The Lord has been prompting me for the last day or so to re-post this word. We have added at least 6,000 subscribers since this word to Intercessors was first published. For those of you who are sacrificing yourselves in intercession for the Kingdom of God, the Lord wants to say, "THANK YOU!!"
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This word was first published April 10, 2000

FOR THOSE WHO ARE "UNSUNG"

The Lord gave me a potent word---and hopefully an encouragement (via a dream) last night --- FOR INTERCESSORS. As it turned out, we had just finished the most awesome prophetic conference I've ever been part of this weekend. Amazing. I know there were intercessors there praying, but I had not made time to go seek them out--though they were giving themselves for this conference, as were many all over the world, because of the Internet.

I WAS DOG-TIRED BUT THE INTERCESSORS WERE STILL GOING

I was tired after the 4-day conference last night. And after I went to sleep in that same state, I had a dream. In the dream, I was finishing this conference, feeling dog-tired and I was leaving to go home and rest.

STILL PRAYING?!

As I walked past a large room, I noticed that it was full of intercessors, STILL PRAYING, even though the conference was already over. They invited me in and I protested that I was "so tired and I just needed to go home."

"We hear that you encourage people," one of the intercessors said to me specifically.

After that, I really had to go in, because I've often identified myself as one who loves to encourage others. So I did go in, and I began to prophesy encouragement to these intercessors, from my very exhausted spirit.

I prophesied, "YOU INTERCESSORS ARE THE MOST UNSUNG HERO'S IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. . . " (knowing I was speaking of intercessors worldwide as being unsung hero's).

I started to go on speaking but they stopped and asked me to repeat what I'd just said. They all had quickly taken out note pads and were scribbling down these words I had just said, as if the very words were life to them!!

"YOU ARE THE MOST UNSUNG HERO'S IN THE BODY OF CHRIST," I repeated. They intensely continued transcribing every word I had just said--as I said it one more time ---"You are the most unsung hero's in the Body of Christ."

NO ONE EVER TELLS US THAT!

Then two of the intercessors walked up to me and said, "No one EVER tells us that." And then the second person said it again, "NO ONE EVER TELLS US THAT!" I somehow knew that this was a true statement to the core-- and they were saying it from their heart, with gratitude on their lips for my one prophetic word to them.

They were clearly very encouraged and built up, edified and comforted--which of course, is the main purpose of prophesying. (I Cor. 14: 1-3)

APOLOGY TO INTERCESSORS

We speak a lot these days of identificational repentance. We are to identify with the sins of our forefathers and our brothers and sisters--and we are to include ourselves in this repentance, as Daniel did when he said, "Lord, WE have sinned." And it's easier to include ourselves, when we PERSONALLY have this sin in our lives.

With this in mind, I want to stand in as an ambassador of the Body of Christ and say to every intercessor out there--those who have sacrificed time and energy,(and many have paid a horrible price--having been attacked by the enemy repeatedly for their intercessions)---those who have forgotten themselves-- so that they might remember others in prayer:

WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE INTERCESSORS

"We, the church have sinned against you. We have allowed you to pray and intercede for us, often without so much as a "thank you" in return for what you have sacrificially done (and yet in many ways, you were willing to be faceless-- and you did not seek attention). You have given selflessly to the Lord---and to those in the Body who needed your prayers--for as it has been said, 'The Lord does NOTHING without prayer!'

Will you intercessors please forgive us for not saying THANK YOU! Forgive us for not preferring you. And forgive us for not honoring you. Would you forgive us for ignoring you, when it was in our power NOT to ignore you? Please pray now, that the Lord would forgive US, the very beneficiaries of your intercessions--for our oversight in this. And we thank you again, and again, and again, for lifting the Body of Christ up in prayer--and for lifting us up as individuals in prayer. How little we understand, that we would not be where we are, had you not done, what you have done!

Please keep praying for the Body and for us ALL --Apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, teachers, and the rest of us sheep-- and we will seek to remember to show you our gratitude!

In Christ,
Steve Shultz