Communion/Intercession
Communion or intercession is the deepest level of prayer that rises above simple communication. It comes with an overwhelming feeling of closeness with God where words fail us. Listen to Paul’s description of this level of prayer:
Rom 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
During communion or intercessory prayer, we move so close to God that our own words and language seem to fail to express what we are feeling. It is then that the Spirit of God “searches our hearts” and makes the prayer with “groanings” : Rom 8:26 …unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. AMP
Paul also discussed this kind of “spirit praying” in 1 Corinthians 14. Amid his discussion on spiritual gifts that are used to edify the whole church, specifically prophecy and tongues and interpretation, he also deals with a more private form of worship—praying in tongues.
Praying in tongues occurs when that message in tongues is not interpreted to the whole church. This is the form of speaking in tongues that is not the “gift of tongues” but the “sign of tongues.” When people are initially filled with the Holy Ghost, they receive this sign, or evidence of being filled.
However, that is not the only time they will speak with tongues. It can and will occur again during prayer to God as a form of worship or communion to and with God, or as in intercession in praying for some unknown cause (or “mystery).
1 Cor 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
Even the person praying in tongues does not know or understand what they are praying for:
1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
This form of praying in tongues is not used by the one praying to arrest the attention of the whole church, but rather is spoken with God as the intended audience. He is to “keep silence,” or in other words, keep it between himself and God. This form of praying in tongues is generally used either during corporate worship or private prayer, and not while another person is speaking to the church. That was a problem that the Corinthian church had that Paul addressed in this passage.
1 Cor 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
It is such an intimate place in prayer where the individual praying and worshiping at this level feels as if they have become one with the Lord. Being the deepest level of prayer, we may not reach this point with every prayer, but communion should be our ultimate goal.
Our soul needs this kind of prayer on a regular basis so we should “pray until we pray through” as often as we can. Prayer is regular part of our lifestyle of worship.
