Prophesying the Burden

Prophesying the Burden
Alice Smith

Although intercession is not listed as “a gift” in Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12 or Romans 12, the gift of prophecy can be interchangeable with intercession. For example, the Hebrew word massa is translated “to prophesy a burden or to declare an utterance.”

Often in the Old Testament the prophets uttered the burden of the Lord. (Jer. 23:33-40; Ezek. 12:10; Dan. 9:20-23.) The gift of intercession can be expressed through prayer in a variety of ways. (2 Sam. 12:16, 17; 2 Chron. 15:14, 15; Zech. 12:10, 11.) For example, the Hebrew word paga, “intercession” means “to prophesy, or invade by violence, to struggle in prayer, or contend with an adversary, to fight or labor in fervent prayer, with force, crowd and press forward, or seize, to catch, travail and weep, to come between.”

As stated earlier, there is the role and the gift of intercession. There is also an office of intercession. This office is recognized when the gifts of intercession and administration are coupled to create a leadership role in the church. The Church should release into ministry those with the office of intercession and acknowledge God has positioned them to help equip the corporate body for intercession. Those called to the office of intercession can often impart a passion for intercession and dramatically change the spiritual atmosphere by their prayers.

Those called to the office of intercession carry “spiritual weight” before the throne of God, and inspire others with similar gifts and callings.

To find personal fulfillment and accomplish our God-given assignment, we should each learn our primary motivational gift from the seven listed in Romans 12; and become familiar with the manifestation by the Holy Spirit in and through our lives as described in 1 Cor. 12. For as Paul clearly says in this passage that each of us has a specific part to play. There are no general practitioners.

Intercession: One Ministry—Many Gifts
Our unity in service is best seen in our diversity of gifts. And each person’s gift mix is unlike any other person’s. Your place can be filled by no one else. Therefore, if you pattern your intercession after someone else (emulation), you’ll be frustrated, ineffective and confused. To emulate another is a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:20). You’re to imitate Christ and not others.

According to 1 Corinthians 12, “There are different kinds of gifts” (v. 4); “different kinds of service” (v. 5); and “different kinds of working” (v. 6). All the gifts work together. For example, an intercessor with the motivational gift of mercy from Romans 12 will pray differently than one with the gift of administration.

By looking at the diversity in our gifts, we can see the need for the different kinds of intercessors required to create a whole ministry of intercession. From the list of spiritual gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Cor. 12, let’s consider a few:

1. Administrative Intercessors
2. Cafeteria-Style Intercessors
3. Crisis Intercessors
4. Intercessors for the Nations
5. Mercy-Motivated Intercessors...and more

To learn more about prophesying a burden, you can purchase Beyond the Veil: entering into intimacy with God through prayer at www.prayerbookstore.com