INTERCESSORY BAROMETERS

2/03/01

Hi Loved Ones,

I would like to share something the Lord taught me last year in connection with intercession. Hopefully, this knowledge will help us feel more comfortable in being used by the Lord and keep us from being led astray in our intercessory experiences.

A barometer is a gauge (like an outward sign) that tells us the pressure of the air around us. Intercessors are like barometers. They can walk into a room and their meters will detect things unseen to the natural eye. Part of their gifting is an intuitive sensitivity to a world that most people don’t even know exists. As they remain keenly aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence and learn to take what they are sensing to prayer, they grow in their giftings and become even more sensitive. These unique experiences are often misunderstood and yet God uses them as signs.

Since 1994, there has been a call by God to raise up intercessors, to help birth His new thing upon the earth. His strong, near Presence has caused many to fervently respond. Some have matured and are coming into a new level of gifting. The Lord is wanting to enlarge their gifts and further hone their sensitivity for a hands on ministry.

Hebrews says, "For we have not an high priest which cannot BE TOUCHED WITH THE FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb 4:15-16 KJV)

That sentence is a little hard to understand because it is written as a double negative. In the positive, it is saying that Jesus WAS/IS touched with the feeling of our infirmities. The Holy Spirit quickened that verse as I was thinking about the tangible feelings that come with many intercessory experiences. The phrase, "be touched with the feeling of" is actually one Greek word, sumpatheo. (Strongs 4834) It means to feel sympathy or commiserate. I traced that word back to it roots and found something quite interesting. It comes from 2 words meaning to companion or associate with an experience, sensation or impression, usually painful. (Strongs 4862 & 3958) Now that is an interesting definition for those touched by intercession that is birthed by the Holy Spirit! They have experienced this as very real.

We are called to be like Jesus, Who is the greatest Intercessor. As intercessors, we will sometimes feel physical things in our bodies, or experience emotional sensations, and have instinctive impressions of either the room we are in, or the person/ issue we are praying for. This is not supposed to be a unique experience, this is actually the very heart of intercession — to feel and know what touches God’s heart. He feels these things and we are allowed brief moments to companion with Him in prayer.

Some call these experiences words of knowledge, some call them discernment, some call them warfare, some call them intercession, some call it responding to His Presence. Actually this gift is all of the above. Some may feel various physical infirmities or pain in their body. Some may feel anger, lust, fear, anxiety, ambition, impatience, joy, peace, compassion, etc. Some may sense a coldness in the room, or heat, or a gentle wind, or slight tingles in their hands, or on their head, or any number of experiences.

Human beings naturally feel all of these things. The difference for intercessors is that they do not own these feelings. It is a sudden download, whether strong or gentle, it is a happening that in one minute it is there and another it is not. It is connected with a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, to the person we are in proximity with, to someone placed upon our heart, or to the environment in a room, etc.

For years I had warfare experiences without understanding why. Several years ago the Lord opened my eyes. As I was driving on the way to see a person, one minute I was worshipping the Lord and the next minute my heart was racing, my stomach gripping and my breathing short. It was such an unusual feeling and I wondered what it was. I asked the Lord and I suddenly realized it was fear. Now that may sound strange, but I was not used to having fear and so it took a while to register that was what I was feeling. It was ridiculously out of context because I was worshipping the Lord, having no worries and it was a nice day!

I bound the spirit of fear, commanded it to go in Jesus Name and was flooded with peace. As I was pulling into the driveway, I was still scratching my head wondering why I would suddenly be attacked like that, but at least I knew it was a demon. When I walked in I noticed that the lady was kind of white faced. She was holding onto the counter and I asked her if she was OK. She told me she had just had a panic attack. I asked her how long ago, and it was exactly when I’d experienced this. That was a real eye opener. The Lord allowed me to experience this, so that she would be set free from that attack!

There is a deception that can happen in this area of experiencing these tangible feelings. When Jesus hung on the cross, He bore everything upon Himself, so that we do not have to. The scripture says, "Surely He has BORNE our griefs and CARRIED our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has LAID ON HIM the iniquity of us all." (Isa 53:4-6 NKJV)

The difference is that as intercessors we are not meant to CARRY any of these experiences. We can be TOUCHED by the feelings, but we are not to BEAR them. If we do, we take Jesus’ place on the cross. I had noticed a few intercessors living with their burdens, and as I was praying about this, the Lord told me it was a spirit of delusion whose name was savior! So if you have been carrying someone else’s burden, or someone else’s pain, or someone else’s warfare, start rebuking it in Jesus Name. Do not own it, do not carry it, do not accept it, do not embrace it, do not receive it.

In contrast, when we are touched by the heart of God and experience tangible feelings, it is for the express purpose of giving them back to Him. He touches us, so that we can yield them up to Him in prayer. He touches us so that we can understand what is going on, and take authority over it, so that the enemy does not have his way.

Another common error is that when we experience these tangible things, we begin to think that we are the ones with the problems. The enemy would love to make us think this. If he convinces us, then he has two victims, the person with the problem and then us - because we receive it through our belief! Therefore, we must learn to not take the things we experience personally. The Lord wants to hone our sensitivity so that we will stand against the enemy, we will pray, and we will minister to others in His Name.

Another error that often takes place is an intercessor’s personal response after being a public sign or gauge. Sometimes they feel shame because it was a public display and they are embarrassed. That is because pride and servanthood are not compatible! Following Jesus to the cross, we learn that to be a servant is the lowliest of all. The beauty of this is that such intercessors so love the Presence of the Lord that they gladly sacrifice all for just one touch of His Presence. They so love the Presence of the Lord, they long for that, and that is the only place they want to be.

Lord, please hone our sensitivity to these gifts so that we can lay hands on the hurting and heal them and set them free in Jesus Name. And help us to remember the battle belongs to You. (2 Chron 20:15)

Lovingly,

Sandy