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Personal
Intercession.
In his book, Prayer
Shield, Dr C Peter Wagner makes the following statement: The
most under utilized source of spiritual power in the church today is
intercessory prayer for Christian leaders. Throughout that book he makes a
powerful argument for all spiritual leaders to have significant personal prayer
backing.
In Chapter 6 of Prayer
Shield, Dr Wagner outlines what he has seen as a powerful framework for a
personal intercessory team. He suggests there are three types of Intercessors
who stand with a spiritual leader or leadership couple:
 | I-3
Intercessors. This is the
outer circle of intercessory covering. These warriors might be quite remote
from the leader for whom they feel led to pray. The leader may be totally
unaware of their prayerful support. Many spiritual leaders who have a
moderate to high profile benefit from the ministry of these intercessors.
For example, thousands of people have interceded for Billy Graham but have
never had so much as a single personal contact with him. Most missionaries
have a hidden network of I-3 intercessors who stand behind them.
An I-3 intercessor may pray regularly or occasionally for the leader. They
may receive a newsletter or email information from the leader for whom they
pray or they may pray in relative ignorance of the specifics of the
ministry. It is the intercessors faithfulness in prayer which makes them
part of the Intercessory Team. I-3 Intercessors make up much of the
foundation of a spiritual leader’s prayer shield. They are important
people and there may be many of them.
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| I-2
Intercessors. This is the middle ground of intercessory covering. Most
I-2 Intercessors have some direct contact with the leader for whom they
pray. Most would be personally known to the leader. I-2 intercessors may
have been personally recruited by the leader. They receive communication
from the leader and are aware of the movements of the ministry, particularly
the challenges being faced from time to time. I-2 Intercessors have a
reasonable degree of commitment to the leader for whom they pray. The
leader’s name and ministry would feature in their prayer on a regular, if
not daily, basis.
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| I-1
Intercessors are the inner circle of personal prayer covering. Dr Wagner writes
the following of I-1 Intercessors: “God calls I-1 Intercessors to have a
special or close relationship with the pastor or other leader. Sometimes
this involves a close social relationship, sometimes it is a largely
spiritual relationship. Most, if not all I-1 intercessors I have known have
the spiritual gift of intercession. Through it they have developed an
intimacy with the Father that allows them to hear the Father’s voice and
know his purposes more clearly than most.”
I-1 Intercessors are a leader’s first point of call when specific prayer
is needed. They share a degree of confidentiality and trust that is earned
over time and relationship. Although these intercessors may have a wide
range of prayer interest, they see intercession for their appointed leader
as their priority prayer assignment. They expect God to wake them out of
sleep to intercede in specific moments of crisis or danger. They carry the
leader and their ministry close to their heart. They have a place of great
privilege and of great responsibility.
I-1 Intercessors come to a leader in marvellous ways. They do not apply
or sign up for the role. They are not recruited by the leader. They are
appointed by the Lord, something which is mutually known by both the
intercessor and the leader. With the privilege goes great responsibility and
at times great personal cost. Like the leader, the I-1 Intercessors
sometimes pay a price for the role in which they serve. Most leaders are
fortunate to have one or two of these special warriors. |
Resources: Wagner C
Peter, Prayer Shield. Regal Books, Ventura California, 1992
Written March 2003
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