Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but found none.

 

It is absolutely impossible to be a real-life prophet of God and not be an intercessor of people, governments, and nations. Not all intercessors occupy that office, but their giftings grow rich because of their selfless obedience as a member of God’s praying family. This is the beginning life story of those called to the five-fold ministry, and the devout who accomplish extraordinary acts of faith, in Jesus name. Lately, the profile of an intercessor has been downgraded as a past time for people who have time to pass. Every minister wants a team of them, but do not understand that in order to make great impact in the earth they’ve got to become one. This means their personal prayer life … the one no one can see is on FIRE.
An intercessor is any servant of God who MAKES time to pray. They will be listed in the annals of heaven as the unknowns, greatly known in spirit realms. Because true servants achieve great things through a life devoted to prayer, skilled in spiritual warfare. From this place an EFFECTIVE fivefold ministry is called. For even the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, more so if that righteous man or woman is appointed and anointed by God in ministry, leading many. While some people achieve recognition for their gift of gab, and fast-talking charisma, it is the anointing that breaks the yoke. A life of prayer that makes an impact. Seen or unseen.

THE HEART OF JEHOVAH IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO STAND IN THE GAP.

Abraham was called a friend of God. God knew the heart that Abraham had for humanity, He revealed to Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah would be destroyed, for a reason. If you want to be favored, as a friend of God, become an intercessor of souls. HE reveals those things close to His heart with those He can trust to pray and not blab. His son the Lord Jesus Christ, ever intercedes for us who accomplished the greater task, laying down His life for the sheep. In Him we have refuge, He is our ark of safety. It is up to us to be His hands and feet to bring the world to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, His never-ending task with His disciples on earth was establishing among them a culture of prayer, of dedication to His word, and demonstrations of the power of His name.  A friend of God cares what God cares about and stands with Him in intercession for lost humanity.

Genesis 18:16-33 (NKJV)

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” So, the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So, He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So, He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So, He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

We see in this passage that intercession for the righteous delivered them from the Judgment reserved for the wicked. Sadly, only Lot and his household were spared.

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

ROMANS 8:26

LIKEWISE, THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPS OUR INFIRMITIES: FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT: BUT THE SPIRIT ITSELF MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US WITH GROANINGS WHICH CANNOT BE UTTERED.

We are the temple of the Holy Ghost and the Body of Christ in the earth! Under a better covenant than Abraham and Moses. A cry for humanity goes up before the throne from the midst of His people night and day. (The Lord God in our midst is mighty.) His intercessors are that voice and heart’s cry for peoples, tongues, and nations. There are those appointed to be intercessors, and those so much after God’s own heart they become intercessors. To them He often gives dreams, visions, and prophetic insight to reveal prayer focuses and strategy. Revealing His WORD over any given circumstance, to light the way. This is the quickest route to begin experiencing spiritual giftings. God equips HIS saints with what they need to do His work. He will not hold back in this spiritual work of intercession. Prophetic words, dreams, visions, and discernment of spirits, bring heavy artillery into the battlefield. They provide the wisdom that only comes from heaven and its war room to know the declarations and decrees to plant atmospheres with, for God’s will to be done on earth.

The Worshipping Intercessor

They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. A worshiping intercessor is most likely the first to enter into abandoned worship, and the last to file out of a corporate visit into the throne room of heaven, because they know it refreshes them to keep them strong in battle and builds unity in the Spirit. The weeping intercessor is often approached by people thinking they are in terrible need of prayer, when in fact they have just been praying for people, in the burden of intercession for the saints. The weeping prophet is that prophet who carries a burden of the word of the Lord, interceding with many tears that their word of warning and correction will be heard. An intercessor can testify of a loss of the sense of time, while laboring in travailing prayer. This is how a few minutes can run into hours for many veteran intercessors. Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord.

A faithful steward of dreams, visions, and prophecy is an active intercessor. Because they understand them as tools to achieve God’s desired outcome. By warning, by revelation, by declaration. While supernatural giftings is common for seasoned intercessors; for curious carnal minded on lookers, a peak in God’s war room may feel like an alien invasion. Not unlike Joshua’s supernatural fight of Jericho, from the Jerichoan’s point of view! Spiritual warfare is strategic, our God is a warrior, He is the almighty God of the Host of Heaven! What a sight it must have been to see this curious army of the children of Israel surrounding a walled city, it is beyond our natural understanding, the ways of our God. Spiritual warfare can produce a whole lot of noise, a lot of worship, a lot of shouting; a lot of dance, and marching, and a whole lot of walls coming down!

But the scariest phenomenon of them all, is the supernatural hush of God! I’ve seen a war room of prayer warriors stand under a heavy anointing for as much as an hour in this Holy silence. It’s not just personal time, it’s more than that it’s a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, no one can bring themselves to break from it. God brooding over His people in glory when you get that opportunity and learn how to stand in it, in a corporate stillness, this is the beginning of a high level of functionality, of the Body of Christ as a whole, in that place. The waiting in silence is a time of heavenly downloads of supernatural strength. A body of believers perfected in yielding, in one mind and one accord, to the Spirit of Christ like this prompted by the Holy Spirit, is on their way to manifesting God’s supernatural army on earth, able to advance His kingdom in unprecedented ways.

The scripture says, they that wait upon the Lord shall mount up as Eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Bear ye one another’s burden and so fulfill the law of Christ.

An original born of God burden bearer, bears the burden of the Lord. But REMEMBER Jesus said, “MY YOKE is easy, and MY BURDEN is light”. The first thing a burden bearer or intercessor needs to learn to differentiate between is a spirit of heaviness, and the spirit of grace and supplication. A spirit of heaviness in this sense is derived from fear, doubt, and unbelief. Often agonizing over lost loved ones from a soulish perception, rather than one’s heart shielded by faith, trusting in the promises of God to save family members. While we have a burden for the lost, prayer rolls that burden off and vaporizes it into a heavenly offering before the throne of God, prayer should lift the burden. This is another reason that Philippians 4:6-7 should be practiced as often as we feel overwhelmed or overburdened. Under that heaviness the enemy can get a foothold, and this is not the will of God. We can (of our own free will) bear up burdens of others in prayer. But no one should pray burdens to be laid on a particular intercessor without them aware of the request, the Holy Spirit is in charge of that. We are a people with the power to bind and loose, open doors and shut them. Let all things be done by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Ministry Through the Lens of Your Gift and Call

I wanted to write about the ministry of intercession in the light of visions, dreams, and prophecy- so people can understand more about God’s gifting in intercessory prayer. The gift we are equipped with and the office we occupy are the lens we approach intercessory prayer with. That is how several people coming together and praying for one focus point will see or sense different facets of prayer need. This is why we can’t hurry through points of prayer, corporately, before the offices and giftings among us are released from their burden. Whether this is corporate ministry or intercession. It is wise to have representatives from each office present to lay out their petition for the matter. Letting the saints pray over it in the Spirit and with their understanding also. This way the Fivefold ministry is activated during intercession, pulling down strongholds and making away for the full council of God to come in any given matter. This is a meeting set aside for prayer and prayer alone, it cannot possibly be done during regular meetings but is for an appointed time of special prayer. Where prayer concerns are prioritized under a wider scope for corporate intercession. When God chose Abraham to intercede over Sodom, He chose one who would become a Father of Nations. His intercession wasn’t just for Lot’s survival, it wasn’t just for his relatives, but all righteous peoples within that city. Abraham and Sarah were known for their hospitality, they loved people. This is another reason God chose Abraham to tell of His plans to destroy these two wicked cities. He knew Abraham would be moved for the humanity with in them. Any Apostle or Prophet that thinks INTERCESSORY prayer is for little old ladies and not for them, hasn’t understood Abraham’s position and friendship with God, and is not of any rank according to the super prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 27:18 If they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, then let them intercede with the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 62:6-7
I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who will never hold their Peace Day or night; you who [are His servants and by your prayers] put the Lord in remembrance [of His promises], keep not silence …

Ephesians 6:18
Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

1 Timothy 2:1
First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men.

A Testimony of City-Wide Intercession

In 1992 I had the same privilege of seeing a move of God at its point of ignition. What I observed has always stayed with me. For many years we were praying for a breakthrough in our region.  An aging evangelist came to our town known for sparking revivals, I saw Him work, and God showed me a key in action. This man understood intercession, and he understood its power. His first few meetings were dedicated to teaching Spirit filled INTERCESSORY prayer, and he revived that prayer ministry, during his meetings. He set up prayer among the people, attending the meetings, and called upon the whole congregation to lift their voice to God after the first and second night. He also refused to settle for timid prayers. He wasn’t happy until prayer roared out of that sanctuary on behalf of the city, people slumped at the altar wailing for souls. He didn’t shut it down like so many do. Prayer went into the night, even as intercessors disbanded, and regrouped in their homes. God had this man revive prayer first. And I mean real prayer. *Travailing prayer. The evangelist extended his meetings. 800 hundred souls were saved in this city of 135,000 at the time.

Prayer among the churches was revived. Miracles happened, phone numbers were given intercessors, by the Holy Spirit, to call people they didn’t know and tell them about the meetings! One number belonged to a contractor that had a crew of workers that he ended up bringing to the meetings, because the caller told him God gave them his number! The minister who came promised if there wasn’t a good turnout he would go to the next city, and wouldn’t you know over night the weather began to be manipulated by the prince of the power of the air, by blowing in a blizzard the next day in an area that had been in a draught. I remember waking up that morning and in prayer the Holy Spirit allowed me to hear hundreds of people calling each other and changing their plans on going.  I looked outside and there was heavy snow fall as far as I could see. We lived on the top of a hill, and I had a view of the mountains 30 miles away. The Lord said to rebuke the storm, but it was hard because like I said we were in the middle of a draught, but he said do it and so I did. Mrk 4:39, Jn 14:12. Immediately a cylinder appeared from the heavens in the middle of the blizzard and the snow began to disappear within the cylinder.  It started out from the heavens to the ground in the circumference of a stove pipe and broadened from there. Ten inches, twenty inches, then the circumference of a fifty-gallon barrel from the sky to the snow floor. No snow! It doubled and tripled in size until this cylinder was the whole circumference of the ten acres behind my home.

My little nine-year-old daughter watching the whole time. Long story short the meeting wasn’t canceled, and the church was packed for two more days of revival. This depressed town began to come alive and by 1994 it was booming, listed in the top ten best cities to live in, well into the new millennium. A slumping economy was now on fire. 100,000 people who left the state in the 1980’s looking for work and better lives, had either come back or were replaced by others looking for work, and a better life, in a growing economy. The metropolitan area tripled in size after 10 years. Several struggling Spirit filled churches began to grow in leaps and bounds. Eagles, and I mean prophetic ones, began to land in these Spirit filled churches immediately after this evangelistic overthrow, who stood with us in the leaner years, prophesying the works to come. Restoring the office of the Apostles and Prophets to facilitate the growth. One of those Apostles began a prayer house ministry in Washington DC. The key to everything is prayer. The key to great accomplishments in the kingdom of God is to be a people who will stand in the gap. Being a friend of God.

Ezekiel 22:30 I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it …

Revised version from: Intercession From the Lens of A prophet. 

*As giving birth. The travails of laboring with child.

Subscribe to NWP! Go to my contact page to e-mail

.. they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, you are God, which have made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them Acts 4:24

I want to talk about the power of corporate moves of God brought into smaller meetings at home. When we meet together in Christ we might as well begin to think of ourselves as the member of an orchestra or choir, because this is what each one in the Body of Christ is, an instrument in God’s orchestra! After all everyone has their own unique place and part in the family of God.

My first Ecclesia experience was in the early 1980’s as I attended home meetings where we broke bread together, and had various kinds of meetings including prayer meetings, from house to house. Encountering the five-fold ministry of Ephesians chapter four, and the operation of the gifts of the Spirit among the Body of Christ. We saw many come to the Lord, become healed, delivered, and set free, from demonic power. As well as receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I did not know at the time what kind of work I was a part of as a new Christian. Nor the long-lasting impact it would have on me for the rest of my life. I was living and experiencing the fires of revival all around me not understanding how rare and precious these encounters were.

The difference after all these years, is a people willing to come together and pray. By first completely abandoning themselves in worship, allowing the gathered to fuel the fire, corporately in their worship. Because He is able to move us in that way if we will only trust him to do so. Raising every valley and lowering every high hill, the people in that become one, in the Spirit.  Pastors are often hoping for a good worship team to pull it together, when that is not the key to a successful meeting, necessarily. 

Lifting Up One Voice

While in buildings, a larger group usually has a platform for appointees to lead out and bring the house into unified prayer and worship; in smaller groups it doesn’t necessarily have to work that way, because they are often less structured. We need to remember the first Christian family met under circumstances more similar to a home meeting, rather than buildings and platforms; with microphones, and speakers. Jesus said that whenever two or three are gathered in His name, there HE is in our midst. This is going to be different than our personal time with Him, that is usually inwardly focused. Christ is in us, and we are in Him. In a group He draws us inward to the center of the gathering, where He is. He is the head of the Church, and we (through Him) become joined in a corporate move of HIS Spirit, when we simply yield to Him.

When we continue to gather in this way Jesus nits our hearts together, and we become unified in spirit, as the group evolves.

Coming together in one mind and accord is quickly accomplished by praying, and worshiping together, as long as the prayer, praise, and worship, achieves corporate status. What the bible calls “coming together in one mind and in one accord.” As strange as it seems, individuals in a group gathering can be so timid and internal in their prayers and worship, that the group never achieves a true unity of spirit. In fact, fractions are more likely to exist in a corporate setting that does nothing to spiritually unify the people to function as a body. Jesus is unable to show His power among them, they must yield to the corporate anointing, and enter in.

A good way to enter in is by simply yielding to an anointed vocal lead that has lifted their voice up in prayer, or praise, to draw the group into unity. In a smaller setting the group can just begin to move in open laudation, until a lead voice is made distinct while praises to God go upward. The lead laudation is an anointed voice of worship, prayer, or praise, that the group finds easy to follow. Your spirit will feel the power of agreement. But remember that anointed laudation is an invitation to join, however, it can easily transition into a message and as soon as that is detected the rest of the group must suspend their worship and hold the fire, returning to the Spirit of corporate adoration of Him, once the prophetic word or tongue and interpretation has been released. Each family learns their way and is able to establish their order as the supernatural manifestations of gifts and operations do their spiritual work.    

What is then good to do is to blend into the leading laudation. As other voices blend, the lead out dissolves into a corporate voice, this group has achieved a “one in mind and one in accord” voice of praise, worship, and prayer. The lord uses whomever HE wills, and with that we begin to blend our voice in worship, with the most anointed laudation going forth among the saints, (whomever the Spirit has moved upon) and this is going upward, and not inward, but is of throne room power! Following inspired leads in the Spirit is called “being carried in” to anointed worship. Worship leaders do that for congregations, if they have the God given skill to do so. A good worship leader brings the company of God’s people to the launching place. Until free worship takes on a life of its own.

I’ve seen groups become so unified that no lead voices are needed, they just enter into the high praises of God all at once! Jumping into the deep side of the river of God all at the same time!

It is the Holy Spirit that leads the saints to a higher ground of worship, praise, power, and ministry. Remember we want that because it is the anointing that breaks the yoke! An Holy Spirit inspired group breaks powerful resistances! Sometimes, in spirit filled meetings, there is an appointed person that has that spearhead anointing, and they may do that for a season. But it can change, and should be interchangeable as new lead voices enter in. As the scripture says when something is revealed to another, they should then have their turn, and the word says let the first prophet then yield. 1 Corinth 29:29-30

So, when a new voice of leading matches the existing voice in anointing, the new voice should be given place, that will lead the group up and onward toward unified prayer, worship, and praise! This is good practice in prophecy, ministry, sharing the word, and spiritual songs. Sometimes the person who leads out hears a laudation of praise in a less bold voice that they blend with, and they amplify it up corporately and that starts the one mind and one accord laudations, because they carried an anointing that leaped in their spirit when it was heard. A wise worship leader will amplify from their platform what is hitting the masses, in waves of glory, to pull it in and send it back out, that the glory reaches those at the far ends of the meeting place. In a smaller group, the group just carries it on from glory to glory.

Give The Lord His Due

We Got to give God HIS first before we move in on a pre-determined event or need. Sometimes, our Spirit filled worship brings so much power the needs are washed away, and freedom falls down like a blanket over everyone. The first Spirit filled meeting moved in this way, while all were praying in one accord, the power of God came down and they were all filled! When we pray, and a voice goes forth with power, and it is outward and not inward, and it leads and lifts the gathered believers up into corporate anointed prayer- then that unified prayer will carry against oppositions, against God’s people, on a city wide, regional, or national level. Depending on the reach of the gathered ordained by God.

It brings in the move of the Spirit!  As one makes five thousand to run, two or more makes tens of thousands! This is the power of unified prayer against the enemy! In the event that the Spirit leads us into unified prayer, it is good to remember, our prayer closet prayers are wonderful, but corporate prayer ministry is a little different.

When we bury our face, or walk to a corner, and start praying to ourselves, or turn on our own music, and plug it into our ears, we are disbanding from the group.

We should do these kinds of prayers before meetings, only. To get our heads straight for the group. It’s ok to have early time in a corporate setting to give people time alone with God, but when it’s time to come together, it is time to walk out of our prayer closet and join the group.  When the saints of God continue in corporate ministry, the mind of Christ will come forth. Christ is working by His Spirit, collectively in the midst of the saints, that are gathered. Together, our hearts are synchronized by the Spirit of the Lord to carry the burden of the Lord.

Prayer Gathering

When we lead in prayer out loud, we must not go to prayer changing from subject to subject, as if we are working through a list. We have to make sure we do not shift the focus, before others are able to audibly agree or enhance the prayer with their own spoken power of agreement. Saints that run through a list of prayers, leading in corporate prayer, are forgetting that they are not in their prayer closet, and that another instrument of God may harmonize on the matter, in a way God may reveal them to do so. That will add power towards the answer.

Also, when in gathered prayer, our prayer focuses should be corporate when praying for individuals in the community. Instead of praying for that one in jail, pray for all those that are in jail and prison in the community. Or that one battling cancer, come against the spirit of cancer on all the saints of God you know. Trouble with a child, lift up all sons and daughters in rebellion, because in that group there is power to do it! Remembering to give room, and give place, to one another. So that not one stone is left unturned. For another vessel in the group may have a revelation to share on that burden of prayer; bringing words of knowledge, and wisdom, in the matter, that would move it into victory.

When corporate anointing is freely expressing itself in unity, an event of power and Holy distribution of healing and deliverances will ensue.

Like what happened on the day of Pentecost, a powerful move of God spilled out into the city through a Spirit filled, unified group, unashamedly worshipping God!

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with ONE ACCORD in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house. Act2:1”

This is how we can be sure to be led by the SPIRIT and not by our human spirit or emotions. When we allow group ministry to enter the house on a corporate level, at times healing and deliverances take place while we are busy unified in the Spirit, in worship and prayer. It is later after we have ushered in the SPIRIT like one mighty river (with our individual streams of worship, and prayer joining in) that there will be an abundance of anointing to do personal ministry over those who have already been under a deluge of power, in unified praise and worship.

This is that which loosens and pre-soaks hard roots so that personal ministry and deliverance will be most effective. Over the years I have had many prayer meetings, and home meetings, and have taught on corporate prayer. It is very sad to attend a prayer meeting at a church or an event that has 50 to a hundred people walking around, by themselves, standing in a corner, bent down at an altar, and milling around in the foyer, and you can hear a pin drop, with no unified voices lifted up! This is not corporate prayer.  It is individual prayer in a corporate setting, and more times than not the Spirit of God is quenched, and the power that could have been released from that meeting, is forever lost.

When groups first begin to come together. It is important that ministry doesn’t get locked into an introverted flow, time and time again.

It’s important to minister to one another and is in many ways the whole point; but, when we give the father the first portion of anything- the latter portion will be multiplied, in healings, deliverances; and in word, and prophecy! As we seen with Peter, who preached to the people when 3,000 were saved! He did this after a corporately anointed meeting!

Getting Started with a Reserved Group

If you have a church or group and it is difficult to bring the group together in one mind and accord, than making a gesture to come in a circle to hold hands is a good start. That is a unity exercise, as is singing songs, and letting people each share, breaks the ice. But you may have to embarrass your flesh to lead them into out loud laudation yourself. Go ahead there is usually one just hoping you would so they can join you in the bunch!  Lead them into that abandoned worship, where each one forgets about him or herself self, and lifts their voice entering into the flow of the Spirit- this is called the high praises of God and is what creates extraordinary moves of the Spirit.

Holy! Holy!  Holy!  Lord God almighty! Who was, is and is the to come!