Isaiah 6:1-8
(1) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (2) Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (3) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (4) And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (6) Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (7) And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (8) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
The Missed Ministry
Romans 8:26-28
(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.
(28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- The Holy Spirit’s Intercession means God is present with us for the purpose of aiding and directing us as an advocate does in a courtroom. The Spirit is willing to intercede for anyone, or to aid or assist in any manner.
- He often uses your prayer of intercession to help someone else. Sometimes you know who and what, other times you don’t
- “…According to the will of God…”
- The Spirit is given according to His will, and the purpose of God’s will is to grant His aid to all who truly love Him.
- The desires which He puts in your heart while praying are those which are according to His will – what God wishes to exist.
- Because you are praying His will then He will also guard you in those prayers.
- This doesn’t mean that you are infallible, or never make an improper petition, never have a selfish desire, or that your motives are always pure; but the Holy Ghost has a general superintendence over your mind, and as long as you yield yourself to His direction then you will not be led into error.
- You are most safe when you yield yourself completely to the influence of the Holy Spirit.[1]
1 Timothy 2:1-6
(1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
(2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
(5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
(6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
- Just as Jesus is the ultimate model of intercession, we are to follow that level of sacrificial intercession – He gave Himself a ransom (the redemption price for the captive).[2]
Uncle Mark’s notes: Man’s Intercession[3]
WHAT IS INTERCESSION?
- The Spirit maketh intercession. The Holy Spirit of God.
- Intercession = “interceded in behalf of,” to make petition, plead with
- It is the will and mind of God being revealed.
- With groanings = too deep for words. It is travail of the Spirit of God.
- “To sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly…“grief, groan, grudge, sigh.”[4]
- A.D. Urshan to Anthony Mangun: “Hold your belly and groan.”
DEFINITION OF AN INTERCESSOR: “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him” (Isaiah 59:16).
An intercessor is one who stands and prays for someone else by lifting them up and carrying their burden.
Isaiah 63:5, “And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold.”
HOW TO SPOT if you are an INTERCESSOR:
- You PRAY LONG and OFTEN.
- You SEE PRAYER AS A HIGHER PRIORITY.
- You are quick to pray for others.
- You RARELY MISS A PRAYER MEETING.
- You DERIVE THE GREATEST FULFILLMENT FROM PRAYING.
- You ARE SENSITIVE TO THE TRAUMAS AND MORAL DECAY IN SOCIETY AND CONSIDER PRAYER TO BE A PRIMARY ANSWER.
- You are ANOINTED WHEN you PRAY ALOUD.
- You CARRY GOD’S BURDEN AND EXPERIENCE TRAVAIL.
- You DEVELOP PRAYER STRATEGIES, ORGANIZING PRAYER.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS “THE MISSED MINISTRY”
A DIVERSE MINISTRY
GOD’S ANOINTING WILL DIFFER FROM INTERCESSOR TO INTERCESSOR, AS WILL THEIR METHODS OF PRAYING:
- SOME PRAY THROUGH LISTS.
- OTHERS FIND LISTS TOO RESTRICTIVE.
- SOME PRAY PROPHETICALLY, THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE SPIRIT.
- ONCE IN THEIR PRAYER CLOSET, THEY JUST PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, THEN LET THE HOLY SPIRIT DRIVE.
- SOME PRAY FOR PASTORS, CHURCH LEADERS, GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS, ETC.
- SOME PRAY FOR CRISIS – AS GOD ASSIGNS THEM
- SOME FOCUS ON LOST SOULS.
INTERCESSION IS NOT GENDER BASED.
HOWEVER, THE INTERCESSOR’S GENDER, SPIRITUAL GIFTS, TALENTS, NATURAL INTERESTS, AND ASSIGNMENTS FROM THE LORD WILL SHAPE THEIR INTERCESSORY STYLE.
THE HIDDEN MINISTRY
THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY TO UNDERSTAND PARTLY BECAUSE IT IS A MINISTRY THAT USUALY OCCURS IN THE CLOSET (IN SECRET).
TRUE INTERCESSORS ARE CONTENT TO REMAIN NAMELESS, FACELESS SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH.
INTERCESSORS KNOW THEY CAN REACH HIGHER FROM THEIR KNEES THAN FROM A STANDING POSITION.
THEY SHUN THE LIMELIGHT AND HAVE NO INTEREST IN ACCLAIM.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE LORD WHO HEARS THEM IN SECRET WILL REWARD THEM OPENLY.
Would you rather be known of God, or known of Man?
A POWERFUL MINISTRY
GOD HAS CHOSEN TO RESPOND TO HIS PRAYING PEOPLE.
HE MOVES IN ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYER.
HE ANSWERS PRAYING PEOPLE.
GOD IS SETTING THE STAGE FOR A POWERFUL DIVINE INTERVENTION AS HE ACTIVATES THE GREATEST PRAYER MOVEMENT THE TRI-STATE HAS EVER KNOWN.
A SELFLESS MINISTRY WHO WILL SPEND LESS TIME PRAYING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR NEEDS, FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.
A LIFESTYLE OF CONTINUAL “SPIRITUAL PREGNANCY”
PREGNANT WITH A BURDEN TO SEE THE GREAT COMMISSION FULFILLED.
Rachel to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.”
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalms 126:5-6).
TODAY, GOD IS RECRUITING AN ARMY OF INTERCESSORS
ALL OF US HAVE BEEN DRAFTED.
IT’S TIME WE REPORTED FOR DUTY!
LET PRAYER BECOMES AS MUCH A PART OF YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AS BREATHING IS TO YOUR PHYSICAL LIFE.
YOU MUST FIND YOUR RHYTHM IN PRAYER.
YOUR PERSONALITY, SPIRITUAL GIFTS, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WILL DETERMINE IT.
PRAYERS CAN BE WRITTEN, SPOKEN, SILENT.
TRY TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
Paul’s description of ceaseless prayer:
“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-25).
Apostolic Life Cathedral is now to the point where we need intercessors to say with Isaiah of old, “Here am I; send me.”
THE HIDDEN MINISTRY
You’re Going to Miss Me When I’m Gone
Back in the late 1980’s, my uncle, Mark Kuntzman, was living in Moore, OK. He shared with me a story that told to him by his pastor when he lived there, and this is recollection of the story his pastor told him:
For 7 years the Church I was pastoring had been in a season of unprecedented growth and revival. I had not changed anything in my approach to pastoring, or leadership, but everything we did flourished and bloomed. It was as if we were sitting under an open heaven and God’s blessings and His favor fell on our Church. The saints were in unity, converts were being added to the church nearly every week, and we were positively impacting our community.
One day I was called to the bedside of a beloved elder saint who was about to make his journey to be with our Savior. After we had spoken and prayed, I stood to shake his hand and say, “goodbye,” but he held tightly onto my hand, looked me steadily in the eyes and said, “Pastor, you’re going to miss me when I’m gone.” I said to him, “I know that, brother,” but he shook his head and simply said to me one more time, “You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.”
Well, that saint of God passed shortly after, and we held his home going service, he went to be with Jesus, and life went on.
6 months later it seemed as if my legs were cut out from under me. There was division in the church, services were dry, attendance was low, conversions were at a standstill, finances were scarce, and I was losing patience in the struggle. So, one Sunday, to my shame, I got up in the pulpit and took my aggravation out on those sweet saints of the Church, and I felt good about it.
When that Sunday service was over, the widow of the beloved elder came to me and asked to speak privately with my wife and I. So, we went to my office, and as I turned to hear what she wanted to say she asked, “Pastor, do you remember my husband’s last words to you before he died.” I answered, “Yes, he told that I would miss him when he was gone.”
She agreed and then said, “I’m going to tell you why he said that. When my husband retired from his career he was praying one day and told the Lord that he wanted his retirement years to be spent doing something productive for Jesus and for his pastor and his church. So, every day, Monday through Friday, my husband would rise up and get dressed, drink his coffee and eat his breakfast, then he’d walk to his favorite chair, sit down and pray for you, for our Church, and for our community. At noon, my husband would take a lunchbreak and sometimes a short nap, but by 1:30, or 2:00, he would go back sit down in his favorite chair and pray until 5:00 PM for you, our church and our community. He did that every week for seven years until he died.”
Then she said to me with tears on her cheeks, “Pastor, that’s what he meant when he held onto your hand, looked you in the eyes, and said, ‘You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.’”
What is the missed ministry? Intercessory Prayer, The Ministry of Intercession, Intercessors.
Come on, Intercessors! Apostolic Life Cathedral needs you: elder, student, hyphen, man, woman, boy, girl, etc.
[1] Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible. Romans 8:27. paraphrased
[2] Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible. 1 Timothy 2:6. Paraphrased.
[3] Mark F. Kuntzman. Man’s Intercession. Nov. 13, 2007.
[4] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. G4726 & G4727.
The Pillar and Ground of Truth 