11/15/2023
When God is working in another’s life do we find ourselves getting in His way? Are we one of those people that are referred to as a “fixer”, but who lets themselves get out of control on a regular basis? Do we find that in an attempt to repair a situation we can come between God and the miracle He is about to perform? Do we let our own will and intellect overreach its bounds? Well if so, get ready to be corrected... and to possibly hurt the lives of others.
“Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”
John 21:21-22 KJV
There is a popular sign that says “lead, follow, or get out of the way!” but when we are dealing with Jesus, and God, only they can lead, and if we aren’t prepared to follow then they will ask us to get out of the way, and if necessary they will move us aside. If we are uncertain about what we should do in regards to God’s will then we should go to our knees in prayer and ask for guidance. Oswald Chambers writes this way about such occurrences...
“It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God’s order for others. You see a certain person suffering, and you say—He shall not suffer, and I will see that he does not. You put your hand straight in front of God’s permissive will to prevent it, and God says—‘What is that to thee?’ If there is stagnation spiritually, never allow it to go on, but get into God’s presence and find out the reason for it.” - Oswald Chambers
God seeks out intercessors, but to personally intercede where the Lord doesn’t need or want us to do so is dangerous. So, as an intercessor we should first and foremost pray as the person asks (unless it is against scripture), and then couch our requests with the plea that God’s will be done. Stepping into another person’s spiritual life by using our intellect is asking for trouble, and by so doing we are removing ourselves from the role of intercessor and inserting ourselves as counselors or fixers... these are very different things. If we feel led to counsel or repair a life then we should be absolutely certain the Spirit is leading us in that effort.
“Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.”
1 Samuel 12:23-24 KJV
The Lord will use us on occasion to fix a life, but we need to be certain that we are being instructed to do so, and aren’t interfering with His efforts that are ongoing. Chambers speaks of feeling God’s desire for us, and the danger of counseling without His permission in these words:
“When we are consciously being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, there is another stage to be reached, where all consciousness of ourselves and of what God is doing through us is eliminated. A saint is never consciously a saint; a saint is consciously dependent on God.” - Oswald Chambers
And when we are used by our Father, and not by our own will or intellect, we will also be blessed along with the brother or sister for whom we are interceding...
“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
Jeremiah 29:7 ESV
Inserting ourselves into God’s business is a pit that we can easily fall into. We want to please, and our God is so great in His ability, that we make the assumption He wishes to heal someone, or increase them, and that we can help, but sometimes that isn’t His intention at all. Quite often God chooses the underdog... the least favorite, or likely, from a human perspective. This is a snare we face in using our own intellect. Our reasoning would be to select the strong when God’s plan was to lift up the lowly. The Lord desires the lowest of men who can pray for help over the wisest man who is self-assured.
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 ESV
It is often difficult to discern the will of God, especially by employing our own intellect. Quite often our logic and His wisdom run in different directions. Sometimes we let our emotional response to a situation get in the way of God’s plan. To avoid such instances we need to tune ourselves to the will of God, and if we should ever find ourselves attempting to take the lead, or that we are acting out of sync with Him, we should seek Him in prayer immediately. How embarrassing the situation is when God asks us “what are you doing?” or “what is this to you, haven’t I told you before to follow me?”
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
Matthew 16:24-26 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for allowing me to intercede in other’s lives through prayer. I thank you too for directing me to physically help people from time to time. Holy Father, teach me to follow your will in each of these moments, and to know intuitively when to step out, and when to fall in behind you and watch as you lead. By my following you are teaching me about yourself, and for this I am grateful. When you are about to perform a miracle in the life of one of your children, woe be it for me to complicate that matter by getting in the way, or even worse, that I should try to capture the glory that is rightfully yours. I pray that my intentions in intercession are always to represent the desires of the needy to you, and never to step into the midst of the miracle that you are working on their behalf. Help me Father to support your efforts when you ask, to take the lead when you so desire, and to step back and watch when you are about to do something amazing. You are greater than I can ever imagine, and the complexity of your will is far beyond my ability to understand, so help me Lord to know my little part in it, and to witness in awe your mighty work. Far be it that I would think myself wise as I stand before you, and Lord direct my prayers as I pray that your will be done. Then Holy Father, let me praise you as you are working, and lift you up before all creation by crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy, this is my God Almighty!”
“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.””
Matthew 26:36-39 ESV
Rich Forbes