[b]Ministry of Intercession
In Zechariah chapter 3 we read that Joshua the high priest
was standing before the Lord and Satan stood there to accuse
him. Satan is always seeking to accuse and harm the leaders.
He targets them and their wives and children. Don’t be harsh
in judging a leader, because he is a bigger target of Satan
than you are. His wife and children are bigger targets of
Satan than your wife and children. Satan stood there to
accuse Joshua to the Lord. But the Lord replied saying, “I
the Lord reject your accusations” (Zech 3:2). We have an Advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Sometimes we
are so taken up with the accuser that we forget all about
our Advocate Who is praying for us.
There are two ministries going on in heaven right now. One
is Satan’s, accusing. He accused Job and Joshua. At the same
time, there is another ministry going on in heaven. “Jesus
ever lives to make intercession for us” (Heb.7:25). The two
ministries are a ministry of accusation and a ministry of
intercession. Those who are in fellowship with Satan will
accuse other believers. Every time you gossip or speak evil
against another believer, whether you know it or not, you
are holding hands with Satan saying, “I agree with you,
Satan. He is like that.” And every time you pray for a
brother who is weaker, you are holding hands with Jesus and
saying, “Lord, I agree with You. We have to pray for that
brother and deliver him from that problem.” How many times
have you held hands with Satan and how many times have you
held hands with Jesus? You know. Let it be different in the
coming days.
When Joshua was being accused, the Lord said, “I reject your
accusations.” This is what I say too, when people come to me
with accusations. When people come to me in my house and
accuse a brother, I tell them, “Let me call that brother
immediately and tell him what you have told me.” Invariably
the accuser says, “No. Please don’t do that.” I reply, “I
must. I am faithful to all my brothers. If someone had told
me something about you, I would have called you immediately
and told you. So when you tell me something about somebody
else, I must call him and tell him too.” Do you know what
the result of my approach has been? My house has been
protected from being a place of gossip for a long, long time
now. I would encourage you to do what I have done.
The Lord replied to Satan saying, “I reject your
accusations. This man is a child of God. He is a burning
stick that I snatched out of the fire.” Since Joshua’s
garments were filthy, the angel said, “Take away his filthy
clothes.” This is a picture of Jesus our Advocate pleading
for us saying, “Take away his filthy clothes. Put new
clothes on him.” And Joshua stood there clothed now in the
righteousness of Christ. That is how we must see all of
God’s children - clothed in the righteousness of Christ. And
now we come to the best part. Zechariah was so excited
seeing all this that he joined the Lord in spirit and said,
“Lord, this is wonderful. Now put a nice turban on his head
as well.” He joined Jesus in making his filthy brother
glorious.
Do you want to share in this ministry of “making your
brother glorious”?
What does this mean in practical terms? It means that when
someone comes along and accuses a brother to me, I reply
saying, “But you know he has some good qualities too.” And I
name some of them. All of a sudden the accuser’s mouth is
shut. This is a wonderful ministry to have – even when we
pray. John Hyde (known as ‘Praying Hyde’) was a great
American missionary in North India in the early 20th
century. He relates an incident where he was praying and
began to tell the Lord about the weaknesses of a certain
pastor. All of a sudden, he felt as if he was being choked.
The Holy Spirit told him not to get into a ministry of
accusation, but to intercede for that man. He learned that
day not to accuse people even in prayer!
Don’t join the devil in criticising God’s people. Instead
pray for them. Whenever the Lord reminds you of a sincere
servant of God, pray for him. He may be facing some Satanic
attack at that very moment. Ask the Lord to protect his
family and to bless his ministry.