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TEN PITFALLS FOR INTERCESSORS TO AVOID

Brian Pickering

One morning, Charles, a young husband of an intercessor, came by my office seeking a

word of counsel. 'Pastor Eddie, he said, "I'm concerned. Last night I was sleeping

soundly when I was suddenly awakened by an alarming slap across my chest. My Wife

bolted upright in bed and shrieked, ' Oh my God Charles wake up! We forgot to pray for the kids!' What's wrong with this?"

"Oh that's simple,' I explained. "Your wife is superstitious. She looks at prayer like it's a lucky rabbit's foot or a horseshoe. She thinks your kids are safe because you pray for

them.'They're not? he asked. Ours certainly aren't. Our kids are protected because we

have given them to God. They are His property. Sure, we pray for our kids in order to

come into agreement with Him for them. But their safety isn't dependent upon our

prayers; it's dependent upon our God. If we should forget to pray. He won't forget our

kids. He isn't limited in the least."

Religious superstition is just one potential trap that can ensnare Christians today.

Intercessors and their spouses should be wary of at least ten other pitfalls that we have

seen intercessors fall victim to in recent years.

1. Becoming Demon Conscious

The devil loves attention, and he's thrilled when he becomes the center of conversation.

A demon conscious intercessor is one who sees "a demon behind every bush.' One

man was explaining to me how the devil had caused his car's transmission to fail.

'When was the last time you serviced it?' I inquired. "Serviced it? What do you mean?'

he answered innocently.If you fail to service your car or other mechanical device. it will

fail,with or without a devil!

Many years ago, Alice hired a seamstress to make a dress for her. But before a stitch

was sewn, a nervous seamstress called Alice. 'I can't sew this dress for you,' she

said."Why not Alice inquired. 'Because I took a magnifying glass to see the design on

gold buttons. There are lions on your buttons,' the seamstress said. 'So? ''They were

growling at one another. so they must be of the devil. Like First Peter 5.8 says, 'The

devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.' (NKJV).This lady

was acting out of superstition - Christian superstition.

Look, we live in a fallen world. Things break. Our job is to be good stewards over the

things that God entrusts to us. It is a mistake to blame the works of our flesh (our lower nature) on the devil. Those things are our responsibility, and God will hold us. not Satan, accountable for them.  When we give the devil this kind of attention, he's got us  just where he wants us.

2. Inflating the Importance of Satan.

I recently invited an intercessor to be listed in the U.S. Prayer Directory, which we

publish each year. 'No way!' she exclaimed.'Why wouldn't you want to be listed in the

directory?" I inquired. Because,' she said, 'I don't want the devil to know where I live!

"Dryly. I chided, "Why, I'd be ashamed if the devil didn't know where I live.

"Some intercessors and far too many Christians see Satan and God as almost equal

beings, opposites who rule almost equal kingdoms. Nothing could be further from the

truth. Satan in no way compares to God in power, in presence, in knowledge or

anything else for that matter. God created him in righteousness. His sin and rebellion

caused his fall. Satan exists only to serve the purposes of God. When God gets through

with him, he will be put away forever! Yes, he rebelled. However, he has already been

judged, found guilty, disarmed. defeated and humiliated. We are now awaiting the final

execution of his eternal death sentence.

3. Overspiritualizing Things

While it's true that many things - physical objects, words and numbers - in the natural

world often have corresponding spiritual significance, some intercessors begin to

believe that this is always the case. From condemning the practice of buying a tree at

Christmas because some ancient persons worshiped trees, to wanting to move because

their new zip code contains three sixes, these people are pushing reality to the outer

limits. Such an intercessor has become superstitious and fearful. Best selling author

and internationally known speaker Cindy Jacobs describes "spiritually weird" people of

prayer as "flaky intercessors." She writes that these men and women, who for a variety

of reasons have drifted outside biblical guidelines in their zeal for prayer, pose a threat

to the coming revival: "They bring reproach on their ministries and confusion and

division in the church.

Flaky intercession could become a widespread problem in this decade, for many

prophetic voices are proclaiming that God is calling the church to intense prayer as a

prelude to revival.Studies of past revivals indicate that they were birthed and bathed in

prayer, but that the move of the Holy Spirit was short circuited by the inability to sustain effective intercession. In many instances it was flaky intercession that undermined true prayer and destroyed revival". '(See"Possessing the Gates of the Enemy", by Cindy Jacobs, p 126)

4. Soulishness

An undisciplined mind confuses soulishness and spirituality, allowing the soul to

dominate the spirit. Some of what is referred to as 'drunk in the Spirit', is nothing more

than the intoxication of the soul. Do I believe God can make one drunk in the Spirit? I

do and I have seen it happen to those I know to have a deep walk with the Lord. But the spiritual dimension is so real to intercessors that they can easily fall prey to emotional  foolishness if they fail to guard their hearts (see Prov. 4:13).  Alice and I agree that this  is how intercessors sometimes lose their credibility with church leadership.

5. False Travail

I have used the word "travail" to describe a physical and spiritual process an intercessor may undergo while in intense prayer. Perhaps I should explain this. Travailing prayer is a type of prayer that gives birth to something in the Spirit. It can be very intense, involving fervent prayer, tears, even groaning. Sometimes, however. what appears to be intercessory travail is not. During a time of corporate intercession, an intercessor may begin to visualize and then strive to receive the burden of God that others are experiencing. But instead of genuine, God assigned travail that flows from the spirit of the intercessor, a soulish "travail" is released through the mind and emotions, giving the  intercessor a false experience. Often the whole group stops praying to help someone 'give spiritual birth.'

When one person becomes the centre of attention, this is exactly what the enemy wants ... total distraction! The enemy has effectively sidetracked the intercessors from the critical issue at hand usually a prayer issue tha Satan can't afford to leave unchallenged. The easiest way for him to get relief from focused, united prayer

is to tantalize the group with a bizarre experience. Sadly, we have witnessed this all

over the world in both evangelical and charismatic prayer circles.

6. Isolationism

The intercessor who falls into isolationism, or escapism, becomes a loner.  Rather than

the prayer closet being a holy place to meet God, it becomes a place in which to hide. It  becomes a way the intercessor can escape from personal relationships and

responsibilities with a 'holy excuse.' After all, how can anyone argue with the call of God on a person's life? And why would anyone be against prayer? This misguided

intercessor attempts to build the case that he or she can no longer keep house or hold a job.  Other family members have to take up the slack and do double duty because the

intercessor is committed to "higher" things. This is an expression of spiritual pride and

often takes advantage of others, usually the ones who love them most. If you do this to

a lost spouse. forget about him ever wanting to become a Christian!

7. Elitism, or Lack of Accountability to Brethren

Isolationism often leads to a lack of spiritual accountability. Holding to a martyr

complex, the lone intercessor begins to feel that no one understands her. She translates this to mean.. I'm special. As a prayer elitist. she begins to withdraw. especially from strong Christians, and surround herself with those who are spiritually weaker than she.  In the flesh, she can easily intimidate others with her forceful personality or her way with words. She can manipulate others with tears, moodiness or mysteries she feels she alone possesses.

These are often controlling intercessors who would become spiritual gurus, or self appointed ministers. Never submit to the spiritual leadership of anyone who is not submitted to other recognised spiritual leadership within the Body. 

Sometimes they seek undue attention from their pastors. Spiritual pride is evidenced

when our need to be right is elevated above the need to be one.  This results in crippled or stunted relationships. Such a person will sacrifice meaningful, loving relationships for non essential issues and personal spiritual opinions. Beware of this type of person.

God has chosen from the beginning to work through His Church.Some think they need

only be submitted to God, but this is not the biblical pattern.  We find the principles of

accountability even in the Old Testament. Moses was submitted to Jethro, his father-in-

law. Joseph was accountable to Pharaoh. Deborah was answerable to Balak; Joshua to

his commanders. God has designed the Church so that the members are interdependent upon each other. Every one of us, pastors as well, should have the spiritual oversight and accountability of at least one other brother or sister in the Lord.  Preferably this is a person with strength of character beyond our own to whom we will listen and submit.

8. Lack of Accountabillty to the Church

An intercessor who is not accountable to his or her brothers and sisters in Christ will

gradually deny accountability to God's designated spiritual authority. This intercessor

will begin to elevate personal revelation (what he or she feels God is saying now) above Scripture (what He has already said) and proclaim this to anyone who will listen.

DANGER. 

We are living at a time when these 'prophetic renegades' are infiltrating the Church.

They are divisive in the flock and disrespectful, even critical of pastors. They will

destroy people's confidence in their pastors by portraying him as someone who simply

isn't spiritual enough to understand the deep truths of God. Intercessors who operate in

this deception surround them selves with others who are unhappy and have difficulty

following pastoral leadership. Out of synch with the vision of the church, they may begin to have "private" meetings, which may result in unauthorized ministries. In this way, these unaccountable prayer warriors compete with the pastor for the allegiance of the people. A good pastor doesn't compete with Jesus for the love of His Bride. He has no selfish desire for her affection, so it is difficult for the pastor to confront someone in the church who is vying for the church's affection. A confrontation can give the appearance that the pastor is jealous of the intercessor, rather than guarding the flock's devotion to her true lover and groom, the Lord Jesus.

9. Witchcraft Praying

Witchcraft prayer is the act of consciously praying contrary to God's revealed will and is

characterized by the use of controlling or manipulative prayer.Intercessors must

exercise caution not to confuse their own will with God's will. When praying for family

members, spouses, pastors or others, it is important that they limit prayers to the will of God. God's will, of course, is found in His Word. It is always safe to pray the Scriptures.  But praying people should avoid praying their opinions and desires.

An example of witchcraft praying would be: "Lord, I pray that you'll straighten my pastor out! You know how blind and stubborn he is, God. Just break him if you have to." An implied curse, or hex, is in this prayer.  Alice and I call this "witchcraft prayer" because the very essence of witchcraft is control. Prayer based on a desire to control is

essentially the practice of witchcraft. In pagan religions and in witchcraft, the grace and

sovereignty of a biblical God are unknown. The practitioner is instead dealing with

spiritual "forces" that must be appeased, bribed and otherwise manipulated. But God

cannot be manipulated and He alone is to be in control. We must always pray His will.

For example, 'Father, I ask you to be gracious to my pastor today. Conform him to the

image of your Son' (see Rom. 8:29).This is praying in partnership with God (see 1 John 5:14-15). Nothing comes as close to praying His will as does praying the Scripture.

10. Ministering out of Hurt

Some intercessors have been wounded and even spiritually abused. Sadly, this abuse

is sometimes at the hands of spiritual leadership who misunderstand and mistreat them. Quite often the pastor isn't even aware of what is happening. Of course, it is also

possible that the pastor feels threatened by an intercessor's spiritual gifts. The pastor,

who should be equipping his budding prayer warriors and providing them a safe place to experiment and learn, may even confuse immaturity with impurity and "blow them

away." Rather than seek reconciliation, the intercessor may cling to resentment,

resulting in a warped view of leadership. A wounded intercessor may refuse to see

leaders as the fallen men or women that they are and offer no grace to the leaders.

From this perspective, leaders are a threat rather than a blessing, and the intercessor is

no longer able to submit to authority. Unaccountable and unprotected, the wounded

intercessor is left exposed without godly spiritual cover.

This most often results in the following process:

1. The intercessor may lick her wounds, seek to become the centre of attention and

seek to manipulate others with self pity.

2. Her spiritual pride now wounded, the intercessor adopts a martyr complex elevating

herself and her ideas above others, especially above those in authority.

3. The intercessor becomes critical of church authorities. Her spiritual gift of

discernment, now being fleshly motivated rather than spiritually empowered. becomes

judgmental.

4. The intercessor surrounds herself with other wounded, critical soldiers in order to

justify her right to remain wounded and bitter! All of these can be the result of

ministering out of hurt-ministering from one's emotions, rather than out of one's spirit.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR SPOUSE

When an intercessor falls into one or more of these traps, his or her effectiveness for

God has been compromised. Unaware of the flaws at first,this person will eventually

suffer a spiritual "meltdown." If you feel the Holy Spirit causing you to question

leadership, submit your questions to those who are your spiritual cover, like your

spouse or your pastor. Ask them to love you enough to tell you if they feel you are

walking dangerously close to any of these snares. You can find protection from these

and other pitfalls in three ways:

Stay close to God. Walk in holiness and purity and seek Him daily.. Stay close to the

Word. Every experience, every idea, every spiritual impression must be subject to the

written Word of God. God will never say something contradictory to what He has

written!. Stay close to one another. Each Christian needs to have meaningful

relationships with mature Christians. It is here that accountability is maintained.

Remember, accountability establishes your credibility.

Source: Pastor Eddie Smith

Head of USA Prayer Network