Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth (Large Print 16pt)

by Dutch Sheets

  At times, they are unable to give me specific reasons, which is difficult for my analytical mind, but I have learned to trust them. Most false doctrine, division and general destruction in the Body of Christ could be averted if the watchmen would watch and the leaders would listen! Peter speaks of this need in 2 Peter 2:1-2:

  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned.

  Paul warned the Ephesians of it in Acts 20:28-3 1:

  Be on the guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

  Evidently they heeded Paul's advice, for the Lord commended them in Revelation 2:2:

  I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false.

  Watching for the Enemy

  The watchmen on the wall also looked for the enemy. When they saw the potential danger approaching, they sounded an alarm, either by a shout or a trumpet blast. Soldiers could then prepare themselves for battle and defend the city. Watchmen do this today, in a spiritual sense. They alert the Body of Christ to attacks of the enemy, sounding the alarm. When the watchmen are functioning properly, we need never be caught offguard by Satan and his forces.

  As watchmen we do not live in fear of our adversary, nor do we live in "ignore - ance" of him. Contrary to what some would teach, alertness and vigilance are not synonymous with preoccupation. I must warn you, it is a common tactic of the enemy to dissuade Christians from watching for him by accusing them of a wrong emphasis.

  Sadly enough, this message is often purported by wellmeaning Christians. They teach that Satan is to be ignored or that little attention is to be paid him. No passage in the Bible supports this. Certainly we are not to become infatuated with Satan, but a good soldier is a well-informed soldier concerning his enemy. Be infatuated with and in awe of Jesus-be aware of the enemy. Love worship, not warfare, but when necessary, go to war.

  In their book How to Pray for Your Family and Friends, Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock tell of a friend's pastor who had this attitude. "I don't think you should teach on spiritual warfare," the pastor told Hilda one day. "Concentrate on Jesus and not the devil."

  Her response showed her wisdom and experience. "'Pastor, I do concentrate on Jesus and his victory,' she answered respectfully. `Jesus taught that we have authority over the evil one. Until I began to use Christ's authority in spiritual warfare, I had four children going to hell. I've learned to bind the enemy's work in my family members' lives. Today all my children and grandchildren serve the Lord. I've seen the results of spiritual warfare, and I want to help others.""

  The Watchman Looks Ahead

  Watchmen did not only guard cities and fields in Scripture. The Hebrew words translated "watchman" are natsar, shamar and tsaphah. They mean to guard or protect by watching over, but also by "hedging around something"4 as with thorns. They even have the connotation of hiding or concealing something.' The watchman-through intercession-creates the secret place of protection (see Ps. 91).

  Another interesting meaning of tsaphah is to "lean forward and peer into the distance." The connection to prayer should be obvious. The watchman looks ahead, "peering into the dis- tance,"6 to foresee the attacks of the enemy. He is pro-active, not re-active. This is prophetic intercession!

  Let's look at several references where these words are used, with each usage referring to guarding or protecting something different. The first is in Genesis 2:15, which also happens to be the first time one of these words is used in the Bible. "Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it" (emphasis added).

  Theologians have what is known as "the law of first mention." This refers to the general rule that the first time a major subject is mentioned in the Bible, significant facts are given concerning it that will remain consistent and relevant throughout the Scriptures.

  For example, the first mention of the serpent-Satan-is in Genesis 3:1: "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, `Indeed, has God said, "You shall not eat from any tree of the garden"?"' It is easy to see this law at work here, as the verse speaks of Satan's subtlety or craftiness. God is informing us of one of the most important things we must remember about Satan: He is far more dangerous to us as the crafty serpent than as a roaring lion.

  Be Defensive-Keep the Serpent Out!

  Adam was told in Genesis 2:15 to guard or "keep" the garden. From what? It had to be the serpent! I assert this because first of all, it is much in keeping with the nature of God to have warned him. To have done otherwise would not have been consistent with God's character. Second, neither Adam nor Eve seemed shocked when a snake talked to them. It evidently didn't come as a total surprise. Third, what else could there have been (before the Fall) to guard, keep or protect from in the garden? Only the serpent.

  I want to emphasize an important point-the first mention of this term in Scripture gives us one of the primary responsibilities of the watchman: Keep the serpent out! Guard or protect that which God has entrusted to your care from the subtle encroachment of the serpent. Keep him out of your garden! . . . your home, family, church, city, nation! . . . Keep him out!

  The word is used again in Genesis 3:24 when God stationed a cherubim at the entrance of the garden to keep man from the tree of life. Adam didn't keep the serpent out, so an angel had to keep man out.

  In Genesis 30:31, the watchman concept is used in guarding a flock. It doesn't take much insight to see the correlation here. We can guard the flock of God through intercession. Ecclesiastes 12:3 refers to protecting a house. Psalm 127:1 uses the concept in reference to guarding a city. And 1 Samuel 26:15 and 28:2 speak of doing it for a person. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to do it for our hearts.

  These three Hebrew words are also translated in several other ways. I'm going to list a few of them, elaborating briefly, to provide a more well-rounded understanding of the concept. As you will plainly see, pages could be written commenting on the symbolism and connection to prayer. For brevity's sake I have not done so, but I would encourage you to think and meditate on each one, allowing the Holy Spirit to bring insight to you personally.

  1. Keep or Keeper

  This is by far the most frequent usage of these words-at least 250 times. Watchmen keep things, places and individuals safe. They ensure against loss, theft or damage. They keep things intact, in possession.

  2. Guard

  Watchmen are guards. This word is obviously similar to the next one.

  3. Bodyguard

  Watchmen guard individuals, protecting them from danger and harm. They are shields-the secret service agents of the kingdom, guarding and protecting others. Watchmen represent Jesus by watching over others.

  Often, intercessors in our fellowship inform me of times they have spent covering me in prayer. More than once I've been told, "Pastor, I was up most of the night praying for you." Occasionally they ask, "Was something wrong?"

  "No," I usually respond, "and that's probably why." Often my problems and distractions are "laid upon" others and they "carry them away from me." I am grateful and wise enough to realize that much of my success is due to their faithfulness. What a comfort to know I have bodyguards in the spirit! There would be fewer casualties i
n our ranks if we had more faithful watchmen.

  Peter Wagner, in his book Prayer Shield, offers five reasons pastors and other Christian leaders are in such great need of watchmen interceding for them:

  1. Pastors Have More Responsibility and Accountability. James 3:1, "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment."

  2. Pastors Are More Subject to Temptation. Make no mistake about it, the higher up you go on the ladder of Christian leadership, the higher you go on Satan's hit list.

  3. Pastors Are More Targeted by Spiritual Warfare. It has now become known that over the last several years, satanists, witches, New Agers, occult practitioners, shamans, spiritists and other servants of darkness have entered into an evil covenant to pray to Satan for the breakdown of marriages of pastors and Christian leaders. The spiritual warfare has intensified.

  4. Pastors Have More Influence on Others. The fourth reason why pastors need intercession more than other Christians is that by the very nature of their ministry they have more influence on others.

  5. Pastors Have More Visibility. Because pastors are up front, they are constantly subject to gossip and criticism.'

  In the book, Wagner elaborates more thoroughly on each reason. Elsewhere he says, "To the degree the intercessors pray, the leaders gain protection against the fiery darts of the wicked one, over and above the whole armor of God they are responsible for using."" This excellent book provides outstanding guidance about intercession for Christian leaders.

  In the excellent training resource, Becoming a Prayer Warrior, Beth Alves offers a suggested daily guide to praying for spiritual leaders, which Wagner summarized as follows:

  4. Doorkeeper

  Obviously similar to the next, so I will comment on both of them together.

  5. Gatekeeper

  Watchmen have the ability spiritually-in the prayer closet-to determine who or what goes in and out of their homes, their families' lives, their churches, their cities, etc. They discern by the Holy Spirit what to allow in, and through prayer, open and close the door. They invite in the work of the Holy Spirit and reject the works of darkness. They set boundaries, keeping enemies out. At times, when informed or confronted by an intercessor with the information that something improper has crept into our fellowship, I respond by asking, "What happened? Weren't you on the job?" I would simply say to the Body of Christ, "Don't blame it all on the pastors. You, too, are responsible for gatekeeping."

  6. Preserve or Preserver

  Watchmen preserve or keep things from ruin and destruction. They preserve lives, anointings, moves of God and a host of other things by covering them in prayer. Sherrer and Garlock tell of four ladies who functioned as watchmen for their farms. These women walked the perimeters of the fields while the husbands worked, sometimes covering as much as six miles in a day.

  They prayed for protection from insects, crop diseases, hail and drought. They asked God to give their husbands wisdom in farming and marketing and prayed for angels to be assigned to the efforts.

  The results were amazing. It turned out to be one of their better years. No storm or insect damage, no unwise decisions and a good profit-while others around them had a difficult year with little profit.

  We simply aren't practical enough at times with our intercession tactics. These ladies, watching in intercession, opened the way for God's blessing upon their families' financial endeavors.'0

  7. Pay attention

  Watchmen must be on the alert. They must pay attention. Though obvious, it is important enough to emphasize. As soldiers, God "calls us to attention." Lives are at stake. The harvest must be guarded. Pay attention, watchmen!

  8. Observe

  This embodies the same concept as paying attention, yet adds the emphasis of contemplativeness and sharpness. Don't just look-see. Be observant. Quite simply, watchmen watch! They observe what others fail to see. We can observe much in prayer, often even before it happens.

  9. Behold

  This one is similar to observe, of course, but I list it because it reemphasizes the need for seeing clearly.

  10. Beware

  Watchmen must be vigilant, aware, on the alert. Again, 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be of sober spirit. Always beware, intercessor! Watch for the lion and when you see him at work immediately "meet" him, enforcing Calvary's victory with the "bear anointing."

  11. Protect

  In the same sense as guarding and keeping, watchmen protect. They build walls or boundaries of protection from the attacks of the devil. They distribute this blessing of the Lord.

  12. Maintain

  Watchmen maintain things for the Lord. They are maintenance people. They may not set vision, build or plant in the way that some do, but they maintain. They keep things working well and prevent breakdowns. They maintain the anointing, integrity, health and many other necessary blessings of the kingdom.

  In summary, God is raising up prophetic intercessors-watchmen-to keep the serpent out! Men and women who will "lean forward, peering into the distance," watching for the enemy's attacks. Sentries, bodyguards, gatekeepers, boundary setters and preservers in His kingdom. It is, indeed, a high calling!

  Be Offensive-Lay Siege!

  There is another facet to this type of prayer, however, that I now want us to consider. One of the most interesting and surprising things I discovered as I studied these words is that they embody not only protective or defensive meanings, but offensive as well.

  The words mean "to besiege or lay siege to a city,"" the idea being to watch it to keep people and supplies from coming or going. One definition was "to spy on" or "lie in wait for someone to ambush the person."" They are actually translated this way in 2 Samuel 11:16, Isaiah 1:8, Jeremiah 4:16-17, Jeremiah 51:12 and judges 1:24.

  In 1989 when the Lord gave me this teaching, He clearly spoke in my heart that He was releasing the watchman anointing, which would enable individuals to "lay siege to" cities and nations through prayer. Where Satan had taken advantage and held the greater portion, the people of God would be given instruction about how to lay siege to these situations, cutting off his supply lines and removing that which had given him place. They would take back from him people, cities and nations.

  This was before there was talk (at least in a broad degree) of reconciliation ceremonies, identificational repentance, spiritual mapping, prayer walks, marches and journeys-all of which are terms associated with systematically removing from Satan his hold on places and people to take them for Christ. These and other strategies are all a part of the watchman anointing God has released to the Church.

  The Body of Christ is learning to systematically pull down the strongholds of darkness. God is giving us the ability-by His Spirit-to discern the enemy's plans, strengths, weaknesses and points of entry-to cut him off and take nations, cities and individuals through prayer. The strongholds of darkness are being torn down. Those imprisoned in satanic fortresses are being freed. Sieges are being laid in the spirit. God is showing us what to bind and loose, as well as how to do it. There is opposition, of course.

  One of the things that keep some from this kind of prayer is the time element. The very concept of laying siege implies a duration of time. It may take days, weeks or years of daily interces sion to receive the breakthrough. I certainly believe this can be sped up by more intelligent and informed praying, as well as by the multiplication of power that takes place through agreement.

  However, nothing can change the fact that some situations require a degree of time. I laid siege to the cyst in my wife for 30 days. Polly Simchen, whom we spoke of in chapter 10, laid siege to the bondages in her son for 4 years. God gave her and her friends much strategy as they prayed, enlightening them on what to cut off and what to call forth. That is a siege. They discerned Satan's strategies, "spying out" his plans. Was it worth the effort and wait? Absolutely. They gained the greater portion.

  This concept of laying siege is well-illustrated in a story about Theresa Mu
lligan, editor of a newsletter for intercessors called Breakthrough, related by Sherrer and Garlock in How to Pray for Your Family and Friends. Theresa and a friend had prayer-walked their neighborhood for a season, stopping in front of each house, taking hands and agreeing in prayer for the occupants' salvation.

  Soon reports started coming in: A colonel's wife accepted Christ, the teenage daughter of a Jewish family met Jesus, an arthritic woman made a commitment to Christ and a collegeage daughter of another family came to the Lord. Even after she moved away, Theresa continued to hear of these former neighbors coming to Christ.13

  That is laying siege! It is the watchman anointing at its best and anyone can do it.

  Taking Cities and Nations for God

  I have focused most of my attention in this book to intercession for individuals. I would now like to comment briefly on intercession for cities and nations, especially as it relates to the watchman aspect of laying siege.

  Scripture clearly shows that God deals with-relates to-not only individuals, but also groups of people. Because of the principles of authority, responsibility, free will, sowing and reaping, etc., which operate not only on an individual level, but also on the corporate level at which individuals join, God relates to people groups. Why?

  Many of the decisions we make, the rights and privileges we enjoy, are not individualistic, but are jointly made with the people to whom we relate. For example, I make many decisions privately regarding my personal life. But for our household-our children, finances, home, time, and so on, my wife and I make the decisions together.

  The same principle of shared authority can be incrementally expanded all the way up to a national level-from organizations to cities to counties to states to nations. These groupings could be secular or religious. In whatever way a group of people can be said to have rights, decision-making power and freedoms, there is reciprocal responsibility. As the decisions on laws, leaders, morals, interests, tolerances and intolerances are shared, so are the ramifications.