Spirit Rising

As I learn and grow as a Christian, particularly as an intercessor, He is showing me things all the time – almost at a rate that doesn’t allow for full processing before something else happens. I find that I need to write the thoughts circling in my head so I don’t lose them. I’m not even sure where this post is going, but let’s see where He leads me…

One way that I learn about something is to read everything that I can about it. I have several books on intercession that I’ve been reading through. One was given to me by a very dear friend – a “Spirit” friend is the best way to describe her. She and I have not had much time to spend together over the past several years, but we are deeply linked, none-the-less. Her name is Meg, and I don’t know that I’ve ever articulated to her how clearly I see Him in her, or how much He leads me through her. No pedestal here – she is human and fallible, as we all are. She will let me down, the same as I will let her down, but there is no doubt that we will always come back together, regardless of time or distance, because He is the Center and the Root of this friendship. I could go on and on about her, but that’s not what He wants from this post… and she would be mortified, and probably already is…

The very first time I went to Meg’s apartment, we hardly knew each other. It was an incredible night of discovery and encouragement, sharpening and love. Talk about divine appointments… as I was leaving after several hours of non-stop talking, Meg handed me a book. To be quite candid, I didn’t have a clue back then how clearly she hears the voice of her Shepard; how immediately obedient she is, and how much her heart looks like His… but I digress again…

Meg handed me a book called, “The Ministry of Intercession,” by Andrew Murray. I didn’t have a clue what intercession is, or why she would give me this book, written with words like “importunity” that I have to look up before I can keep reading… It’s a difficult read, at best, and this said by a person who has read literally thousands of books. It’s been on my nightstand since then. Every now and then, I would pick it up and try to read it, only to put it down again. I just could not understand why she had given it to me. I just knew that she gave it to me for a reason, and that it would make sense one day.

What an understatement! Why do we ever doubt that He knows what He’s doing??? How she knew, way back then, what He would develop in me, what role He had planned for me – can only be attributed to God. She told me that night that there would be a place within the Ring that only I could fill – that if I was truly where He wanted me to be, this need within the ministry would develop that He would equip me to meet. HUGE CAVEAT – I am in NO WAY saying that I am the only intercessor within the Ring – I’m not even the most effective. I have so much to learn – which brings me to the original thought for this post.

There are many ways He’s shown me how to intercede for others. Different types of prayer, different ways of walking with someone, sharing and, at times, carrying their burdens when they are too heavy. By far the coolest way He has allowed me to intercede for someone is what I’ve come to call “Spirit Rising.” It’s only happened a few times, and it’s incredible.

I can only describe it as a rising – a rushing – a filling – a roaring – of His Holy Spirit deep within me, and I know His power has been unleashed in the spiritual realm and there is some serious battle going on. I can’t see it, there is nothing to go on except for what I feel let loose – it’s Him through me in an awesome rising up of His Spirit. During those times, in those situations, I am walking in His full authority over a situation, and it’s incredibly powerful. That’s probably why He has only allowed it to happen a few times, so far.

I must keep my heart ever humble before HIM, or this could be easily taken away, or worse, abused. I don’t know if you’ve ever walked through something, knowing that He has been unleashed, that you are walking in the full authority of Jesus Christ – but it’s amazing.