, that he may sift him. The devil never spare any man. His desire is to steal,  kill and destroy. To the extent that everyone he couldn't touch because of God’s shield and protection, he seeks permission to test, try and remove from that divine protecting shield. The devil knows he cannot touch anyone dwelling in the secret place of the Lord and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. Like he sought permission to afflict Job, so he did to Peter, Judas and every member of the Church militant. 

God allowed him to test Job with several dreary afflictions that most of us in the Church today cannot endure. Because He trusted and perfectly confident that Job had all the required stamina and spiritual grace to withstand whatever the devil could throw at him. In the case of Peter, Judas and even the other twelve disciples, Jesus had to pray for Peter knowing he was going to fall along with the rest. Peter denied Jesus 3 good times as predicted by the Lord. Judas Iscariot betrayed and sold Him to the Pharisees for 30 pieces of silver,  other disciples were scattered and fled like sheep without shepherd. While Jesus prayed for Peter and prophecied he would help others when he's restored, Judas Iscariot's soul was committed to Satan for destruction. 

My focus here was not on why Judas was not graced to be restored,  but that Jesus as the Leader and Lord prayed for Peter and others. I believe this prayer went a long way to keep them restored.  He breathe his strength and Spirit on them after resurrection and instructed them to wait until they recieve power to witness from the Holy Spirit.  This showed that He understood that they like us all have no power of our own to withstand the attacks and manipulation of the enemy. That's why we need a leader,  the good shepherd who will pray, nurture and protect the sheep with all his power.

 Leader should learn from this act of Christ and never stop praying for their followers even for the most notorious and antagonistic ones. Their survival depends so much on your intercession and prayers. We are called to bless them and not to curse. Cursing is helping the devil fulfill his desire to sift, scatter, steal or kidnap and destroy.  We should rather like Moses intercede for them even when God feels like destroying them because of their stubbornness. 

Readings: Gen. 20:1-18, Exo. 32:7-14; Luke 22:31-62.

Prayers:

Oh Lord our advocate and mediator,  give me grace and strength to always stand in the gap for your people and flock. Give greater grace to all our leaders to bless and pray for the flocks committed to their charge even in the face of hostilities, oppositions, discouragements and frustrations from them. This I ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.