The Vital Relationship Between
Pastors and Intercessors
by Dale M. Sides
The relationship between pastors and intercessors is of vital concern when dealing with church unity and controlling the spiritual atmosphere (principalities and powers) over a church or a city. This relationship represents an essential bond of unity within the Body of Christ that is under constant attack because of retaliation from enemy forces. Pastors and other church leaders need the prayer protection and spiritual information intercessors contribute, and intercessors need the covering of legitimate church authority and a means whereby to disseminate the spiritual information they are gathering. Missing out on these provisions breaks a divine flow of order and authority, limiting effectiveness for the whole church.
Since the church of Jesus Christ is in a full-fledged spiritual battle for the supremacy of key areas in the world, it is mandatory that these relationships be defined. Not knowing their biblical parameters and their particular importance has caused these vital links to either go unnoticed or to be ruptured in ignorance. As a result, chaos, confusion, injured feelings and wounded hearts have divided troops within the army of the Lord. But to an even greater detriment, the process of unity has not advanced and the overall growth of the church has suffered tremendous setbacks. Hopefully, biblically defining these relationships will help to emphasize the importance of developing and maintaining these relationships. Examples of how they cause the church to either flourish or flounder will also be provided.
Both the Old and New Testaments specify how crucial this alliance is. The New Testament speaks clearly about the doctrine and parameters of the relationship, while the Old Testament illustrates examples, emphatically showing what happens when the relationship is compromised.
On the doctrinal side, in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 12:28 sets the order and organization for ministries within the church. This verse says that God has set ministries in His specific and particular order—not man’s. The Lord gives order and structure to the church and does not leave this up to mankind’s speculation and opinion. This stipulated order is as follows: first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers—all the way to the eighth listing—the ministry of intercession, also called diverse kinds of tongues.1 This listing reveals specific ministries and, according to its order in the listing, the function of each ministry and their corresponding inter-relationship.2
Failing to recognize this section of scripture as a listing of ministries in the particular order that God has set them has caused the church to be greatly deficient in its understanding concerning the ministry of intercession and the provision it offers to the other ministries. Without understanding this progression, we have unfortunately had to discover by trial and error what this scripture teaches us. Predictably, where we have missed the doctrine, we need reproof and correction (2 Timothy 3:16).
The ministry of intercession, also called diverse kinds of tongues, is listed eighth in this order and sequence. Since the number 8 indicates a new progression or the beginning of a new sequence3 (it is the next number after the spiritual perfection of number 7), we can learn what this ministry of intercession is supposed to contribute to the flow and organization of all other ministries. Intercessors are vitally important in building upon existing foundations (adding to an existing structure), but do NOT have the responsibility to initiate or implement plans or actions. They provide the needed information to advance the kingdom, but this is not a ministry of "starting something completely new." Here is where the relationship between apostles, or pastors, whichever the case may be, and intercessors requires clarification.
Starting something completely new, or initiation and commencement, is what the scriptural significance of the number 1 reveals.4 Primarily, this is the function and purpose of the ministry of apostles for the whole body of Christ. It could also relate to a pastor if the concerned issue involves oversight of a local assembly. These are the ministries that have the responsibility for implementation, and have the responsibility of decision making to launch the "new thing" that God wants accomplished.
Now concerning the ministry of intercessors, we need to specify what they do and the limitations of their ministry. Without adequately investigating the biblical perspective, this ministry has been seen as altogether too nebulous and that has led to unfortunate misunderstandings. A thorough examination of the scriptures will also help apostles, pastors and other church leaders understand this provision and what to expect from it. Intercessors are enlisted to pray for protection, and while this is a major portion of what they do, it is not all they are assigned by the Lord to do. Intercessors are spiritual storm troopers that gather spiritual reconnaissance. They are usually specialists in discerning of spirits and gathering spiritual information. They are often the first ones to see and know what is coming. No church or army is complete without these courageous point men (or women) that slip through the cover of the opponent’s forces to spiritually "spy on the enemy."
This ministry occupies a strategic position to survey the spiritual arena and spiritually map5 an area. Intercessors must then return and pass on to the information to officers (i.e., the apostles or pastors, etc.) who in turn prepare and plan the battle strategy as they compile information from all of their resources. These will derive from other intercessors, their own spiritual insight and certainly the counsel of other leaders. Of necessity, intercessors must show stealth and silence in gathering this spiritual information. Equally important, they must have "tight lips" and be trusted confidantes. The Old Testament will illustrate for us the danger of "loose lips sink ships." INTERCESSORS ARE NOT DECISION MAKERS, BUT INFORMATION GATHERS. How they handle the information they gather is vitally important.
Leadership, whether apostles over geographical areas, or pastors over local assemblies, must learn to use the information that comes to them through these intercessors. Apostles and pastors, take note of this—intercessors often will see what is coming well before it happens. These are your scouts and you must receive them, not as a threat, but as spiritual watchmen or sentries. Not realizing that the ministry of intercession is a valid ministry, as much as that of an evangelist or a teacher, has caused church leaders to doubt and even criticize these informants (as well as the information they bring). Church leaders must learn to receive the information with graciousness and thankfulness and then to consult the Holy Spirit for final judgment concerning when and how to move the army.
We are reminded that the Old Testament deals with God’s truth in the physical realm, while the New Testament deals with its spiritual application. The Old Testament physical practice of sending out spies provides the New Testament with examples of this vital function. In the Old Testament, Israel’s leaders customarily sent out spies before moving the army. Moses sent spies into the Promised Land before the children of Israel went in. Joshua sent spies to gather information about Jericho. Gideon got information about the army of the Midianites and David himself walked silently into Saul’s camp. All successful armies have some sort of reconnaissance; it is a part of warfare. (Even athletic teams send out scouts.) Not knowing what the enemy is doing not only limits the effectiveness of your offense but also sets up your army for ambush. By examining the Old Testament physical counterparts in Moses and Joshua, we can see the benefit of maintaining similar relationships—or the consequences of not handling them properly,
Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land (Numbers13). After obediently gathering the information, they breached God’s trust and caused one of the greatest tragedies in the whole history of the Hebrew people. The spies "spilled it" to the children of Israel (Number 13:32) and started gossip and panic throughout the rank and file of the children of Israel. (This sounds all too familiar, doesn’t it? This is just what intercessors sometimes do with spiritual information in churches today.) Do you remember what this cost the children of Israel? First and immediately, the rebellious spies died (Number 14:37). Then the rest of the children of Israel wandered for 40 years, until the unbelieving generation passed away. Don’t you think it costs the church something when God-ordained intercessors start spilling privileged information and spreading gossip and innuendo to the whole church? The intercessor’s job is to report what they find. They are to have no fear, but to shut up and let the God-ordained leadership make the decisions. (Even if they are wrong, the whole church will still be better off being united, and God will deal with the leadership in His own way.)
In Joshua’s case, he sent spies into the land to apportion the remaining seven tribes their inheritance (Joshua 18). He sent three representatives from each tribe to survey the land (18:4-9).6 This strategy unveils the function of an intercessor—to gather information and spiritually map an area. These were the eyes and ears of the army. Notice that they were to bring the information back to Joshua (representing the leadership in a responsible, decision-making position) and he made the appropriate decisions based upon their information.
We can learn a number of things by making comparisons between the situations of Moses and Joshua. First, because the spies (representing intercessors) violated the trust of God and spread dissention among the people, Moses never had an opportunity to make any decisions based upon the information given to him. Joshua, on the other hand, took the information and went before the Lord to make a decision. The record shows that Joshua "casts lots" before Lord in Joshua 18:6, 8 and 10. Here is one of the Old Testament profiles aligning the physical and the spiritual. It shows that Joshua was led by the Holy Spirit to make these decisions, then released control of the outcome and trusted God for the best decision.
Since we have the doctrine of the New Testament and the examples from the Old Testament, we can now see the vital importance of these relationships and the provision they supply. We also see God’s severe retribution when this responsibility was mishandled.
Intercessors, you must be vigilant to pray and seek spiritual information about your assigned area. When you receive it, your responsibility is to deliver the message with clarity and faith. Once the information is delivered, your job is not to judge what is done with the information, but to pray for wisdom for the leaders. You are not privileged to know everything that the leaders do. Do not look over your shoulder to see what the leadership is doing with the message, but keep your post and be vigilant to look for the enemy. Do not judge the "officers in the army" based upon what they do with the information you have given them. DO NOT GOSSIP or spread the information around. Remember the spies that went into the Promised Land and what their report did to the children of Israel. They were the first ones consumed by the plague. This indicates that your ministry is in serious jeopardy if you breach God’s trust and become a detriment to the battle instead of an asset.
Apostles and pastors, you are in the decision making position. It would be very unwise to shun the counsel, advice and information given to you from your intercessors, a godly provision. You should receive it, weigh it, and assimilate it with other things that you know. Just by the nature of the intercessory ministry, these individuals can sometimes be temperamental or loners, just as a scout for an army may be. Do not receive their information based upon your own soulish preferences, but according to spiritual wisdom and understanding. You must receive the information and then make your decision in concert with the counsel of others (Proverbs 24:6), most especially that of the Holy Spirit. God holds you accountable for the decision you make, not the intercessors or other counselors.
This relationship between intercessors and church leaders remains a vital link in establishing unity within the church. Ephesians 4:16 underscores the importance of every joint (relationship) within the Body of Christ, "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Intercessors need to perform their function and then pray and trust God for the proper decisions to be made. Church leaders, either apostles or pastors, need to appreciate the provision that intercessors afford them, both in spiritual protection for them and their families, and also the information they gather as they spiritually patrol the perimeter of their established area.
If these relationships have never developed or have been damaged because of ignorance, both parties are suffering as a result. If ignorance is to blame, then education is needed. If offences have occurred, let’s be spiritually big enough to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness. Whatever it takes, get these provisions restored. This is not about us and our feelings—it is about Jesus Christ and building the Kingdom of God.
It is easy to see why relationships between church leaders and intercessors have been targeted by Satan. These divinely-appointed alliances are vitally important for spiritual protection, spiritually mapping an area, keeping current information on the spiritual atmosphere and determining what the church needs to do and where it needs to go. It is predictable that our enemy would retaliate against these relationships because their smooth interaction yields information about how to mobilize the Lord’s army and attack the enemy’s forces.
