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A Spiritual Checkup For Intercessors
Lesson 1
Introduction
This next series will lightly touch on several areas that are very relevant to intercessors in their walk with God. Have you ever wondered what the difference is from an effective intercessor and someone who feels called to pray a lot? There are two types of differences.
First, let me cover the measurable difference... the difference that is observable to the casual observer.
An effective intercessor is one who's prayers are answered.. quickly and frequently and often powerfully. Another characteristic of an effective intercessor is that their prayers tend to be full of God's life and to carry God's heart. If they are praying for someone out loud while present with that person, e.g., ministry prayer, the person goes away feeling very ministered to and touched by God. There is a dimension of their prayer that seems to breath (or deposit) God's life into the person, or into the situation, that they are praying for.
However, there is a more important difference.. one that may not be measurable to the casual observer, but that is it key to the whole thing.
An effective intercessor is one who walks in deep intimacy with God, who knows how to hear God's voice, who does not come to God with their own agenda and ask God to perform it. Rather they find out from God what His agenda is, and even get their prayer strategy (petition, authority, blessing, calling things into being, etc) directly from God for the situation. They are spirit led in all they do. Yes, many of these have had natural training/knowledge that they apply. But they never "pray" out of their knowledge.. instead they draw into God's presence, get their instructions from God, and then follow them.
These are the ones who God considers "highly effective", the men and women who He can trust because they are committed to doing things God's way instead of asking God to do things their way. They are committed to seeking/praying God's will for each situation rather than asking God to meet/bless "their will" for this situation. These are the Psalm 37 intercessors:
Psalm 37:3-63 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
These are the ones who are committed to walking in holiness before God and obeying Him. God's priorities become their priorities, what is important to God becomes important to them. What God disdains, they learn to disdain, because they are so hungry for God. They walk in intimacy with God. God is their personal friend and they are confident in their relationship with God.. they know they can approach Him in confidence because they are His and they love Him so dearly. The attacks of the enemy (shame, guilt, disqualification, fear, etc) loose power over them as they are filled with God's truth and light, cleansed by the blood of the lamb, personally commissioned by God and they know how to discern/recognize His voice. These men and women of God are fully committed to obeying Him, no matter what He asks them to do.
Are you willing? Is that what you want? Does this type of radical relationship with God appeal to you? Are you willing to give it all up (Matt 13:46) to pursue God's Lordship in your life? Jesus said in Matt 14:15, that if we really love him, we must be committed to obeying Him... God is looking for men and women like that.. to raise them up as His faithful and effective intercessors...
2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Are you one of the ones God is looking for? If you are, stop right now and tell Him so. Invite Him to teach you how to become an effective intercessor.
The following lessons will touch on some of the topics that will help you, but your real teacher must be the Holy Spirit. If you want God to teach you this, He will... just tell Him (and really mean it) that you are willing and ask Him to teach you. God will enter into a covenant with you to do this.. your part is simple.. you commit to obey Him when He shows you something clearly, to cooperate with Him as best as you can. His part is to teach you and to show you and to transform you. He will do His part if you will do your part.
Here is a roadmap to what we will be covering. Next week we will look at just what prayer and intercession actually is. This will be basic review for most of us, but it is critical enough that it must be covered. After that, we will look at a model for effective personal intercession and a model for corporate intercession (or praying together). Then we will begin to explore some topics pertinent to being effective intercessors... covering a different topic each week: