IHOP and Intercession

Hey, all!  I'm 'in' (via the internet) the prayer room right now at IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City, Missouri...just wanted to share. ;) Also, soon, at 5pm (our time, EST; 4pm their time, CST), Misty Edwards will be leading the worship during the time of intercession!! Misty Edwards is an incredible artist in Christian music (and gifted in intercession); you have probably heard her song, "You Won't Relent" (also sung by Jesus Culture). Here's a link to a video on YouTube of her singing it live at IHOP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXspOqp6b6s

This week(end) at IHOP they're hosting something called onething, starting tomorrow and ending Saturday. You can look at the details here.

So, as much I would absolutely love to be there, I can't, so I'll settle for in the internet. I already know that the Holy Spirit can work very powerfully in even what we do and watch and listen to on the internet...like watching live services at my church and being part of a community of Christ-following teen girls led by an amazing Christian author on her blog and all that good stuff. ;)

I've been learning a lot about intercession...I got a book called Possessing the Gates of the Enemy, by Cindy Jacobs, for Christmas, recommended by some of our friends, and here is what Mrs. Jacobs says on pages 57-58 at the beginning of Chapter 5 (no, I'm not there yet, but I was skimming through the book when I first got it and this stuck with me; words in brackets are mine):

There has been some controversy today about the ministry of intercession. Some say that there is no such thing as the gift of intercession - that God calls the whole Body to be intercessors. Others who feel a special call of God upon their lives to intercede are confused and say, "Where is my place in the Body if there is no gift of intercession? I know that I have a unique drawing from the Lord to stand in the gap [Ezekiel 22:30]. I spend hours every day alone with God praying for the nations of the world, my church, my own country and its leader."

Which side is right? They both are. From the viewpoint of ministry we are all to pray and intercede like Jesus, our example. From the viewpoint of giftedness a vast number of people are also called specifically to be intercessors. The difference is that one level of intercession is the responsibility of every Christian, and the other is a gift that God bestows and is part of the biblical ministry of helps. Some who receive the gift of intercession receive a future gifting to become prayer leaders. God uses them not only to intercede but to teach others the secrets of intercession.

Then she goes on to explain how she has experienced these things in her life. Three things I really like about Mrs. Jacobs is how honest she is, how personal she is, and how humble she is. It has been a joy so far reading this book.

Anyway, I totally agree with what she said about the responsibility of everyone who follows Christ to intercede in prayer, but that also there are people who are especially burdened for intercession. Some do it through music, there is often prophetic intercession, and some simply pray, connecting with their Lord Jesus Christ.

Also, she quoted Dick Eastman from his book Love on Its Knees at the beginning of this chapter:

An intercessor is a man or woman - or child - who fights on behalf of others. As such, intercession is the activity that identifies us most with Christ. To be an intercessor is to be like Jesus because that is what Jesus is like. He ever lives to intercede.

I don't know if I agree so much with the part where he says that intercession is "the activity that identifies us most with Christ", but I certainly and strongly agree with everything else.

So. These are just some things to ponder. I find them all very inspiring and teaching (that isn't the grammatically correct word to use in this instance, is it? ah, well - you get what I mean...geez, I'm such a perfectionist), and I pray that I will continue to learn exactly how exactly Christ is calling me to serve Him.

Glory be to God in the highest!!!


~Nicole