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Intercession
Dear Prayer-Partners,
About three months ago we wrote about the tremendous importance of faithful,
persevering intercession for mission-work. Since then we have received a number of
responses from friends in Denmark, and from some in Tanzania, South Africa, and Zambia,
saying that they would include us on their prayer-list.
This is of great encouragement to us, and we have experienced God’s added blessing and
help in our everyday life and in the ministry. Thank you for ministry as prayer-partners!
However we are convinced that this initial “prayer covering” is only in its very beginning,
when we think of the number of prayer-partners. There might be some of you, Dear Readers,
who have the question: “Why should it be of such special importance for a missionary
couple to have personal prayer-partners?”
I shall therefore share some thoughts with you in this article about how important it is
for missionaries and others in similar ministries to have a solid backing of intercession.
These reflections will be based on the word of God.
I hope that this will be of encouragement to you, and at this point I want to add that we
do mention you – the faithful intercessors – in our personal prayer to God.
Finally we will give you an update on specific issues, matters that need to be addressed,
and for which we ask your persevering prayers.
The Importance of Intercession
Is it possible that an ordinary human being’s prayer can actually “move” anything in
relationship to the acts of the Almighty God? This is a significant question for us,
as we meditate on the purpose of our prayers.
Moses, a good example
The answer to the question is a resounding “yes”. Moses interceded for the people of
Israel more than once. A spectacular example of this was the time when he went up on
Mount Sinai to receive the tables of the law, and in his absence the people turned
against God and went back to their old ways of idolatry. God was so angry that he said
to Moses: “…Let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them”
(Exodus 32:10).
Moses now interceded for the people in an exceptional and very moving way; his prayer
is one of a very few of its kind recorded in the Bible.
As result of his prayer, scripture says: “The Lord relented from the harm which he
said he would do to his people” (Exodus 32:14).
Moses prayed as a real intercessor. He was so strongly moved and unselfish in his prayer
that he said to God: ”Yet now, if you will forgive them their sin – but if not, I pray,
blot me out of your book which you have written” (Exodus 32:32). Even God, in his anger,
could not resist listening to such a prayer!
Jesus, the greatest intercessor
The greatest intercessor of all was Jesus. He interceded for his disciples and showed his
passionate desire to stand in the gap between them and the Father (see John chapter 17).
Even today we can count on him to intercede on our behalf. “He ever lives to make
intercession for [his people]” (Heb. 7:25)
If we would follow the example of Jesus in his intercessory ministry, a revolution would
happen in our mission activities. We would be saved from a great deal of problems that
always seem to overwhelm us; we would never lack resources; our ministries would be
effective to the highest degree. In short, we need as much effective intercession as
at all possible!
The whole objective with this article is to emphasize how important and indispensable the
ministry of intercession is for us. Tove and I can tell the one account after the other
of situations where we were saved from death, and of which we are certain it was God’s
intervention that saved us in answer to intercession.
In an earlier article we have described a bizarre period from our time in Tanzania, in
which we experienced a whole series of life-threatening situations, which found place
within a relatively short period. On several occasions one or all of us in the family
“should” have been dead.
We then made every possible effort to ensure that the intercession for us in Denmark was
intensified. The difference afterwards was really significant, and we could now
concentrate on a large evangelistic outreach, which we had been planning for a long time.
It is noteworthy how many times Paul asked the Christians to pray for him, or he referred
to their intercession. He clearly expressed how much he valued it by the way in which
spoke about it.
A good example of this is Ephesians 6: 18-19, “And pray in the spirit on all occasions with
all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying
for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be give me
so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel…”.
To the church in Thessalonica he implored them with the simple words: “Brothers,
pray for us!” (1. Thess. 5:25).
We wish to say this to you too, Dear Intercessors: “Brothers and sisters, pray for us!”
As we have mentioned earlier, it would mean a lot to us if you would include us on your
prayer list.
You are welcome to contact us by visiting the website-link, “Contact”,
and writing your personal message in the section, “Comments”, or
you can reach directly at our e-mail address: thomsen@aabc.co.za,
Just a few words, such as: “Yes I have it on my heart to pray for you regularly”,
would be of much encouragement and comfort to us.
On our side, we wish to regularly give you the latest information about special prayer-requests,
which we might have at any given time. We will also continually give you updates on answer
to prayer, which we naturally will experience as time goes on.
Prayer Requests
We will now give you some matters to thank God for, followed by a number of issues for which we
need your intercession:
ANSWERS TO PRAYER
- The New Church-Plant. By God’s grace the first beginnings of the
church plant in Mbali Township, Pietermaritzburg, have taken place.
- The first financial support for Project Hope. We thank God for a monthly
support for the work with the orphans. The support began in the middle of June 2004,
and it comes from a Swedish organization, which has the name, “Children’s Ark International”.
It is only a beginning but it means that we can now make a realistic budget for the
development of the work. Furthermore we are now able to support three co-workers for the
orphanage.
- A plot of land for “Hope Children’s Village”. The Apostolic
Church of Southern Africa has made available a plot of more than
3000 square metres for Project Hope. We are thankful that we have
such a warm fellowship and ministry-relationship with this Zulu
church.
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
- Pray for a good and sound leadership for the church in Mbali.
- Pray for a good transfer of the Hope Project Children from their
present, temporary facilities. Before the transfer can be made, a
good deal of repairs need to be made on the new building. The
present lodgers will be asked to move out, and we need this to
happen in a good way.
- The application papers for the registration of “MMA Ministries”
have been handed in to the relevant authorities. Pray that the
processing of this matter may be successful.
- A mission-trip which had been planned for two weeks beginning on the 21.
July had to be cancelled because of lack of money for the journey. John should have
been in the town of Tunduma in Tanzania to teach at a leadership-seminar on the subject
of missions. Pray that there may be sufficient funds for the journey at a later stage.
- Pray for God’s protection over us as a family and our neighbours. There have
been several attempts of burglaries at the home of our closest neighbours and co-workers
on the Bible College premises. Twice the burglars were armed.
God kept our friends from harm, but it is extremely unpleasant to have the threat of
possible burglaries over us all on this place, which is otherwise so beautiful.
Thank you for your prayers.
Tove and John Thomsen
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