Intercession, What is it?

"While they were worshiping as priests before the Lord in prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, I have set apart Barnabas and Saul to do an important work for me. Now release them to go and fulfill it." Acts 13:2 (Passion version) 

What is intercession and what is it's biblical, historical and factual basis? Is it a biblical call, title or position? 

We know in Ephesians 4:11 the Lord established 5 offices to guide and SERVE the church (or ecclesiastical body of Christ). The Lord specifically assigned leaders to take up 5 positions, roles or functions: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. 

Where do we find the title or office of "intercessor"? You won't generally find it in your Strongs Concordance or specifically find the word in your Bible. Except to describe Jesus.

Intercessor: when I say you won't find it, I mean as a title or call. Jesus is The Intercessor so to function in Intercession we must be connected and engaged with His heart.

It is actually a "function" which is clearly a part of the corporate church and the individual believers life and service.

To some it is a center stage function of their walk with Christ and to others it is more of a tithe of time within their ministry life. 

Clearly, Jesus spent time away in prayer yet He spent large amounts of time teaching, preaching and giving Himself to one on one ministry as well. 

In Luke 2, Anna the prophetess was functioning as an intercessor. Her life was devoted to prayer almost non-stop.

"Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age,...

she was a widow of 84 years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayer night and day. 

And coming in at that instant (Jesus' dedication as an infant) she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him (Jesus) to all those who looked for redemption." Luke 2:36-38

Here we see Anna spent most of her time in prayer, in intercession, but when she recognized the answer to her prayers...her response was to witness publicly. She publicly prophesied of the Truth. 

Note that the scripture said she SERVED GOD. When she was in intercession she was serving the Lord. When she was witnessing she was also a minister or servant to the people in her community. 

The opening scripture in Acts 13 demonstrates that our early ministers spent time serving God in prayer as "intercessors or priests" before they laid hands on Barnabas & Saul to go out to serve the people with The Testimony of Christ. 

 So there is a function of ministering to God in worship and prayer which proceeds the ministry of the Gospel unto people; serving God in intercession releases the authority, wisdom and grace to minister to the body of Christ as servants.. 

The 5 fold "offices" are functions of service. You can only have the heart of a servant when you spend time first and foremost in times of worship. It places the mantle of humility upon your shoulders. I call this- THE GARMENT OF THE LAMB. (See Genesis 3:21). We are naked in His presence without this. 

The function of the Apostle (builder), Prophet (one who speaks The Word accurately, in a timely fashion) Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher (self explanatory) follow the function of intercession. The function of the 5 fold follows the function of intercession. Intercession always comes first.. This is the accurate and required protocol to ministry.

This is clearly seen in Acts 1:14:

"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."

They were commissioned by Jesus Himself to wait upon the Lord in the upper room for a specified amount of time...10 days. 

40 days of Jesus appearing to them, demonstrating the Ressurection power and teaching. Then  10 days later, came the outpouring of Pentecost. 

There was a time of intercession required of them; a time with Jesus, then a time of intercession, in that order. We know they were also searching the scriptures during that time. 

Intercession is an integral part of ministry. These people had lives; daily chores, livelihoods and families to care for. There is a time and place set aside for every believer to enter into "intercession".

Some set aside a tithe or first fruits time for prayer...as shown in Acts 1 and 13. Others like Anna spend a central focus of their time in intercession. Yet she too was a witness for Christ. 

 If you hear someone call themselves an intercessor they are most likely saying they have an "Anna" type of call. 

Some call themselves a "prayer warrior". That means they are contending in the courts of heaven for the good promises in The Word of God. 

In Kansas City where they train many intercessors they use the title "prayer missionaries" because they acknowledge that prayer is only part of the commission. The other aspects are witnessing (evangelism) and ministry to the poor. 

Intercessors are to minister unto the Lord first and foremost. This is where they get the authority, wisdom and grace to minister to men.

They are not to contend with principalities and powers...one on one. They contend as an attorney would present a case in a court room setting. 

At no time do you see an attorney taking on, either, the alleged criminal or the bailiff who represents the judge. That would be "contempt of court". (See Luke 18) Though there is a proper time to question them. 

Yes, the Lord has given us His authority but we function in that authority by taking a (restful) seat with Him, in His courts, through intercession. Through engaging Him in worship then acting upon what He reveals and commisions us to do next. (See Ephesians 1:20 and 2:6). Meaning we contend for a "verdict" which we can then declare with full authority.

Remember when Jesus told the disciples that He witnessed Satan falling like lightning? What were they doing at this time? (Luke 10:9) They were ministering the Gospel with grace and healing! 

Nowhere do you see them yelling at the devil or contending directly with principalities or powers! Yes, they were delivering individuals of oppressive demons. (See Luke 10:17). 

There are anointed ones who have this authority but only when they are soaked in The Word of God & spending much time in The Courts of Heaven. In those cases, they enlist the aid of heavenly warriors (Psalm 103) & they declare "The Lord rebuke you!" as did the angel quoted in Jude 9.

This business of taking authority outside your comission is a presumption made by many self proclaimed  "prayer warriors."

The Word of God tells us that presumption is a great transgression. (See Psalms 19:13 & Jeremiah 23:16,18)    

☆ It can also be hazardous to your health and well being... and to those whom you are praying for. 

The Disciples spent time in Jesus presence, He commissioned them and they distributed His goodness to all who would receive. This is also your requirement before moving into authoritive. intercession.

We will talk more about contending in another blog. Contending for our faith, contending with the enemy or contending with The Angel of the Lord? There is a specific and mandated protocol for each aspect of contending. 

Footnote: Isaiah 53:12, 59:16, Jeremiah 7:16, 27:18, 36:25, Romans 8:26, 27, 34, 11:2, Hebrews 7:25, 1 Timothy 2:1.

☆These are the 11 scriptures on intercession. The only one named as an Intercessor is Jesus, who is our One Mediator.