At World Ministries International (WMI), I am trying to gather 2,000 intercessors in every nation to help me, through prayer, to fulfill the goals and commission that God has directed for me to accomplish in their particular nation.

Intercessors are a vital part of the success and effectiveness of a church or ministry; yet, many times Senior Pastors are afraid to use them. Why is that? In this article I am going to try and share the importance of the Intercessor’s ministry and the reasons why some pastors won’t use them.

Jesus warned us that: “A house divided against itself will fall.” (Luke 11:17)

To me it is clear throughout the totality of Scripture that the Gifts of Ministry and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to work together in unity under authority where there is accountability for the churches, the body of Christ, to have a Pentecost experience of the power, glory and victory that God promises is possible. Intercessors, Watchmen, and Gatekeepers must work together to have a Super Bowl church!

First, let us define what an Intercessor, a Watchman, and a Gatekeeper are. Intercession by its simplest definition in the Webster’s Dictionary is “the act of interceding; a prayer or petition on another’s behalf.” Webster defines an Intercessor as, “a person who intercedes for another.” Moses and Abraham were Intercessors, but they also had other responsibilities. Watchman or Watchmen is defined by Webster as, “a guard...” Gatekeeper, according to the Webster’s Dictionary is, “a person in charge of a gate...”

NOTE: I believe just by these simple definitions we understand that an Apostle or Senior Pastor (set man) could be an Intercessor as well as a Watchman and also a Gatekeeper. But, most Intercessors are not Apostles or Senior Pastors or what is classified as a "set man", although they are an important part of an effective team.

Let’s answer why many, if not most, Pastors do not recognize or use Intercessors in their churches.

Numbers 12:1-2,4,6-10: “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.”

Here we can see that Miriam and Aaron were not submitted to God’s authority, so they allowed their own vanity/ pride to cause insurrection, questioning God’s direction through Moses. We also should note that God was not happy, and Miriam was immediately judged and struck with leprosy. God takes the sin of rebellion very seriously. He had already experienced rebellion with Lucifer who questioned His leadership because of pride, leading an angelic war.

NOTE: The number one reason most Senior Pastors, if they understand what Intercessors are but still refuse to use them, is because they look at Intercessors as proud, loose cannons who refuse to come under authority, causing more problems through gossip and going around the Pastors with their revelations to other members of the church or actually talking against the Pastor, which can split the church. For these reasons, some Pastors think Intercessors are more problematic than they are worth.

One of the clearest examples in the Bible of grumbling, murmuring, and going around a leader's back and gossiping about him, is found in Numbers 16:1-50. Korah felt he knew God’s direction and went around spreading his poisonous words of dissatisfaction with Moses' leadership. He thought he knew God's leading and revelation for decisions better. As with Miriam, God immediately judged Korah and those who listened to and followed him. Thousands of people died in the earthquake (v32), 250 leaders died by fire (v35), and 14,700 people died by the plague (v49).

In Romans 16:17, the word of God tells us to identify those who refuse to submit to Kingdom government (church authority), but instead avoid leadership to share their opinions, feelings and beliefs with those who will listen to them as Miriam, Aaron and Korah did, causing dissension. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Again, this is the main reason why most Pastors do not use Intercessors!

In the book, "Intercessors and Pastors" by Eddie and Alice Smith, Page 29, some of the questions they ask Intercessors to ask themselves are: "Have I exhibited spiritual pride? Does my pastor see me as unteachable or unreachable? Have I been controlling? Have I pushed my revelations and prophecies on my pastor? Am I committed to submit and pray for my pastors? Do I divide or unite? Have I been judgmental of my spiritual leaders? Do I know my pastor’s vision and am I committed to help him achieve it? Have I lifted my pastor’s hands as Aaron and Hur did Moses? Have I gone around my pastor with my revelations or talked against (gossip) my pastor?"

In 1 Corinthians 1:10, the Apostle Paul rebukes those who cause division and admonishes to work in unity for the expansion of the gospel: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

The Apostle Paul admonishes in 2 Thessalonians 3:6: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” Paul was very familiar with the trouble caused by people going around leadership with their revelations and opinions, both by studying the Scriptures and reading the stories of Moses and the problems he suffered with Miriam and Korah, as well as other examples throughout the Bible. Paul himself also suffered problems with disgruntled believers who wanted to be used of God but were not willing to be accountable to authority.

Dear Senior Pastor (Watchman/Gatekeeper), most Intercessors have never graduated from Bible School or Seminary. They need discipleship as they mature. I believe they need to study the Bible as much as they pray, or how do they know if they are praying in the will of God or being led by false doctrine, personal opinions or the influence of evil spirits. I know without a doubt that it is the will of God to train Intercessors as we train other members of the church in serving God so they can be effective members of a Super Bowl winning team/church. Intercessors are spiritual Watchmen. In the Bible they worked together with the Gatekeepers. Ephesians 5:21 tells all Christians, including Intercessors, that if they want to be used, respected and honored by a Senior Pastor (set man, Gatekeeper), “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

NOTE: As a Gatekeeper operating in the office of an Apostle/Prophet, I work with thousands of other Gatekeepers (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers). I also work with Intercessors because I recognize their invaluable service for the Kingdom. Not only am I trying to get 2,000 Intercessors in every nation on my Soldiers of the Cross prayer team, but I have a personal Watchman and Intercessor who I meet with daily in our public conference room when I am at my office in Stanwood. Sometimes that person travels on my leadership teams. Peggy Magnuson is seventy years of age and is a mature Watchman/Intercessor. She shares with me what she feels God is saying to her, submitting it to me to confirm or reject. She is submitted to authority and dedicated to the goals and vision that God has given me for WMI.

As a Watchman, Peggy knows that she is focusing on a specific portion of the wall, where God has given me a much broader and complicated area to observe. So, she asks me whether I can verify what she is witnessing, knowing that God will use me to verify or nullify what she is seeing or feeling. In this manner, there is safety and security in being able to work better as a fighting team, as well as being able to properly use and distinguish a real target from a false one. Because of her maturity and submission to authority working under accountability, I trust her to meet with me and the leadership team with even leaders of nations because I know she will speak a word only with my blessing.

I trust my personal Intercessor/Watchman on my staff because Peggy obeys 1 Peter 5:5, “...Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

Isaiah 62:6-7 reads: “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

Luke 2:36-37 records: “And there was one Anna, a prophetess...And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”

Deuteronomy 21: 18-21: “If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother...Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of the place. And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.”

Jeremiah 17:19-21: “Thus said the Lord unto me: Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem: And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the Lord ye kings of Judah, and all Jerusalem, that enter by these gates. Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day...”

Jeremiah 26:10-11: “When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came...and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the Lord’s house. Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people saying, This man is worthy to die...”

2 Samuel 18:24: “And David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.”

Ezekiel 33:1-6 warns: “Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them. When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people. Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”

The five fold Gifts of Ministry which Jesus designates as the Gatekeepers of the Bride of Christ are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. These should be Watchmen and some are Intercessors. Ephesians 4:13-14 states: “And he gave some, apostles, and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

James 5:17-18: “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth fruit.”

NOTE: There are some Intercessors who are Watchmen but not a Gatekeeper (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher).

Luke 11:1-5,7-10: “And it came to pass, that as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray...And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And he said unto them. Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, friend, lend me three loaves. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you. Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

I think it is important to note that Jesus' disciples watched Him “praying in a certain place” and that Jesus' prayers were always answered. Jesus had a "prayer closet" so to speak. The phrase “Hallowed be thy name” illustrates that Jesus gave the Father all honor, authority, respect and consideration, and His prayers were always “Thy will be done”. Jesus' prayers were answered because He always prayed according to the will of God. He did not pray selfish prayers like “give me a Mercedes”, but He prayed, “give us this day our daily bread”, indicating He wanted to live to serve the Kingdom of God and not according to His own selfish desires or lusts. Jesus' prayer also revealed that He knew His limitations while living on the earth in a human body, so He prayed for Himself that He would flee temptation and not entertain it. Finally, Jesus' prayer showed us that His prayers of intercession continued until the prayer was answered. Jesus did not give up. Hope, faith and victory, as Jesus knew, comes only if we never give up, releasing heavenly hosts who fight against principalities and powers of darkness until the victory is won. In Daniel 10:12-13, we read that the answer to Daniel's prayer was delayed by the satanic prince or ruler of the kingdom of Persia: “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten theyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”

James 4:2: “...yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”

1 Samuel 12:23: “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you...”

NOTE: It is very important that Intercessors understand the Scriptures in order to pray in the will of God so they can receive the blessings of God. I advise Intercessors to read and study their Bibles daily as much as they pray so they can pray effectively instead of getting into prayers of witchcraft by being led by wrong feelings, emotions and beliefs.

John 15:7: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

James 5:16: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

1 John 5:14-15: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hearth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Luke 19:13 tells believers to: “...Occupy till I come.”

Matthew 28: 19 commands Christians to: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...”

Matthew 5:13 reads: “Ye are the salt of the earth...”

Occupy, teach, and salt are all words instructing Christians to be heavily involved in shaping and influencing their culture and world. Watchmen and Gatekeepers must continue to fight evil men with truth which takes away deception as prayer brings conviction. Intercessors stand in the gap and pray, releasing heavenly hosts to battle against demonic rulers and strongmen. Gatekeepers must continue to sound the alarm by preaching, teaching and training. We are a team, and together we fight a spiritual battle to usher in the Kingdom of God.

Intercessors make a huge mistake when they think that prayer alone can usher in the Kingdom of God. Intercessors are one unit of God’s army. The Lord Jesus Christ is our five star General who uses all His units and personnel with their diversity of ranks, responsibilities, and training to win the war!

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Intercessors are a vital part of a church or ministry team that wants victory. At World Ministries International (WMI), I am trying to get 2,000 intercessors in every nation to be a part of my Soldiers of the Cross team here at WMI. Another name for WMI is The Church Without Walls, because I minister to the nations, including to the church leaders of nations and their congregations throughout the world, raising up a strong Bride of Christ to battle for the Kingdom of God in each nation. I meet with political leaders of nations as God is warning these leaders that Jesus is returning at the Battle of Armageddon to defeat Satan and evil rulers of nations who have been following him. Jesus is going to replace evil political leaders with His righteous men and women who will now rule and reign instead.

As you can see, I need passionate Intercessors who will pray with me and for me so that the commission of the Lord that He has given me for their particular nation will come to pass. In the United States of America, the Lord wants me to get 200,000 partners who will give at least $25 dollars a month so we can reach the world. The television networks are filled with channel after channel, whether its movies or news, promoting the values and agenda of the New World Order. Truth takes away deception and prayer brings conviction. We must speak the truth on television to replace lies so the minds of people who are deceived can see the reality of what is really happening in America and around the world where the anti-Christ is getting ready to lead. A television partner would give $100 dollars a month to help get the gospel of Jesus Christ out, and I would send them as my way of saying thank you, four of my monthly television programs on DVD and one week of my radio programs on CD. A radio partner would donate $25 dollars per month and receive one week of my radio programs each month on CD.

Please sign the enclosed insert to become an intercessor and/or to become either a television or radio partner. Thank you.

Dr. Jonathan Hansen

© 2013 World Ministries International