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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center">“<font size="3"><b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><font size="3"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></font></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3">Tel:
253-517-9195 - Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3">Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></font></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b><font size="3"><a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">December 2, 2009<br></a></font></b></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center">“<b>WHAT
IS AN INTERCESSOR” - 2009-11-13</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><b>(From
“Rees Howells, Intercessor” by Norman P. Grubb)</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
The Central truth, which the Holy Ghost gradually revealed to Mr.
Howells, and which was the mainspring of his whole life's ministry,
was that of intercession. The Spirit can be seen leading him into
this in all His dealings with him, from the time He took full
possession of him in the Llandrindod Convention, until in his
dealings with the consumptive woman, the meaning of intercession
became fully clear. From then onward the Spirit was constantly
leading him both to gain new positions as an intercessor, and to
reveal the precious truths he had learned to others able to bear
them. It will be useful, therefore, to stop a moment and to look a
little more carefully into what is meant by being an intercessor.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
That God seeks intercessors, but seldom finds them, is plain from the
pain of His exclamation through Isaiah: <b>“He saw that there was
no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor”</b>; and His
protest of disappointment through Ezekiel: <b>“I sought for a man
among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap
before Me for the land . . . but I found none.”</b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
Perhaps believers in general have regarded intercession as just some
form of rather intensified prayer. It is, so long as there is great
emphasis on the word “intensified”; for there are three things to
be seen in an intercessor, which are not necessarily found in
ordinary prayer: identification, agony and authority.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
The<b> identification </b>of the intercessor with the ones for whom
he intercedes is perfectly seen in the Savior. Of Him it was said
that He poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the
transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and <i>made intercession</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
for the transgressors. As the Divine Intercessor, interceding for a
lost world, He drained the cup of our lost condition to its last
drop, He </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“tasted death
for every man”. </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">To do
that, in the fullest possible sense, He sat where we sit. By taking
our nature upon Himself, by learning obedience through the things
which He suffered, by being tempted in all points like as we are, by
becoming poor for our sakes, and finally by being made sin for us, He
gained the position in which, with the fullest authority as the
captain of our salvation made perfect through sufferings, and the
fullest understanding of all we go through, He can ever live to make
intercession for us, and by effective pleadings with the Father </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“is
able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him.”
Identification</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> is thus
the first law of the intercessor. He pleads effectively because he
gives his life for those he pleads for; he is their genuine
representative; he has submerged his self-interest in their needs and
sufferings, and as far as possible has literally taken their place.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<span style="font-style: normal;">There is another Intercessor, and in
Him we see the </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>agony</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">
of this ministry; for He, the Holy Spirit, </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“makes
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">
This One, the only present Intercessor on earth, has no hearts upon
which He can lay His burdens, and no bodies through which He can
suffer and work, except the hearts and bodies of those who are His
dwelling place. Through them He does His intercessory work on earth,
and they become intercessors by reason of the Intercessor within
them. It is a real life to which He calls them, the very same kind of
life, in lesser measure, which the Savior Himself lived on earth.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<span style="font-style: normal;">But before He can lead a chosen
vessel into such a life of intercession, He first has to deal to the
bottom with all that is natural. Love of money, personal ambition,
natural affection for parents and loved ones, the appetites of the
body, the love of life itself, all that makes even a converted man
live unto himself, for his own comfort or advantage, for his own
advancement, even for his own circle of friends, has to go to the
cross. It is no theoretical death, but a real crucifixion with
Christ, such as only the Holy Ghost Himself can make actual in the
experience of His servant. Both as a crisis and process, Paul's
testimony must be made ours: </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“I
have been and still am crucified with Christ.”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">
The self must be released from itself to become the agent of the Holy
Ghost.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<span style="font-style: normal;">As crucifixion proceeds,
intercession begins. By inner burdens, by calls to outward
obediences, the Spirit begins to live His own life of love and
sacrifice for a lost world through His cleansed channel. We see it in
Rees Howell's life. We see it at its greatest height in the
Scriptures. Watch Moses, the young intercessor, leaving the palace by
free choice to identify himself with his slave-brethren. See him
accompanying them through </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“the
waste and howling wilderness”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
See him reach the very summit of intercession, when the wrath of God
was upon them for their idolatry, and their destruction was imminent.
It is not his body he now offers for them as intercessor, but his
immortal soul: </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“If You
will forgive their sin -; and if not, blot me, I pray You, out of
Your Book”; </b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">and he
actually called this </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“making
an atonement”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> for them.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<span style="font-style: normal;">See the Apostle Paul, the greatest
man of the new dispensation as Moses was of the old. For years his
body, through the Holy Ghost, is a living sacrifice, that the
Gentiles might have the Gospel; finally, his immortal soul is offered
on the altar. The very one who was just rejoicing with the Romans
that nothing could separate him and them from the love of God (Rom.
8), says a moment later, the Spirit bearing him witness, that he
could wish himself </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“accursed
(separated) from Christ for my brethren my kinsmen according to the
flesh” (</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">Rom. 9). This
is the intercessor in action. When the Holy Ghost really lives His
life in a chosen vessel, there is no limit to the extremes to which
He will take him, in His passion to warn and save the lost. Isaiah,
that aristocrat, had to go </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“naked
and bare-footed”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> for
three years as a warning to Israel. We can hardly credit such a
thing! Hosea had to marry a harlot, to show his people that the
heavenly Husband was willing to take back His adulterous bride.
Jeremiah was not allowed to marry, as a warning to Israel against the
terrors and tragedies of captivity. Ezekiel was not allowed to shed
one tear for the death of his wife, </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>”the
desire of his eyes”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
And so the list might be continued. Every greatly used instrument of
God has been, in his measure, an intercessor: Wesley for back-sliding
England; Booth for the down-and-outs; Hudson Taylor for China; C. T.
Studd for the unevangelized world.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<span style="font-style: normal;">But intercession is more than the
Spirit sharing His groanings with us, and living His life of
sacrifice for the world through us. It is the Spirit gaining His ends
of abundant grace. If the intercessor knows identification and agony,
he also knows </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>authority</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
It is the law of the corn of wheat and the harvest: </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“if
it die, it brings forth much fruit”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
Intercession is not substitution for sin. There has only ever been
one substitute for a world of sinners, Jesus the Son of God. But
intercession so identifies the intercessor with the sufferer that it
gives him a prevailing place with God. He moves God. He even causes
Him to change His mind. He gains his objective, or rather the Spirit
gains it through him. Thus Moses, by intercession, became the savior
of Israel and prevented their destruction; and we can have little
doubt that Paul's supreme act of intercession for God's chosen people
resulted in the great revelation given him at that time, of
world-wide evangelization and the final salvation of Israel (Romans
10 and 11), and is enabling God to bring it about.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Mr. Howells would often speak of
“the gained position of intercession”, and the truth of it is
obvious on many occasions in his life. It is a fact of experience.
The price is paid, the obedience is fulfilled, the inner wrestlings
and groanings take their full course, and then </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“the
word of the Lord comes”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
The weak channel is clothed with </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>authority</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">
by the Holy Ghost and can speak the word of deliverance. </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“Greater
works”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"> are done. Not
only this, but a new position in grace is gained and maintained,
although, even then, that grace can only be appropriated and applied
in each instance under the direct guidance of the Spirit. Mr. Howells
used to speak of it, in Mr. Muller's phrases, as entering </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“the
grace of faith”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">, in
contrast to receiving </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“the
gifts of faith”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">. What
he meant was that, when we pray in a normal way, we may hope that God
of His goodness will give us the thing. If He does, we rejoice; it is
His gift to us; but we have no power or authority to say that we can
always get that same answer at any time. Such are the gifts of faith.
But when an intercessor has gained the place of intercession in a
certain realm, then he has entered into </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“the
grace of faith”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">; along
that special line the measureless sea of God's grace is open to him.
That is the gained place of intercession.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Mr. Howells referred to George
Muller's experience. Mr. Muller had never gained a place of
intercession over sickness, but on one occasion God raised up a sick
person for whom he had prayed. On another occasion he prayed for
another sick person, but there was no healing. Mr. Muller, however,
said that this was not a failure in prayer, because he had never
gained a place of intercession over sickness, and therefore the
answer to the first prayer was merely </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>“a
gift of faith”</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">, which
would not necessarily be repeated. On the other hand, he had gained a
place of intercession for the orphans. He was always ready to be the
first sufferer on their behalf; if there was enough food for all
except one, he would be the one to go without; and in the realm of
supply, God held him responsible to see that the needs were always
met, for the doors of God's Treasury had been permanently opened to
him, and he could take as much as he needed.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
Pastor Blumhardt of Germany, on the other hand, was a man who had
gained a place of intercession for the sick. In his first struggles
with evil spirits, it took him more than eighteen months of prayer
and fasting, before he gained the final victory. Complaints were
lodged against him of neglecting his work as a minister and devoting
himself to the healing of the sick, but he said the Lord had given
the parable of the friend at midnight and the three loaves, and,
though unworthy, he was going on knocking. He prayed through, and God
did open. Not only were hundreds blessed, but he raised a standard
for the church. After the final victory he gained such ease of access
to the Throne that often, when letters came asking for prayer for
sick people, after just looking up for a single moment, he could find
God's will as to whether they were to be healed or not. The
sufferings of others became so painful to him that he was pleading
for them as if for himself. That was intercession.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>: Report on
#2 “Pilot Prayer Team” Meeting</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">We prayed through the chapter on
Intercession above from the Biography on Rees Howells. According tho
this, few of us who see ourselves as intercessors - truly understand
how </span><u>God</u><span style="text-decoration: none;"> looks on
intercession We probably for the most part are in the “Prayer
Warrior” Camp, but are really not intercessors. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">We prayed for ourselves in the
light of this chapter, that individually and corporately God would
lead us into this realm.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">One of our number reported that
outside of our ranks, a misunderstanding has developed. A pastor in
the area feels we are trying to usurp the role of existing prayer
meetings. Our member reported that this was not so, and queried
whether the upset brother had contacted us in the light of Matthew
18:15-17. This was the major covenant condition that Derek Prince
gave “Pastor Prayer Meetings” in 1971. The various scriptural
steps to retain proper relationships with one another were agreed
upon and accepted at that time. As long as they were adhered to, an
unusual blessing was present. After 2 years, in the light of the
“Disciple-Shepherding” Controversy, this Covenant was dropped.
Perhaps it needs to be re-instated.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">These are the goals we have for
the “Pilot Prayer Team”. We desire to have God possess us
individually as God did for Rees Howells in 1906 in Wales. Then
corporately we desire God to possess us as He did 31 years later in
1937 for 120 of those open to follow God with Rees Howells. Sam
Matthews of Shawnee, Oklahoma has been following this same challenge
since 1975 with rather amazing results.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">God has indicated to me in 1966
and confirmed it in 1985 - that He would like to find and use Pilot
Teams of 8 - as His Automated Laser-Telescope.s Through them He could
eliminate principalities and powers over cities, counties and
municipalities, states and provinces - and countries. Teams of this
nature in key cities in Canada and the United States could count in
these last day prior to the return of our Lord Jesus. Such teams
should not interfere with any other existing Groups, but should
rather complement and undergird them. This was certainly true with
the Intercessory Prayer Team of Wales just preceding - and during
World War II. We of course, will appreciate any prayer undergirding
on our behalf as we move out to be available to the Lord.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">I am personally hopeful that the
3 major assignments the Lord has given me might come to fruition and
completion through this Team. I am at the half-way mark of the
Interlinear Greek NT - using the two Bible Numeric NT texts of Ivan
Panin. I have also made a good start on 14 major Greek Word Study
Outlines that undergird the Embryonic Revival Principles of 1948. And
lastly, we would like to see these Embryonic Revival Principles
brought to maturity in our day. They are listed on our Website at the
instigation of Richard Long of Ottawa, Canada.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">One of our Pilot Team members has
submitted an article by David Wilkerson, which he felt confirmed the
way God is leading us. I am including this as a conclusion. Thanks
again to the many of you who have encouraged us to persevere on this
project. - Jim Watt</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">“<b>Peace and the Holy Spirit”
- David Wilkerson</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0.01in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal;" align="left">
<span style="text-decoration: none;">On whom does Jesus bestow his
peace? You may think, “I'm not worthy of living in Christ's peace.
I have too many struggles in my life. My faith is so weak.” You
may do well to consider the men to whom Jesus first gave his peace.
None of them was worthy, and none had a right to it. Think about
Peter. Jesus was about to bestow his peace on a minister of the
gospel who would soon be spewing out cursings. Peter was zealous in
his love for Christ, but he was also going to deny him. Then there
was James and his brother John, men with a competitive spirit, always
seeking to be recognized. They asked to sit at Jesus' right and left
hand when he ascended to his throne in glory. The other disciples
were no more righteous. They simmered with anger at James and John
for trying to upstage them. There was Thomas, a man of God who was
given to doubt. All of the disciples were so lacking in faith, it
amazed and stressed Jesus. Indeed, in Christ's most troubling hour,
they would all forsake him and flee. Even after the Resurrection,
when the word spread that “Jesus is risen,” the disciples were
slow to believe. But there's even more. These were also confused
men. They did not understand the ways of the Lord. His parables
confused them. After the Crucifixion, they lost any sense of unity
they had, scattering in all directions. What a picture: These men
were full of fear, unbelief, disunity, sorrow, confusion,
competitiveness, pride. Yet it was to these same troubled servants
that Jesus said, “I am going to give you my peace.” The
disciples weren't chosen because they were good or righteous; that
much is clear. Nor was it because they had talent or abilities. They
were fishermen and day laborers, meek and lowly. Christ called and
chose the disciples because he saw something in their hearts. As he
looked into them, he knew each one </span><u>would submit to the Holy
Spirit</u><span style="text-decoration: none;">. At this point, all
that the disciples had was a promise from Christ of his peace. The
fullness of that peace was yet to be given to them, at Pentecost.
That's when the Holy Spirit would come and dwell in them. We receive
the peace of Christ from the Holy Spirit. This peace comes to us as
the Spirit reveals Christ to us. The more of Jesus you want, the more
the Spirit will show you of him - and the more of Christ's actual
peace you will have.</span></p>
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