The Intercessor Rees Howells...

I'm new to here and have just started so just figuring out how this works, so bear with me.

I don't see very many people sharing my view on this book. I hope my view can be of some help to someone.

About a year ago I read the book The Intercessor. When I read it I was amazed. I loved it! Into the first or second chapter I asked God to renew me and gave him everything. I was sure that this would be an great new time in my life where God would use me to do amazing things.

It is definitely an interesting read and it is amazing the things God did through Rees, but I ended up burning the book...

I am a fairly young person and I have a lot to learn in my journey as a Christian. I think I took the book to seriously, and somehow I ended up listening to a false spirit, or maybe it was my own voice. What it was I'm still unsure but it was not God.

I found myself constantly searching for forgiveness and trying to avoid Gods wrath with the smallest things. I could not find peace and would cry very often.

Here are some examples of my experience:
- It was wrong to spend time with company by a campfire.
- For no reason I would be asked to fast for several days, at one point I was asked to fast 14 days no food or water.
- One night I was told to stay up all night reading and praying, until I had spiritual breakthrough.(which never came) I could not stop kneeling and praying for any reason. Even though I had to go to the washroom really bad(sounds funny but its what happened) and my legs and feet were so numb and practically vibrating from falling asleep.
- To be prepared for persecution I had to sleep on the cold floor without pillow or blanket.
- I thought that in order for one of my moms friends(who I never met) to be healed(she was starving to death) I would have to take her sickness. So I prayed and BEGGED God to give me her sickness. I said if its his will let me die instead...

I cannot say that God abandoned me in any way. He was there through it all. When I cried I could feel him holding me. I did learn a lot from this experience. God has a purpose for my pain.

Sounds wonderful on the outside, many people might say wow what boldness. That was not boldness that was the fear that if I didn't I would be condemned to hell and would lose God's Love. I was looking for love, understanding, and the holy spirit. I ended up, starving, tired, struggling to trust, and developed every symptom of Religious OCD.(I am doing much better now.) This book is dangerous and should not be read by people. If you are looking for a book to help further your faith read the Bible.

This book is founded on the Keswick movement. Here is a link I am reading if you would like to learn more: https://andynaselli.com/wp-content/uploads/2008_Keswick_theology.pdf

I’m not sure I should even comment here as while I own the book, I have not read the book. You are right - many people highly recommend it. I just wanted to say though that your experience was clearly not from the Lord. It was from the devil who hates us. I have seen so many attacks from the enemy in my own life and on the lives of others who I KNOW love the Lord with all their hearts. I have also seen and experienced that if he can’t get at you one way, he will change tactics and try to come in another way. Yes, read your Bible for we only know what is counterfeit by studying the real thing.

Interesting thanks for sharing and welcome also.
I have read this book and found it very good and helpful. We all have different callings and gifts, I also felt inspired and encouraged by this story, however his calling isn't for everyone. I found nothing wrong with the book, however you are correct the bible is our best resource and measure for all other writings.
Are you saying your experiences were directly a result of this book?
I do hope and pray God's leading for you and trust He will guide and direct your path as He promises.

Well this book in combination with where I was at in my faith. I think if someone didn't take the book to seriously and had a strong foundation it is a fine read.
The issue is if you look closely he pushes a lot of false teaching in it.
1. The Holy Spirit is portrayed as unloving, unforgiving, impatient and does not give room for testing the spirit.(Rees had a certain amount of time to decide if he was to take the calling, if he did not take it then he lost his chance, and remained a "normal Christian".
2.It is founded on the Keswick movement which says that as soon as you have had your "second saving" you should have no sin.
3. He was asked by the "Holy Spirit" to take the illness of a woman on himself. That is not biblical as when Jesus died on the cross he took our sin, and sickness onto the cross with him. God would never ask us to take a sickness, that is not love, he takes it onto himself. That was his promise to Abraham when he passed through the pieces.

I don't think God calls some people to a higher way of living in the spirit, and some people he doesn't. He calls us all equally. if he didn't do that he would be an unjust God.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I hope you will think through this and pray about it.

I appreciate your willingness to share your connection. Your reply is very kind and shows a lot of compassion. I imagine God has given you quite the gift for understanding others. God bless!

Dear SOL33

Who was asking you to fast for no reason?
Who told you to stay up all night until you had a spiritual breakthrough?
Who told you to sleep on a cold floor without pillow or blanket?

Dear SOL33 I am a seeker of holiness; what do I mean by that - I want my heart to be pure.

This is Peter describing how the Holy Spirit, came on the Gentiles. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Their hearts purified by faith...

Now in my searching I have found many good things and many strange things - and many in there searching have been lead into a path of mysticism/gnosticism.

This Norman P Grubb who wrote about Rees Howell was a believer in what is called "Theosis" purification, illumination, the unitive way. Union with God.

Which is not that different that many Christian mystics also promote.

1. the gradual integration of the ego under the mastery of the idea of a personal God and according to a program of prayer and asceticism

2. The mystics agree on the necessity of dying to the false self dominated by forgetfulness of God. To attain the goal, the soul must be purified of all those feelings, desires, and attitudes that separate it from God. This dying to the self implies the "dark night of the soul” in which God gradually and sometimes painfully purifies the soul to ready it for the divine manifestation.

3. Union with God following Christ involves a dying to self, a giving up of oneself wholly to God, so that one may be possessed by divine Love.

If you dont believe me https://zerubbabel.org/intercessor-article/vol-21-no-1-co-saviorhood-the-third-level.

That is not Keswick Doctirne - The Keswick position is that in Scripture, sanctification comes by faith, and not in any other way.

SOL33
Welcome and thank you for sharing this.

I believe you did the right thing when you ended up burning the book ! He followed "voices" that he heard, that's already a red flag.
You might also find some helpful thoughts in Tim Conway's message:
"Don't Let Your Doctrine Lead You Away From Christ"
Just one statement from the message : "And everything has to be tested by the position given to the Lord Jesus Christ..."

Blessings

Markus

Dear SOL33
I am an intercessor. I love the book. I have read it three times. NOTHING compares to the BIBLE.. However I recommend this book if you want to go deeper. if a man or woman wants to go deeper the Lord will break him.. I have learned the importance of obedience to the Holy Spirit.. what is obedience?? look at the word.. die is in the middle to die to ourselves and live to the Lord's agenda. As an intercessor I have had many assignments that i thought were from the lord.. I obeyed and the person was free. Reese Howell was a great man of GOD and his obedience to the Holy Spirit hindered many an attack in WWII..
We all have different giftings and callings perhaps you were not ready for His radical obedience to the Holy Spirit.
However the Lord tells us
If you Love me you will obey me.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. ... And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
in Jesus
Sister Frannie

//Reese Howell was a great man of GOD and his obedience to the Holy Spirit hindered many an attack in WWII.//

I certainly believe in the power of prayer but how can you know this?

Quote: He followed "voices" that he heard, that's already a red flag.

Moses heard and obeyed a voice - eg he followed a voice is that a red flag?

Personally I wonder about people who claim to be a Christian but haven't heard God speak to them, I really do, for me picking up the bible and coming away with the thought God doesn't speak to people is not logical.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Right there that is Holy Spirit speaking to us telling us we are a child of God.

Jesus said "my sheep know my voice and follow me".

You can't just say "he heard a voice and followed it - that a red flag" as it opposes what scripture teaches.

Do I mean that there is no false spirits and we should believe everyone - no that's not what I mean, there are false spirits that do operate through men and women.

Scripture lets us know that God speaks - If someone else is telling you different to that - then the spirit talking through them must be tested to see if they are false

"do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God" 1 John 4:1

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God 1 John 4:2

The scripture backs up what I am saying - God speaks, as his Spirit will confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.

One who is a follower of Christ will know his voice and will confess will confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God and will follow Christ.

There are false teachers, false prophets and false spirits - however there are true prophets, true teachers and and true spirits.

-------

It's wrong to say that the Keswick teaching is false - the last revival in the UK came through a group called the Faith Mission they followed the Keswick doctrine - the preacher God used was a man called Duncan Campbell.

Campbell was outspoken about two aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit.

The second aspect was the definite and profound experience of the baptism of the Holy Ghost subsequent to conversion.

That's classic - Keswick theology

Now has Satan sent in his false teachers and false prophets into the Keswick movement to discredited it of course he has, but that doesn't mean it's all wrong and it can't be discredited because someone says they heard a voice.

Does that voice lead you away from Christ or does that voice lead you into a deeper and more intimate walk with Christ, where you truly become a follower of Christ is the real question that should be asked.