SPECIAL QUALITIES OF THE EFFECTIVE INTERCESSOR


This article is written for those who are called to intercession and for those who desire a deeper prayer life. The paragraphs below are just the tip of the iceberg. There is much more beneath the surface. Anyone interested in the list of Biblical references that inspired the message can email me at broblong@gmail.com.    ----Billy Long
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Special Qualities of the Effective Intercessor

HUMILITY
It takes faith and humility to be an effective intercessor. Most deep intercession takes place in the “prayer closet” and in secret rather than in the spotlight on stage. The intercessor prays “unto the Father who sees in secret and who rewards openly.” People who are self-centered or selfish or who need to receive recognition and the praises of man will have difficulty with the anonymity of being unheralded in the background. But the intercessor will have the joy of knowing he has access to the heavenly court in the Father’s presence.  

SPIRITUAL INSIGHT
Intercessors are often given insight into the spiritual realm and are thus armed for effective prayer. From their position as “watchmen on the wall” they have a view into the city (insight into the lives of those for whom they pray), and also a view of the surrounding countryside (discernment to see the approaching enemy, his snares, and schemes). Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, they are able to experience the groaning and intercession Paul speaks of in Romans 8:26 in which intercession is made according to the will and mind of God. This stands in contrast to the shallow, ineffective prayer of those who “beat the air” while missing the target.

 GODLY ATTITUDE
An intercessor must have a level of maturity that enables him to handle information in a wise and godly manner. When God gives insight, exposes issues, and entrusts a person with knowledge, that person must be able to maintain sobriety without yielding to pride or being overwhelmed by the information. Shallow, immature, or insincere Christians, when given insight, will tend to engage in gossip rather than prayer. They will criticize and condemn rather than interceding with compassion. A godly attitude is required for effective intercession.

LABOR AND TRAVAIL
Intercession involves labor. An intercessor cannot be spiritually lazy. Prayer can be a casual discussion, joyful praise, and peaceful worship, but the scripture also describes prayer as “fighting,” “wrestling,” “laboring,” and “travail.” The battle can sometimes be hard because the intercessor encounters resistance. He stands in the gap for those rushing toward disaster and oblivious to the danger. He may be praying for people who resist God in unbelief, whose walls are broken down with breaches where the enemy can enter unhindered to destroy…were it not for those prayers. The intercessor stands in the way to warn those who are speeding in the dark towards a precipice where the bridge is out. He blocks the road to prevent them from blindly falling headlong to destruction.
The intercessor’s work is sometimes hard because he is crying out to God in behalf of those who are too weak to stand up for themselves, too blind (ignorant or oblivious) to realize the danger, or too rebellious to care. Sometimes he prays for those in sin who have no desire to do the right thing.
The intercessor stands in the gap to…
1.     …prevent someone from plunging off the cliff. He stands in the gap before the person.
2.     …prevent the enemy from entering through a breach in the wall. He stands in the gap before the enemy.
3.     …prevent the wrath and judgment of God. Like Moses, he stands between God and those who would face judgment.(Ezekiel 22:30).

PERSEVERANCE
The enemy works very hard to hinder, prevent, and discourage Christians from fervent prayer. And our own flesh (human weakness) also gets in the way. That’s why Jesus told the disciples that “men ought always to pray and not to faint.” He knew we would be tempted to give up and quit. We tend to think a task is not of God unless it is easy. We are like the disciples who fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane while Jesus was in the agony of intercession. The intercessor must realize that prayer is not always goosebumps, “glory clouds” and thrills, but can also be agony, labor and warfare that require us to press in knowing that God responds to faith and importunity. Jacob wrestled through the night and told the Angel of the Lord, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Lately in my own prayer life in my desperation I have prayed, “Lord, I will not let you go unless you bless me…because I cannot go unless you bless me!”  

WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHY
An intercessor may sometimes be led to pray when he senses something but doesn’t know what “it” is. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus told the disciples to watch and pray. They had no idea what was coming, even though He had told them. They must have seen His agony and struggle of the moment. But still they were not moved to action. They were troubled but did not understand why. They suffered with two problems that often prevent us from effective prayer: First of all, they did not feel like praying. And secondly, they did not realize the hour that was upon them. We start to pray…but suddenly we are sleepy or dull of mind. We are troubled, but still we are comfortable enough to fall asleep. Like Lot, we may walk in righteousness but in our spiritual insensitivity are oblivious to the fire that is coming. If we could see into the spiritual realm and really know the activity occurring there, we would wake up, fall on our face, and cry out to God. Thank God for the “Abrahams” who enter the council room and hear the Lord’s voice telling them the seriousness of the hour and the intensity of what lies ahead. Without Abraham’s prayers, Lot may have perished in the fire along with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:29).
The intercessor is often given prophetic insight to see into the spiritual realm and is able to pray with knowledge and understanding. But he must also be prepared for those times when Jesus tells him to “watch and pray,” but does not tell him why. Those are times when the intercessor prays in the Holy Spirit and waits before the Lord.



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