So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36 NASB)

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NASB)

I have really had someone on my heart…

When the Holy Spirit puts someone on our hearts we need to be submissive to what He puts on our hearts – we cannot become “restrained in our affections”…

We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. (2 Corinthians 6:12 NIV)

Paul experienced this in his intercession for the people in the Church at Corinth…

I have experienced this…

I have had a burden for someone which just doesn’t seem to go away…

I want it to go away – sometimes I truly do – but it just seems to keep coming back…

It’s not fulfilled yet…

I haven’t been released – I thought I was released at one point but this desire, this desire to see this particular person – of all people Lord why is this particular person so important? I ask myself – released just won’t go away…

Have you had an experience like this?

If you’re reading this then I’m sure you have – the Lord has led you here for a purpose…

I was listening to a sermon the other day – in fact twice I believe I’ve heard this same brother share this – about being restrained in our affections – he was sharing that when we pray for healing we need to follow the compassion of Christ in our hearts – so when the person is or people are standing before us we follow the compassion or the affection of Christ which we feel in our hearts towards that particular person as leading that the Lord wants to minister to that particular person at that particular time…

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with someone on your mind and you just can’t get them out of your mind?

That’s the Holy Spirit alerting you to pray for that particular person…

He is the Intercessor – He is the Intercessor in you…

When we have people on our hearts that’s His Sign to us that we are to pray for that particular person – if the Son sets you free you shall be free indeed – I’m using this in a different application this morning – there is freedom in the revelation of God’s Grace and understanding that our sins are forgiven but there is also freedom when we are released from a season of intercession where the Son has practically set us free from a season of intercession for someone and given us the knowledge that they’ve “come through” and been “delivered” practically (with no possible “grey areas” left – every base covered – swept clean – not necessarily that it’s happened in the natural but definitely happened in the spirit – you rejoice beforehand to see the victory) – Praise His Holy Name – this is what I am seeking for this particular person who is on my heart…

We want to see people practically delivered (it goes deeper than this – when we feel their sorrow – in the spirit – we are to continue interceding – we cannot stop until we stop feeling their sorrow – this is the true sign – when there is rejoicing in the spirit coming from their hearts – that they have been delivered – when we think about them and experience God’s joy on the inside – this is when we know that they are “through” – Praise His Holy Name – I’m getting a witness of His Joy as I type this section in brackets)…

We cannot be “free” and “enjoy life” while they are still bound – that’s how it becomes…

Yes, we can be “free” and know that we are free but their unhappiness is a continual reminder to us that our work is not done – how can we rejoice when they are still filled (weighed down) with sorrow? Yes, we can rejoice but we can’t forget them and we are urged by these affections – these feelings of love – to continue to pray for them that they will be practically filled up to all the fullness of God…

We feel like grabbing a hold of them and shaking them until the fullness of God comes into them – but we know that we can’t do that – we know that only God can touch them with His Presence, in His timing and for His Glory…

We have promises for these ones – who are on our heart – but sometimes we cannot express these promises to them – we must express these promises directly to God Himself and trust that He will translate these promises into reality into their lives – if these promises are truly breathed by Him – as we believe and feel in our hearts that they are…

So tonight/this morning I pray for all who are burdened for others – who have been given an assignment (so to speak) by the Lord for at least one other person on the planet or maybe a group of people or a city or a nation or the entire world (or anything in between) and I pray that the Holy Spirit would possess you completely and make it impossible for you to relinquish this assignment until it is completed…

I know about incomplete assignments from earlier on in my life – they must be completed – we can “drop the ball” but God will always bring us back to the point where we “dropped the ball” – yes He will – He’s done it to me – and He’ll do it to you… 🙂

This is His mercy to us as He as a Father doesn’t “drop the ball” – and He’s showing us Himself…

That’s what our lives are all about – revealing His – The Father’s – Glory…

And it is His Glory to seek out the Lost Sheep until He finds it – until He communicates His Love to that Lost Sheep and until He brings that Lost Sheep home – practically – into an awareness of His Love for that Lost Sheep as their Shepherd – the Shepherd of their souls…

So Father, fill us all who read this with the Spirit of Intercession and let us intercede for all those who You have placed on our hearts – where our hearts are filled with other things so that there is no room for You to birth Your compassion and Your burdens in us – remove all that is filling our hearts which is not of You or conducive to Your Glory – to Your Glorious Presence – in the Mighty Name of Jesus…

Fill us with the Spirit of Intercession – where we know we’re OK – because of Your Grace and don’t need to introspect ourselves anymore – as Paul said – and now have all this “free time” to be able to bear the burdens of others – let us bear the burdens of others and take our lead as you place them on our hearts…

It really is that simple – who do we feel for? – who do we experience the compassion of Christ for? – they are the ones who the Lord wants us to intercede for – not necessarily our family or our friends or our loved ones or our associates but anyone who the Lord places on our hearts so strongly that they just won’t “go away”…

Release Your Presence Lord – burn away the dross – set us free from earthly loves that we may be consumed with You – burn in me Lord – burn away all my dross – consume me with a desire to live for Your Glory – Glorify Your Name in all the earth Father through us as a Family – as Family – the Full Family of God – Your Children – on earth at this point in time – with one voice let us declare Your Praise – and Your Name as a Compassionate Father who cares for and is touched by the needs of His Children alive and well on this planet…

Some are cast down Lord – lift them up – lift them up – lift them up – let them rejoice in You and bring in many more to know You – do not forsake even one of these whom You have chosen to bring near into Your Presence and to lavish Your Love upon – bring them all near and let them all know You – Praise You Jesus – You are worthy of all our praise – release to us Your assignments and do not remove us from our assignments until You complete them through us…

Not in striving – but in rest – but let us feel Your compassion – let us feel Your burden – let us feel Your sadness – You are touched with the feelings of our infirmities – towards those who You have burdened us to pray for and let us not be released until we have achieved what You have wanted us to achieve – what You wanted to achieve for that particular person – no matter how weird that may sound or how uncomfortable we are doing this – please hold us to it and never release us until the burden lifts and we can declare truly that we are free and that that one who we have been praying/interceding for is also free…

Thank You Jesus – be released all you who are “feeling” this word… 🙂

Love in the Lord,

Andrew