CLEANSING STREAMS FOR INTERCESSORY AUTHORITY

by Rosemarie Attardo

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."Psalm24:3-4 KJV

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only,but also for the sins of the whole world.1 John 2:1-2KJV

Time for Repentance

“I have a burden, let’s get right to prayer.” Is heard within many prayer groups. So often we think we need to get right to the intercession because the lost are dying or because we have a burden that we bypass the cleansing process and in reality we are dying spiritually as well if we do not allow time for cleaning streams in our own life.

As people move into prayer it is important to have clean hands and a pure heart. Many assume since they are believers that they are already clean because of the cleansing they received when they asked Jesus to forgive them at the time of salvation.

This is one reason why people who are new to intercession fail to see the responsibility of true heart searching, repentance, and seasons of waiting for the cleansing streams to flow.

The Word of God says,

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.Ps 139:23-24KJV

Heart cleansing is important because it takes away any ground from satan and gives us an ear with God to move in the intercession.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.Ps 66:18-20KJV

As one moves in repentance, there are several ways in which the fruit of repentance will manifest.One type of repentance is confessing our sin before God and then the sin is forgiven and the person immediately feels the release either by faith or actually.

Another way we see repentance manifested is one in which we receive forgiveness and then we allow the season of grace to pour forth into the life to bring the restoration which the repentance initiated.

When we ask for forgiveness, we are forgiven.However, sometimes, people see the need to repent over and over again, never able to come into a place of being free from the sin or even the guilt of it.In Hebrews it says,

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb 9:13-14 NKJ)

If an intercessor is constantly lacking victory in their life in the area of repentance, it might be that the conscience isn’t yet free from guilt.If you move in repentance give, time for grace to manifest in the life.The scope of repentance is not just the confession of sin, but it is the patient waiting for grace to manifest in the life as well as the act of walking out the repentance.

True Authority

If one cleanses the heart, the enemy won't have a place to hinder the believer during the intercession.Believers are hindered because they will command from a position of assumption rather than true authority.Heart cleansing increases the authority of the believer to command the enemy.True authority is gained when the person takes a stand and forbids the Enemy working in their own lives.

True authority is not passed from one person to another as a mantle but it is gained in the spirit.The anointing can be passed through the laying on of hands, but authority in warfare comes as the intercessor take a stand first in their own lives.

It is vitally important that each intercessor examines their heart to know if the intercession could be hindered by something in their life.Are there any unresolved issues, hurts, fears, rejections, abuse, wrong Biblical concepts, or curses which is in the life of the intercessor that would make the intercession difficult?

The bottom line - any ground already given to the enemy will become a snare to the intercessor and the intercession.

For intercession in which the battle is sustained over many months, heart cleansing should not be something that is done casually or quickly.It should be a real heart searching with weeks of prayer, meditation and allowing God to search the heart.

As wholeness comes, the enemy will not have a chance to plant seed of doubt, unbelief or division in the intercession.The longer one spends in God's presence, allowing Him to cleanse them then the heart's ground is able to be returned to wholeness.

Corporate Repentance Issues

 Heart cleansing can be done as a group or individually; both are good.

As you enter into cleansing and confession as a group, there needs to be a clear understanding that anything discussed is confidential and remains in the group.Once trust is developed among the intercessors,they will open up to each other.I have seen that as this openness occurs that the sharing prods others as to their own need to look at the particular area being confessed.Watch and pray, allow time for the Holy Spirit to do a work in the others present.As you wait upon the Lord, others might be uncomfortable with the wait or the delay in season, but it is an important time.

When the Holy Spirit does begin to stir in hearts, confession should be done personally and corporately.

On a personal level, we should confess to the Lord, but if the word of the Lord comes that the personal confession is also meant for the corporate meeting, it should be brought before the group.It might be that the same transgression is in several lives; and corporately addressing the issue would open the realm of repentance to more of the intercessors.

In giving place to corporate repentance, it's important that we look at the "I" and the "We" issues.All repentance should incorporate both "I have sinned" and "We have sinned."I have sinned brings the sin issue to bear upon the heart and creates an environment in the heart for Godly sorrow to work a greater work of repentance in the heart of the individual.If it's just, "We have sinned", then it may not grab the heart in Godly sorrow as much as when it is brought home on a personal level because of the prevalence of blame shifting.

As you come into the presence of God allow the Spirit of the Lord to bring forth the area to be cleansed and give Him the liberty to determine the length of time the cleansing will need to take place.

 Identificational Repentance

The Prophet Daniel moved in identificational repentance for the nation of Israel.Even though Daniel didn’t sin, he felt Godly sorrow and identified with the sin of his people and culture.This aspect of repentance is important to God because it says that there are a people that know the difference between the holy and the profane, the clean and the unclean.It sets a standard in the spirit in the land.

However, when intercessors cry out for that standard to be in place in the land and for the bruised reeds to be healed, but fail to bring the repentance to the ‘I’ have sinned level - cleansing themselves even of that very sin, it delays the Lord in bringingjustice to victory.(Matthew 12:20)Their prayers are hindered in reaching Him because of their own iniquity.

When the cleansing takes place over the course of several weeks, it brings mighty deliverance to the intercessors because it gives time for searching root issues which can be discovered through good instruction on demonic influences, the works of the flesh and curses.

Demonic Strongholds/Curses

The works of the flesh causes demonic strongholds to be set up in the lives of individuals.Sorceries, idolatry,and sexual sins start as a work of the flesh which eventually gives the enemy an opportunity to set up housekeeping in the life of the individual.Demons don’t usually gain access unless a deed of the flesh becomes the entry point; then the cycle of sin, addiction and struggle begin. Notice the following scripture, with italics and underline being mine,

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

These works of the flesh give ground for satan to come in legally. When these sins are not repented of then legal right is given to the enemy and his claim becomes legal even to the third and fourth generation in the lineage of the one who sinned.It is not that God wants to see the sin visited upon future generations but the legal right is there. Sin, attitudes and curses are transferrable to the generations.

Ask God to show you any generational curses which need to be broken off your life. One way to recognize a generation curse is to notice repetitive bad happenings in ones life which have no known reason and which can be seen as a pattern in parents, relatives, and ancestors.Generational curses are assignments from the enemy to destroy whole families.

Once a generational curse is broken by identificational repentance and deliverance it will take away the 'cause' and therefore the curse will not be able to position itself in the life of the believer.

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight.Prov. 26:2NAS

Generational curses can go to the third and fourth generation but once the curse is broken deliverance comes to the thousandth generation unless someone willfully enters into the sin again.

The Lord desires to show mercy to those who love Him.He will show you any curses which are generational or otherwise which would trouble you.

The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.Num. 14:18KJV

Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His loving kindness to a thousandthgeneration with those who love Him and keep His commandments; Deut 7:9 NAS

God is interested in your freedom first.And if you are not set free thenhow can you secure the release of other captives?

Self Imposed Curses

At this juncture we need to look at the curses that Christians can place upon each other.Yes, upon each other!Satan is the accuser of the brethren, when we come into agreement with him either through our words or our judgments, then we release a curse upon others.In bringing a curse upon them, we actually bring it upon ourselves as well.James 4:11 says,

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep!

Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

The word speak evil in the Strong’s Concordance is the word ‘’katalalo” which means ‘against’. If you have ever spoken against a brother in Christ, the judgment that you rendered against them - either in your heart or in spoken words - according to Matthew 7:1-2, comes back to you.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.(Matt 7:1-2 NKJ)

Through this means we open the door for our words against others to come back upon us, thus keeping our petitions from the throne of God because the judgments have essentially become iniquity in our heart.

The Lord Jesus tells us to bless those who curse or persecute you.He says in Matt 5:44-45"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…” And in Luke 6:27-28 He says, “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”

The Apostle Paul says in Rom 12:14“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

I believe the reason that we are encouraged to let blessings flow from our lips to people is not only so that it will bless others but so that it will also keep us free from the sin and judgments that are rendered back to us.

Our questionable words and thoughts projected or prayed toward people who have offended or whom one is trying to change in all reality becomes manipulation and witchcraft directed to the person.It works evil toward them but it also opens the door for our own judgment to be returned to us.This is a self imposed curse.Confess this and break any thing that you may have done to curse someone and then pray blessings down upon them so that you too will be delivered from the unjust judge.

Ministry to the Lord

As heart cleansing prepares you for war, sets you free, and helps you gain authority in the spirit real, it also prepares you for amore intimate relationship with the Lord because it removes the separating iniquity.

We’re are bridal intercessors - those in intimate and joined relationship. Intercessors are not praying machines; they are first and foremost, as are all believers, called to minister to God in the Holy of Holies.The understanding of that is being restored to the body of Christ.

Many assume that praying for people is ministry to God.It is not, it is ministry for God concerning the things on His heart on behalf of others.Intercession on behalf of others is the priesthood of the believer as a priest on behalf of the people.But the first place of the intercessor is to be found in bridal intimacy and as a royal priesthood ministering to the Godhead.

Recognizing Our Seasons

One year, God asked me to lay aside all warfare for the year. "A year?God,what will happen to the Kingdom of God in my territory if I stop warring for a year?" I asked.I was geared in that direction and I did not realize that I was allowing warfare to wear me out.

However, in obedience to the Lord, I did not do any corporate warfare during that year.Invitations came to do warfare over geographical areas with the best of intercessors but I had to decline the offer.It was notmy season for war.We have to recognize the seasons of our walk.

The season in which I was entering into meant an entire year in cleansing, heart searching and adoring Jesus. It was during this time that my whole perspective on warfare changed.I became a worshipping warrior with deepened ability to sustain an intercession (which is different from sustained prayer).

It was during this time that I came to understand that worship and partaking of communion are some of the highest forms of prayer that one could enter into.

My focus became more Christ centered. I entered a place of truly knew I was seated with Christ in heavenly places.I did not just know it as logos but I knew it in the rhema realm - experientially.

I became a bridal warrior. I gained and learned to carry kingly and governmental authority in spiritual warfare from the position of authority.I was warring from throne room authority - the authority that Ephesians declares is mine as I am seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Long term success

If you are interested in the long term success of the intercession and the proper pastoral care of the group, it's best not to rush the cleansing process.Giving God time to release cleansing streams to the group will bring soundness to the intercessors; it will keep the intercessors from becoming weary in the intercessory season and it keeps the intercession intact giving greater success in the long haul.And best of all it gives brings us into new places of intimacy with our God.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Ps 51:1-11KJV

Suggested Resource: Spiritual Cleanse CD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rosemarie Attardo is missionary having ministered in 46 countries throughout Eurasia, Europe, South America, and Asia. She has pioneered ministry training schools and has lived among un-reached people groups ministering the Gospel.  Rosemarie is the Founder and President of Vessels of Honor Ministries, Inc., which mentors women in strategic levels of intercession, ministry, and missions.

Visit the Vessels of Honor Ministries Website

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