[doinghiswill]

On Intercession and Ministry

Prayer, in my opinion, before, during, and after the public ministry of the word affects the quality and power of the word that goes forth, without which we miss the fullness of God’s intention. Other factors would be our corporate agreement and bondedness together. The taking of communion is a spiritual statement to the Lord (and to the powers of the air) about that unity. If we are not really bonded, and just going along, or we have some unspoken and unresolved things, then that will unquestionably affect the power of the spoken message. This is critical. Are we together sufficiently in God’s sight as to really release a quality of power? It is not just the speaker as being the vocal member bearing the weight of it, but are we all bearing it together with him in participation?
Something of an existential kind is unfolded in proportion to the quality of prayer, identification and bondedness that is true of us. The word is birthed by the spasms and contractions of intercession before it is finally brought forth. The speaker is only being acted upon by what is being released by this effectual prayer and support. For the most part, we do not see the spiritual connectedness, and therefore our prayers are so often desultory and nominal. We are religiously performing something that is expected of us, but our heart and our gut are not in it, not because we are lazy or indifferent, but simply because we have not understood the spiritual reality of the thing.
Whomsoever you are joined in common life together will affect the proclamation, even though it is only one mouth expressing it. Peter’s first sermon, which led to the salvation of thousands of resistant Jews, is an example of this:
But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words” (Acts 2:14).
The key to the power of that address was: “But Peter taking his stand with the eleven.” Peter spoke in perfect agreement with those who rose with Him. What he said is precisely what they would have said. They were in agreement, not only with the word, but also with each other, because they experienced a Pentecost themselves together. The fire that was upon their heads also forged them into one.
We have lost this understanding because ours is a ‘professional’ age where individuals are not only celebrated in the world, but also in the church. There is little emphasis on the genius of the Body as the corporate expression and channel of the Life of God. The message may find its expression through one mouth, but the power that is issued is relative to the authentic spiritual agreement and participation in the realm of Spirit. Life and death are always hanging in the balance, and the issue becomes our agreement in order to affect the anointing, power, word and boldness.
The world has really schooled us into an observer mentality rather than participant, and also to a sense of individual separation one from another. But in the Kingdom of God, we are as much responsible corporately for the word as we are for the mouth through which the word issues. This is the whole genius of man and woman in one new man. Can the woman find a depth of satisfaction to hear through her husband that which is in her own heart, and which she might actually have greater ability to express, but wants it to come forth through the head? Is she joined with him, and so identified with him that his success in it is her own satisfaction? We should be so jealous for the word that our only gratification is for the word to come forth in fullness and power through whomever the Lord has appointed. We should see it as being ourselves doing the speaking, because we are so one with that mouth.
Can you hear a message and have your interest engaged and at the same time intercede? That would take a remarkable quality of spirituality, maturity and separation from self. The ultimate sacrifice would be to leave the room and to miss what is taking place, and not even know what is going on, in order to give yourself to intercession. “My house is a house of sacrifice,” said our Lord, and that sacrifice, like any act of self-denial, releases an enormous power in that moment. Power is released wherever the principle of the Cross or self-denial is taking place, even the denying of yourself the pleasure and enjoyment of hearing the thing that is going forth, and to separate yourself for intercession even while it is going forth. As long as the prayer is going forth, then the word is going forth, and the moment it ceases, then the word ceases.

Keith,
Good post. Often I will use prayers from the scriptures; but when praying for ministers I have borrowed a prayer the Apostles prayed in Acts 4: 29-30, of course perhaps omitting a word but God honors His word. Thanks for posting something on intercession!

[doinghiswill]

I get a chance to speak at least twice a week i find prayer a great way to seal the word to peoples heart.

Originally Posted by doinghiswill

On Intercession and Ministry

Prayer, in my opinion, before, during, and after the public ministry of the word affects the quality and power of the word that goes forth, without which we miss the fullness of God’s intention. Other factors would be our corporate agreement and bondedness together. The taking of communion is a spiritual statement to the Lord (and to the powers of the air) about that unity. If we are not really bonded, and just going along, or we have some unspoken and unresolved things, then that will unquestionably affect the power of the spoken message. This is critical. Are we together sufficiently in God’s sight as to really release a quality of power? It is not just the speaker as being the vocal member bearing the weight of it, but are we all bearing it together with him in participation?
Something of an existential kind is unfolded in proportion to the quality of prayer, identification and bondedness that is true of us. The word is birthed by the spasms and contractions of intercession before it is finally brought forth. The speaker is only being acted upon by what is being released by this effectual prayer and support. For the most part, we do not see the spiritual connectedness, and therefore our prayers are so often desultory and nominal. We are religiously performing something that is expected of us, but our heart and our gut are not in it, not because we are lazy or indifferent, but simply because we have not understood the spiritual reality of the thing.
Whomsoever you are joined in common life together will affect the proclamation, even though it is only one mouth expressing it. Peter’s first sermon, which led to the salvation of thousands of resistant Jews, is an example of this:
But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words” (Acts 2:14).
The key to the power of that address was: “But Peter taking his stand with the eleven.” Peter spoke in perfect agreement with those who rose with Him. What he said is precisely what they would have said. They were in agreement, not only with the word, but also with each other, because they experienced a Pentecost themselves together. The fire that was upon their heads also forged them into one.
We have lost this understanding because ours is a ‘professional’ age where individuals are not only celebrated in the world, but also in the church. There is little emphasis on the genius of the Body as the corporate expression and channel of the Life of God. The message may find its expression through one mouth, but the power that is issued is relative to the authentic spiritual agreement and participation in the realm of Spirit. Life and death are always hanging in the balance, and the issue becomes our agreement in order to affect the anointing, power, word and boldness.
The world has really schooled us into an observer mentality rather than participant, and also to a sense of individual separation one from another. But in the Kingdom of God, we are as much responsible corporately for the word as we are for the mouth through which the word issues. This is the whole genius of man and woman in one new man. Can the woman find a depth of satisfaction to hear through her husband that which is in her own heart, and which she might actually have greater ability to express, but wants it to come forth through the head? Is she joined with him, and so identified with him that his success in it is her own satisfaction? We should be so jealous for the word that our only gratification is for the word to come forth in fullness and power through whomever the Lord has appointed. We should see it as being ourselves doing the speaking, because we are so one with that mouth.
Can you hear a message and have your interest engaged and at the same time intercede? That would take a remarkable quality of spirituality, maturity and separation from self. The ultimate sacrifice would be to leave the room and to miss what is taking place, and not even know what is going on, in order to give yourself to intercession. “My house is a house of sacrifice,” said our Lord, and that sacrifice, like any act of self-denial, releases an enormous power in that moment. Power is released wherever the principle of the Cross or self-denial is taking place, even the denying of yourself the pleasure and enjoyment of hearing the thing that is going forth, and to separate yourself for intercession even while it is going forth. As long as the prayer is going forth, then the word is going forth, and the moment it ceases, then the word ceases.

Great insight brother. It was said about Jonathon Edwards that when He preached, he read his sermonds without looking up or engaging His audience in any way. His voice was monotone, not full of emotion. All the power came from the anointing and hundreds of thousands were saved through and through by His simple dependance on God to bless what He asked Jonathon to share. We so rely on great speaking skills, or correct doctrinal stances, public speaking methods, etc., yet a word spoken backed by the Holy Spirit and brought alive by intercession and prayer can do in a nanosecond what two hours of the best oratory in the world cannot.

God bless you richly in your growing ministry.