TO PURSUE AND RECOVER The role and calling of an intercessor The Role of an Intercessor An intercessor basically communicates with God on behalf of others both Christian and non-Christian. There are many even in the body of Christ who might struggle with what to say, how to say it or when to say it to an all-knowing God. The intercessor’s primary role is to communicate and verbalize these specific needs to God with the expectation that God will answer and provide His solution in His timing to each and every prayer that is presented to Him. The Responsibility of the Intercessor An intercessor may participate in a designated time allotted for prayer (like the PLCM Intercessory Prayer Ministry who meet weekly at the local church), but an intercessor is “on-call” 24 hours, 7 days a week. In other words, whenever there is a need for prayer, an intercessor will immediately assume their role, not waiting until the next “prayer meeting” or “prayer call.” An intercessor may also have a strong gift of discernment and able to discern the heart of a person not necessarily based on what is verbalized or not shared. Many intercessors are able to pick up on things that might easily escape the natural eye but God allows them to see with a keen spiritual eye. The Heart of the Intercessor An unselfish and forgiving heart is necessary to be an effective intercessor. Anybody can pray for another person but it does not mean that God hears all prayers. The intercessor has a strong desire or heavy burden to see people delivered, saved, released, healed and set free and that their prayers are answered. (And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18) Characteristics of an Intercessor One thing that this world, in such a time as this, can not possibly have enough of is prayer. Do you believe that you have been called to be an intercessor? Some of the common characteristics of an intercessor include: • Discretion • Compassion • A Heart for People WORD STUDY: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INTERCESSOR An intercessor is a person who by calling or by nature chooses to be a mediator on behalf of those who cannot intervene for themselves. Intercessors make requests, urge, plead, beg, counsel, discuss, risk, sacrifice, and make war on issues relating to the weaker ones, and thus they have an impact on the final outcomes for those they serve in the prayer closet alone 24/7 hours a day. There is a difference between a person who is called an intercessor and a person who prays. Any person can pray, but not all praying people are intercessors. The opposite is true also - an intercessor may live his entire life and live to make only one great act of intercession. The differences of an intercessor are subtle - hidden in the life and heart behind the prayer. There are many examples of intercessors in the Bible, and they walked with the favor to impact and change God’s heart. Consider the following role models and their characteristics: [I] THE FUNCTIONS OF AN INTERCESSOR TO RISK & SACRIFICE 1) Moses was willing to be blotted out of God’s book. (Ex 32:32) 2) Abraham was willing to suffer God’s possible displeasure by negotiating Him down to 10 godly men in Sodom & Gomorrah. (Genesis 18:22) 3) When king David disobeyed by taking a census, he was willing to be destroyed in order to seek safety for his people. (1 Chron 21:17) 4) Daniel was willing to talk with God when He was very angry. (Dan 9:16) 5) Jesus was willing to become sin and lay down His life so that others could find forgiveness. (Isa 53:12) 6) The Centurion was willing to approach authority as well as subject himself to it. (Matt 8:5) 7) Martha dared to risk her friendship with Jesus to challenge His decision of delay. (John 11:21-22) 8) A father risked public exposure, fear of man’s opinions, and disappointment for the sake of interceding for his possessed son. (Mark 9:17) 9) The Nobleman risked his self-sufficient pride. He could not help his son but he knew who could. He also risked public exposure and reputation. (John 4:49) 10) Stephen was willing to face the murderous rage of a crowd and asked God to forgive them. (Acts 7:59) 11) Esther was willing to perish at risk of defending her people to the king. At the very least she was willing to face a life of ill-favor, isolation and banishment from the king’s court. (Esther 4:16) 12) David as a young boy was willing to face death from Goliath for the sake of Israel. At the very least he was willing to face humiliation, failure and defeat. (1 Sam 17:37) TO BOLDLY DEFEND Each of the above role models defended with boldness. This does not necessarily mean they had naturally bold personalities. Watch a mother or father bird when a threat comes too close to their nest! God has placed within His creation an instinct to defend the young. An intercessor’s heart comes to the surface when they perceive a threat. Suddenly the heart of a pussy cat turns into the roar of a lion. (Heb 4:16) TO VOLUNTEER One of the marks of an intercessor is a willingness to do something. A volunteer is someone who is not necessarily asked but gives of his time to stay in the prayer closet with God. [II] THE HEART OF AN INTERCESSOR MERCY As in the above list, intercessors stand in the gap for another, seeking mercy instead of judgment, life over death. They are willing to face a risk and sacrifice their time in prayer to God in the prayer closet instead of all other pursuits in life in order to obtain the answers and solutions needed for all those thehy pray for. …………. WHAT IS AN INTERCESSOR? Webster defines an intercessor as: - interceding: the action of pleading on somebodys behalf prayer or petition: a prayer to God, a god, or a saint on behalf of somebody or something. Simply put an intercessor is a person who goes before God in prayer on behalf of another person, situation or circumstance. Every Christian has probably at some point in their life interceded on behalf of a love one, family member, friend, their church and pastor. We do it when there is a crisis or immediate situation that we need a response to. Does that make you an intercessor? On the simplest level, yes. However, to be a true intercessor you MUST MEET OTHER QUALIFICATIONS. First, you must be a born again Christian who is willing to be separated, consecrated and committed to a life of prayer. Sounds pretty basic? A true intercessor understands that intercession is a high and holy calling. A true intercessor is on the order of a high priest whose duties are to go in before God on behalf of the people. Yes, Jesus has made it possible for each child of God to come boldly before the throne of grace for himself but there is still a need for intercessors. A true intercessor has a personal intimate relationship with God. A true intercessor has a lifestyle that includes a dedicated time of prayer, fasting and reading the word of God. Intercessors are interceding daily for the people of God, the pastors, leaders, communities, homes, families, world peace, different situations and circumstances that affect the people at large. What is an intercessor? A person who has answered the high calling of God to spend the time with God in prayer, study, research, and intercession - accordingly to II Chronicles 7:14 if my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land. A person who has answered the want ad according to Ezekiel 22:30 and I sought for a man that should stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 17:22:29 +0000
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