Laban Type Leadership: Don’t Be Like Laban

Genesis 30:25-30

“And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go TO MY OWN PLACE and TO MY OWN COUNTRY. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.” And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD HAS BLESSED ME FOR YOUR SAKE.” Then he said, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” So Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?”

In this story, Laban refused to release Jacob for his services because Jacob was the cause of Laban’s prosperity. Jacob worked for Laban for 20 years before he decided to leave and venture off into his own endeavors. 14 of those years were spent working for the companionship of Jacob’s wives, Rachael and Leah. The other 6 years were spent working for all of the livestock Jacob accumulated. Jacob even stated that Laban changed the agreement for his labor 10 times. Jacob was abused and misused by Laban for 20 years without ever complaining about it.

After having withstood enough, Jacob finally spoke up for himself and confessed to Laban that he wanted his own things. He wasn’t satisfied working for Laban. He knew that there were greater things in store for him. However, Laban did not want to release him. He refused and even tried to make a deal with Jacob to pay him to stay. Eventually, Jacob ran away without telling Laban and made a covenant with him which ultimately allowed Jacob to leave Laban’s land in peace.

Today, we see a very similar scenario take place in many churches. Where there is a senior leader who is afraid or hesitant to release anointed men and women who are under them because of the prosperity and addition these individuals bring to their ministry and personal success. These are LABAN TYPE LEADERS! The “Laban Type Leader” is a leader, who through selfish-motivation, oppress the members of that flock through manipulation and abuse in order to build the work of that house and to build HIS OWN PERSONAL NAME. This particular leader does not have a strong enough anointing nor a large enough capacity to build their particular work through their own resources and gifting, so they rely on the anointing, gifting, and resources of others without having personal concern for these individual’s personal calling, ministry, and mandate.

The Spirit of Laban is a spirit that works primarily through leaders. Like Laban, these leaders are promise breakers. Laban changed Jacob’s wage 10 times in order to ensure his own personal success. (Gen. 31:6-7). These leaders have no consideration or interest in the well-being of their sheep or their leaders. They only do what seems right in their own eyes. These leaders also ignore the concept of personal identity and destiny. They take no interest in the development of any vision other than their own. Some of these leaders may even release someone into ministry but deems it a threat if this ministry becomes more successful than their own.

Laban Type Leaders dread releasing people from their ministry to establish their own. This is a leadership model which opposes the Apostolic leadership model of raising up, sending out, and releasing. There is a fear in Laban Type Leaders to release people because of the possibility of ministerial failure. LABAN TYPE CHURCHES are churches that are primarily dependent upon the anointing of individuals instead of being dependent upon the Spirit of Christ. It is a people focused church instead of a Spirit focused church. Laban Type Leaders and Churches hate to release people because they fear their church and ministry will decrease in numbers and effectiveness or even shipwreck without particular individuals being involved. They need certain people involved in order to “keep the show going”. The problem with this type of ministry is that it neglects the concept of spiritual reproduction. Spiritual fathers reproduce themselves in the lives of others not only to ensure the advancement of the Kingdom of God, but also to reduce the problem of being totally dependent on individuals.

One of the main problems with the spirit of Laban is that it ignores the Word of the Lord spoken over individual’s lives. “Jacob said to Laban, ‘Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go…’” (Gen. 30:25-26). Really what Jacob was saying here was, “God spoke over me that He would make of me a great nation and multiply my seed, but I can’t do that here. I need to go to MY OWN PLACE AND MY OWN COUNTRY in order to fulfill the Word of the Lord spoken over my life.” Jacob was thinking according to his destiny. Laban ignored the Word of the Lord concerning Jacob out of selfish ambition. Laban Type Leaders only think according to their personal ministry and does not consider the destiny of those in their ministry unless it is affiliated with that ministry.

This spirit and type of leadership is not one which can be ignored. If these characteristics describe you or your leader you need to GET DELIVERANCE, GET COUNSELING, GET OUT OF THAT CHURCH, and OR A COMBINATION OF THE THREE!
Love you all,

Isaac M. Watson

The Strength of His Resurrection

In prayer today, the Lord led me to cry out for His people to really know the STRENGTH OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION. At first, I didn’t really know what He meant by that, then it dawned on me that there are many believers who truly do not know the benefits and empowerment of Jesus’ resurrection. In many churches, the revelation of Jesus’ resurrection is only limited to the phrases, “He Got Up!”, “Death couldn’t hold Him!”, “He rose with all POWER in His hands!” among other phrases. These are all truths; however, there is little emphasis as to explaining why He got up and how that benefits His Church today.

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11

There is much confusion about this verse. Many apply this verse to a physical, future resurrection of the body, but what was Paul really trying to say? How Does the Spirit of God QUICKEN YOUR MORTAL BODY? What is Apostle Paul referring to when he says “MORTAL BODY”? This is actually the second time Paul uses this term. The first occasion is written earlier in this same letter.

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your MORTAL BODY, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:12-14

It can be clearly seen through these chapters that the MORTAL BODY spoken of by Paul can also be called the BODY OF SIN. In other words, it is the body which obeys the sinful nature. It is the body which is made dead by being a slave to sin. This is the body which the Spirit of God QUICKENS. To quicken means to bring to life; to RESURRECT. The mortal body is brought from DEATH to LIFE by the Spirit of God. In other words, because of Jesus’ Resurrection, sin has no power over the bodies of those who walk in the Spirit. We have been resurrected with Christ in the likeness of His body. Where the Law brought about sin Grace brings about obedience unto God. The Resurrection of Christ ensured this Grace. When the Resurrection of Christ is fully understood, then Grace can be fully received and holiness can be fully attained. It is for us to know that holiness cannot be attained in our own strength. It is only by the grace of God brought about by the understanding that we have been crucified with Christ and also in like manner we have been resurrected with Jesus Christ. The Resurrection of Christ allows Christ to live through us both bodily and spiritually by faith. (Galatians 2:20)

Another important element of the Resurrection of Jesus is the fact that those who have been resurrected with Him also reign with Him. Not only have we been given power to live righteously, we also have been given authority to govern spiritually.

“Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2:5-6

Those who are in Christ are holy priests unto God and were baptized into a Kingdom of kings. You are royalty and authoritative. The Church is God’s governmental BODY. We are the BODY of Christ. Our image is not in Jesus’ earthly body, but in His RESURRECTED BODY! As HE reigns we reign. We are seated above all the powers of darkness and therefore have dominion over them. The earth is the Lord’s and all of its fullness and the Kingdom of God also belong

to Christ. Therefore, we are both stewards of the earth and rulers in the heavenlies. All of this comes from the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. THANK JESUS FOR HIS RESURRECTION!!!

Spiritual Fathering and Sonship, Part 2

Genesis 1:27-28
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

In the book of Genesis, we read in the Creation Story how God made man and commissioned him to steward the earth. I believe this particular commission can also be understood as an apostolic commission to leaders and those who will dare to leave a generational mark in the earth. When Moses wrote this, it was to be taken literally but I believe that it could also be applied to the dynamics of Fatherhood and Sonship. When we pray to God our initial cry should be “Abba”, which means Father. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray He told them to begin by recognizing their God as a FATHER. He told them to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven.” This is an indication that the God we serve is a god of family. God is a god of REPRODUCTION. I will deal with Genesis 1:27-28, going step by step, explaining how these verses relate to the dynamics of Fatherhood and Sonship.

In verse 28, God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply.” When God said to be fruitful He was talking about MANIFESTING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. He was talking about DEVELOPING INTEGRITY. He was talking about being intimate with Him, furthermore becoming like Him. He was talking about a place of identity. Apostolic Leaders have to bear fruit as fathers (When I say father it is inclusive of both male and female Leaders). As a Spiritual Father and Covering, you cannot pour into individuals when you do not walk in integrity. An Apostolic Father’s purpose is to raise up sons who look like Jesus. They are to raise up those who walk and manifest the fruit of the Spirit.

He told them to multiply. Multiplication speaks of REPRODUCTION. It talks about stepping into the mantle of fatherhood and raising up sons. After God tells them to master integrity, He commands them to reproduce. This is a commission to make disciples and pour your life into those whom you are called to father. This does not just deal with giving them tape series to listen to, church services to attend, and books to read. This deals with developing a COVENANT RELATIONSHIP with the individual. It has to go beyond general conversation and general meetings. The relationship between a father and son is an intimate relationship. Fathers are required to discipline their sons to carry out God’s first command to them. BE FRUITFUL! In other words, fathers are to teach their sons to be integral. This is done through strong accountability and demonstration. Fathers show their sons how they are to live.

He told them to fill or replenish the earth. This is an issue of generations. This is an issue of pouring into generations. Apostolic Fathers raise up sons to affect the next generation. Fathers are replenishing the earth with their sons and daughters. Those sons are replenishing the earth with their sons and daughters, and so on. This will create a spiritual legacy and continual passing of mantles through the generations which in turn will leave an eternal print in the earth which was initiated by your obedience to raise up true sons.

He told them to subdue. In other words He told them to TAKE THE EARTH. This deals with the reclaiming of the various mind molders of our culture and society. It is not enough to just get involved. Fathers have to train their children to not be religious but to work to advance in the earth and culture they live in. These mind molders consist of Education, Media, Entertainment and the Arts, Religion, Business, Family, Government, and Science. By stepping into authoritative positions in these various mind molders, the Church of Jesus Christ positions itself for a KINGDOM TAKEOVER!

He told them to have dominion. This is an issue of personal identity. This is an issue of destiny and authority. Once you learn who you are in God, dominion is inevitable. It is not enough to just get involved. Fathers are to train their sons and daughters for DOMINATION! So, it is clear to see that Fathers don’t pour into their sons for their own benefit. They pour into their sons for the benefit of their sons and the benefit of the Kingdom of God.

Spiritual Fathering and Sonship

There are many essential truths that can be addressed when dealing with the subject of Fatherhood and Sonship. Many leaders are assuming the title of “Father” without understanding the biblical definition and apostolic function of Fatherhood. It is a sad reality but many leaders have abused their role as Apostolic Father and Covering over others and as a result many sons and daughters have been left dysfunctional and spiritually desolate. This in turn produces a new generation of dysfunctional leaders who now does not know what it looks like to be a spiritual father due to the lack of being spiritually fathered.

There is a lot of familiarity in the Church when it pertains to the dynamics of spiritual fathering and mentoring. Many people are adopting the terms “spiritual father” and “spiritual son” as if it is a new fad in the Church. There is a distorted picture of what it looks like to be fathered. Some believe that Apostolic Fathering can come from books, cd’s, television broadcasting, and conferences but this is not so. How can you consider someone a spiritual father or covering when you don’t have an intimate, covenant relationship with that individual? The sad reality is that many people don’t understand the purpose and responsibilities of Apostolic Fathers. The same can be said about the role and purpose of spiritual sons and daughters.

The first thing that need to be realized is the reality of the nature of Fatherhood. Good sons turn into good fathers. Spiritual fathers have to master the discipline of sonship before they can walk into the role of fatherhood. Just because there is a call to pastor or father does not mean that you are automatically qualified to step into that role. Fatherhood takes a discipline that can only be learned as a son. This may take years of sitting under a leader who’s life is worth patterning after, but the end result will be the turning of one from a son into a mature man. When you posture yourself in submission to a spiritual father, you are positioning yourself for a blessing and an inheritance that can only be received as a son. When you honor your parents God not only honors you, but there is a transfer of blessing that occurs from you to your children. On the other hand. When you dishonor and bring shame to your Spiritual Father, dishonor is not only placed upon you, it is also placed upon your spiritual seed.

“And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. 21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.

24 So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. 25 Then he said: “ Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren.” Genesis 9:20-25

Notice that Noah did not directly curse Ham. Noah cursed Ham’s seed, Canaan. Because of Ham’s shameful act a curse was placed upon his son. This is why it is important to always place honor on your leaders and spiritual parents. Illegitimacy begets illegitimacy. However, true sons become true fathers and beget true sons.

The Fear Of The Lord

As time passes, I’m finding more and more that the church has lost the fear
of the Lord. We as a corporate body no longer honor God as a holy, righteous,
but yet judging and jealous God. Nor do we respect the house of God as being a
place for our Righteous King to visit us as the corporate Body of Christ. We
abuse our rights as Christians by taking advantage of God’s grace and mercy. As
saints, we are to be the righteousness of God but we make a mockery of his
righteousness by abusing ourselves. Those who turn their back to God for self
pleasure are those who say, “I love God,” but in reality love themselves more.
We have got to get to a point of no return in our walk. We have got to get to a
point where we either want all of God or none of God.

One major aspect the fear of the Lord has is its ability to restrain us from
sinning.

 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10,
KJV)

 

Now, this wisdom is not the wisdom from man, but the wisdom of God. The fear
of the Lord causes the Holy Spirit to quicken us to be strong counselors and
Godly decision makers. Scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit brings all things
back to our remembrance. I believe a lot of people misunderstand this particular
scripture. Jesus wasn’t only talking about us being reminded about things we
need to do daily or asking the Holy Spirit to help us during tests. He was
talking about the Holy Spirit being the one who reminds us and quickens us
concerning His Word. The Word of God is alive and His works should be evident in
our lives. When we walk in the fear of the Lord, His wisdom captivates us and
causes His nature to draw us away from the sinful nature. This is an element
that needs to be embraced by the Church in this hour. The fear of the Lord is
vital when pertaining to our walk and believers embracing the lifestyle of
holiness.

 

“And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let
not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not:
for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that
ye sin not.” (Exodus 20:19-20, KJV)

 

Notice from the scriptures that Moses made a distinction between
fearing God and the fear of God. God did not create us so that He could be a
condescending, overloading ruler over powerless, needy people. He gave us
authority, and by embracing the fear of the Lord we gain access to that
authority. The fear of the Lord does not make us afraid of what God can do to us
if we disobey Him. It makes us fear Him in all of His beauty. Furthermore,
beckoning us to move closer to Him and abandoning anything that gets in the way.
With this understanding, I believe the church will be in a better, healthier
state. When we understand and walk in the fear of the Lord God is more available
to us to move in His strength.

Baptism of Fire Explained…

Ignorance is one of the major enemies to our growth and walk with God. I have
messed up so many prayers and prophecies with the term, “baptism of fire”. To my
understanding, much of the western church teaches that the baptism of fire is
some kind of addition to the Holy Spirit. I once believed the same thing until
the Holy Spirit put it in my heart to research what the baptism of fire was. As
we continue to grow in God and in the knowledge of His Son we will have to come
into a higher level of personal responsibility. We have to begin to study the
scriptures for ourselves.

“Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge,
weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher
sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The
words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected
sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.” (Ecclesiastes 12:9-11)

We have to be like this preacher Solomon talks about. We have to weigh,
study, and arrange the scriptures with great care. This preacher had the right
heart when dealing with the words of God. He didn’t just automatically agree and
go by it because his pastor said it was right. He took the time to dissect the
scriptures himself to make sure that the things that were being said lined up
with the context and basis of the scripture. We can sometimes heretically
believe something and disannul the power of the scriptures because of a lack of
understanding and consistency in searching the scriptures out. There is a
difference between the fire of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of fire. John the
Baptist makes my previous statement clear.

“Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round
about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But
when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said
unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to
come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say
within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God
is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe
is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not
forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with
water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose
shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and
with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and
gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with
unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:1-12)

The context of this passage is key in determining the meaning of the “Baptism
of Fire”. The prophet, John the Baptist, was angrily addressing the Pharisees
and Sadducees. He called them a GENERATION OF VIPERS. He also addressed their
pride issues by telling them not to say to themselves that they are Abraham’s
children. What a way to humble someone! “God is able to take these stones and
make them children of Abraham. He doesn’t really need you!”

There was something about the Pharisees and Sadducees that put a bad taste in
the prophet’s mouth. Maybe it was their inability to yield more to the Spirit of
God and His love than to their traditions and doctrine. The Pharisees were
legalistic Jews who were strict followers of the law and oral traditions. The
Sadducees, on the other hand rejected oral traditions. They didn’t believe in a
coming Messiah, angels, or in any type of afterlife. The Pharisees and Sadducees
often argued over these types of differences in beliefs.

John the Baptist relates the people to fruit bearing trees. The FIRE is
preserved for those people who are unable to bear good fruit. This is now
talking about a lifestyle. The fruit which we are to bear include love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control. When we become this type of tree we are no longer under the law
(Galatians 5:22-23). This is living a life in the spirit, something that the
Pharisees and Sadducees were not use to hearing about or practicing. The lusts
of the flesh include Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, envying, murder, drunkenness, and reveling. These are the kinds of
fruit that will cause you to get CASTED INTO THE FIRE(Galatians 5:19-21). John
the Baptist was telling them to make a choice. You can’t serve two masters. This
is the message of repentance. Choose God, for the Kingdom of heaven is at
hand.

I believe that John the Baptist was not saying that Jesus will baptize
everyone with both the Holy Ghost and Fire. He was saying that Jesus Christ, our
Lord has been given the authority to baptize both baptisms, the Holy Spirit for
those who choose God and FIRE for those who fail to bear good fruit. THE BAPTISM
OF FIRE REPRESENTS THE ESCHATOLOGICAL JUDGMENT OF THE LORD.

Chaff is a counterfeit to wheat. They both grow from the same place but wheat
is a grain and chaff is a weed. They both grow together but only the wheat is
used to produce foods such as bread. The chaff is useless so the farmers
separate it from the wheat and TOSSES IT INTO FIRE TO DESTROY IT. When the bible
refers to wheat it refers to the saints or those in whom God delights in.
(see Matt. 13:25-40). When chaff is discussed, Jesus refers to it as
wicked, or connected to the children of the wicked one. It isn’t wanted when
mixed with the wheat. John the Baptist was warning the Pharisees and Sadducees
of the danger and consequence of proclaiming to be God’s children while at the
same time living a life of strife and sedition. Jesus alone holds the authority
to judge us and how we live here on earth and John the Baptist was letting them
know that they will be judged based upon their actions and morals they hold up
to in their lifetime.

They were being told that they can not hide from the eyes of the Lord.
“And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every
tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
(see Matt. 3:10, KJV). This scripture shows that Jesus’ judgment was
already at work. He was watching the way they lived. There was no time to waste.
The axe was already laid to the root of the tree and the fan was already in
Jesus’ hand to thoroughly purge his floor. This spoke of the eminence and
urgency of the time they were living in. Judgment had already began to occur and
the Jews were being measured by everything they did.

Now we can see that the Baptism of Fire had nothing to do with the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit. In light of the entire context of Matthew 3 it is clearly
shown that it represented the Judgment of God to those who rebelled against the
plan of God and rejected Israel’s Messiah.

Fasting: The Dividing Line

 There are things in everyone’s life that will either draw you to the Lord or will drag you from the Lord. Some of these things can easily be identified. Others of them are not so apparent.  The only way to distinguish between the more difficult sources is to be enlightened enough to see. There are times where you need to turn certain things down in order to be able to see clearly the different agendas that are determined to thwart your assignments and your destiny. Discernment is an essential tool for the believer and one key way to increase in your ability to see demonic agendas as well as the agenda of God more clearly is by fasting.

Some years ago the Lord spoke to me about fasting. I heard God tell me that He was going to show me the “ancient paths and methods” of fasting and prayer.

 

“Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.” (Daniel 1:19-21)

 

Fasting carries the anointing of sobriety and acceleration. Not only does your vision become clearer in situations, but your ability to progress speeds up. Sobriety comes upon you to enable you to act in wisdom and not react to your environment. God’s eternal mind concerning specific things is released when you enter into a realm of fasting. God brings you out of the situation and allows you to see what is truly going on from His perspective, furthermore equipping you to act wisely according to the mind of God. The spirit of delusion is a strong spirit that releases instability in the emotions, thoughts, and actions of an individual. It is a major driving force of inconsistency, lethargy, and desensitization. Whenever an individual tried to progress in any aspect of their life, the spirit of delusion tries to stifle their efforts and blind them from their path of success and purpose. The opposite of sobriety is delusion and drunkenness. These demonic forces are dangerous because they are often hidden and undetected by the individual. It takes a strong spirit of sobriety to detect these demons and sobriety is only granted by fasting.

            I believe the Lord highlighted to me the fact that fasting is an “ancient method” because it is not viewed as such today. There is a lot of dilution that occurs in the Church today. Fasting is not viewed the way it used to be and that causes believers today to dilute their anointing and ministry. Fasting is not just a way to die to your flesh. Fasting grants you access to the mind of God and it also causes a sensitivity and connection to occur between you and the angels of the Lord that are assigned to you in prayer. There is an eternal authority that is released when you fast. I believe God is turning up the heat and is wanting to challenge believers in their walk and authority level. Allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life is not always an easy thing. It often seems as if the things which try to kill you are the things which make you who you are as you overcome those various obstacles. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5).

            Notice that Daniel and his companions not only appeared to be healthier physically, but they were noted to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that the king had. The only thing they did that was different from what the king’s other servants were doing was denying themselves from certain foods. They understood the importance of fasting and dying to the wants of the flesh. Daniel was honored by God because he chose to never abandon his faith for the sake of others. He did not become subject to his environment and the culture he lived in to the point of compromise. He stood his ground, along with his companions, fasted, and as a result God exalted them and placed a spirit of wisdom and understanding within them. The purpose of fasting is to refine you and bring you into another dimension of strength, wisdom, and prophetic awareness. Fasting is just one of the many ways God chooses to mature his children. He longs to be known by his sons and daughters and there is a responsibility on the children’s part to meet God where He is in order to sit under His wisdom.

Apostolic Intercession: Birthing The Apostolic Commission Through Prayer

The Great Commission was a commission from Jesus to his twelve apostles. This commission was to go into the entire world preaching the message of the Kingdom of God. With this sending, Jesus empowered them to be his ambassadors endued with all of the authority He possessed. This authority included power to heal the sick, speak with new tongues, cast out devils, prophesy, and work miracles. They were given all of the necessary tools and endowments needed to carry out this divine commission to advance the Kingdom of God.

One thing that many misunderstand in the Body of Christ is the fact that before there can be any natural sending or commissioning there has to be a spiritual sending and commissioning. This note is about being sent and possessing by way of prayer and intercession. One may ask, “Where am I being sent?” or “What am I possessing?” In order to understand this, one must understand that the Great Commission was not just a commissioning for the twelve apostles. It is for us today. The Kingdom of God needs to be advanced from generation to generation until all have come into the knowledge of Christ and have been transformed into the Kingdom of God and His Christ. Even if you are not called to be an apostle, as the Body of Christ, we are all designed to function apostolically. This note was designed to give you fresh insight on how to possess nations, convert souls, and pray effective, strategic, apostolic prayers in an eon that is enticed and radically influenced by demonic, deceptive world systems.

One of the most common misconceptions about intercession is the belief that you have to have a gift of intercession in order to pray strong fervent prayers. Over the years this theory has been something that has been bothering me. This is a bias belief that implies everyone can’t be an intercessor, God hears some prayers over others, and that some prayers are more important than others. This, in effect, discourages believers from praying because they do not believe that their prayers matter much or as much as others. This misconception not only silences the mouths of some intercessors, it also can create a spirit of pride and self-righteousness within the more seasoned intercessors. These were not the intentions of God for our prayer lives.

I have never read in the bible where it states that an individual has to have a gift of intercession in order to pray effectively. In fact, I have never even read about such a thing as a gift of intercession. Although this is a concept that can encourage stronger believers to intercede, it is an unbiblical concept that can detour and discourage others from interceding. Intercession is not at all a gift; it is a grace and a mandate given to all believers. Everyone has been commissioned to intercede simply because all believers are expected to have a relationship with God. Intercession, in simplicity, is you standing in the gap as mediators between God and mankind, heaven and earth. This is a part of our responsibility as believers. On earth as it is in heaven! (Matthew 6:10, emphasis added). Intercessors are the bridge that makes this a reality. Let’s not be deceived by religion, but instead let’s press into a divine relationship with God that is full of communion. Anyone can be an intercessor and the Holy Spirit was sent to ensure this reality.

 

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (John 16:13)

 

            When the Holy Spirit was sent, there was a guarantee that although Jesus was ascending into heaven God still wanted to commune with men. The Holy Spirit only speaks what He hears from heaven. Hence, on earth as it is in heaven. We know what is in heaven because the Holy Spirit tells us. This allows us to intercede effectively. I want to reemphasize the reality that although one can be gifted to intercede, intercession is not a gift. In fact, intercession can be taught. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and our teacher. He teaches us how to pray because He teaches us how to listen. When we begin to rely on the Holy Spirit in our prayers more grace is given to us to break through in intercession. Many new believers can easily get intimidated by stronger intercessors and try to mimic the intercessor instead of the Holy Spirit. It is easy to covet someone else’s abilities when you are insecure about your own. Stronger intercessors should mentor new believers and help to teach them how to intercede. One thing I had to learn as an intercessor is that we cannot be afraid to ask God questions in prayer. He is our teacher so we have to act as students. There is nothing wrong with asking questions. God wants to communicate with us and as we develop a stronger relationship with Him, He will answer our questions to aid us in our prayers. I guarantee that God wants His kingdom to come more than we want His kingdom to come. He wants His will to be done more than we want it to be done. Why wouldn’t He answer our questions if the answers are going to result in a further advancement of His kingdom?

 

Holy Spirit is Our Helper

 

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

 

            The thing about intercession is that the intercessor does nothing in his or her own strength and authority. We are always to get help from the Spirit of God. Scriptures tell us that the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. So intercessors are necessary in order for the world to receive the truth from the Spirit of God. Since we are from this world the world receives us. If we are carriers of the Spirit of truth, when we pray, in essence, the world receives this truth from God.

            Just like anything else in the earth, with practice you can become better at prayer. It is not enough to just pray. It is imperative that you become skillful in prayer. You must become an expert in prayer. This is very possible for those who are meek and teachable by the Holy Spirit as well as by other believers. The Holy Spirit will teach, lead, assist and help you in your prayers to God.

 

Wait On Him

 

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

 

There are also times in intercession where God will anoint your words because you waited on Him in prayer. That word tarry doesn’t mean to just wait until something happens. It means to expect something to happen; to wait with expectation that something will happen; to bless God ahead of time for something happening futuristically. When you tarry in prayer for the Holy Spirit, you are waiting for the anointing and Spirit of God to sit and envelop you. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of prayer. Although the Holy Spirit lives within you there are also times where the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you to anoint you for specific purposes. One of these specific purposes is intercession. Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah’s prophecy which says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed me…” (Luke 4:18). Why would Jesus need the Spirit of the Lord to come upon Him if He is the Son of God? There had to be a specific anointing released at a specific time to get a specific need met. God still does that today. As you wait upon the Lord you will receive a new measure of strength that will enable you to do what you were incapable of doing before. This occurs when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.