Onsite Strategic Intercession

This is a chapter from My Book: Fanning the Flames of Intercession.

 Please check out the book HERE.

Or if you like, you can watch the full video teaching session at the end.

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Now we are going to shift to a specific application of intercessory prayer. I believe intercession is to be offensive in the sense that we are to not just pray in our homes and churches, but invade enemy territory and release the power and presence of God on the very ground the enemy has taken.  As we go and place our feet in the places God shows us, we will be reclaiming the land, as well as seeing it healed from defilement.  I believe this is one of the most powerful means that we can make a difference in intercession.  When we pray onsite, we want to be effective, but we also want to be safe.  In this type of prayer there are almost as many things not to do as there are to do.  Let’s look at the whole idea of Onsite Strategic Intercession.

Why Go Onsite?

When we talk about Onsite Strategic Intercession, it is really just a fancy term for prayer walking.  Except for the fact that it is not as much about the walking as it is about going somewhere to pray and get our feet on the land.  Usually, the places we go have some sort of a historical, social or spiritual significance.

Praying onsite is extremely thrilling and exciting.  In my opinion, the only thing that rivals it in excitement would be power evangelism on the streets.  However, even though it is exciting, many would ask the question, “Is it not enough for us to pray within the safe, protective walls of our churches and homes? Do we really need to ‘get out there’ so to speak? Let’s look at some of the reasons why it is important to do intercession onsite.

Increased Anointing as We Carry His Presence

“And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are … Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.’” (Genesis 13:14-17)

“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” (Joshua 1:3)

One of the ways we invade enemy territory is by carrying the presence of the King with us everywhere we go. We are to be a people of His presence that are continually confronting and changing the negative atmosphere around us.  This especially applies as we go places to pray. We can bring His presence that will leave a lasting effect.  When David stepped forward in a different spirit and defeated the giant, it transformed the atmosphere that was hovering over the armies of Israel. Instead of being overwhelmed by fear, defeat and doubt, they were impacted by a new atmosphere of courage, faith and victory.  As we walk the land, we bring the presence of our amazing victorious King and things begin to change.

Healing the Land

One of the main focuses for Onsite Strategic Intercession is to bring healing to the land of the place we are praying. One might say, “What does the land have to do with anything?” Here is what the Word says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Yes, those words, ‘heal their land’ have been there all this time.  Usually, this verse deals with the humbling, the praying and the turning, but it is all for the final conclusion which is to heal the land.  There is a definite connection in the spiritual realm between the land and what goes on with the people of the land.  This concept is very accepted by most cultures except for the western world.  I know this may sound a bit strange but please hear me out.  As God heals the land, the enemy will be defeated and God will begin to move in the people of the land.

Land Defilement

When we talk about the need for healing in the land, what we are referring to is land defilement issues.  The word defile means make dirty; spoil or pollute, desecrate.  As the land is healed, there is an opening of the spiritual atmosphere that makes a way for God to move.

Many of us have heard of places where there is what we refer to as, “an open heaven.”  The Celtic Apostles referred to these geographic sites as “thin places.”  That is because it seemed as if the veil between heaven and earth was much thinner there.  In those places it is very easy to be impacted by the presence and power of God. On the other hand, there are places that are just the opposite.

Have you ever been to a place of evil where you could actually feel the negative spiritual atmosphere?  When you were there, you had to pit in your stomach and possibly became physically ill because of the evil atmosphere.  That is a place that is defiled and is operating under a demonic curse. Because of the sin of the people of the land, the land is defiled and it brings about the opposite of an open heaven which is an opening to hell.  Defiled land equals a closed heaven and an opening to hell. The sins of the people give the enemy legal right to operate there.

I first became aware of this spiritual reality in 1998. I was still very new in my journey as an intercessor.  I went with a team to Ayutthaya, Thailand to intercede in preparation for a missionary planting a church there. We were going around to various sites of historical and spiritual significance. One of the places we went was an ancient palace site.  Ayutthaya was the former capital of the nation of Siam, now Thailand.  At this palace site, 700 years previous, the king was having a bad day and had 3000 of his own people killed.  That sin had left a stain of defilement on the land.  We went to the very site where this atrocity took place.  As we were praying and repenting, I had a vision.  At this point I had not heard of anything like what I was seeing.  I saw a vision of a large hole in the ground.  Out of this hole were demons coming back and forth like from a beehive in the ground.  This hole was probably 30 to 40 feet across.

I was reminded of John 1:51 where Jesus referred to an open heaven, where angels were ascending and descending.  Except this was the exact opposite.  As we were praying I saw the ground around the hole begin to tremble.  Then, in an instant of time, the hole came together and was violently closed, crushing demons in the collapsed vortex.  I was so excited to share with the team the vision I saw.  I was amazed that a few people from America and a missionary to Thailand could pray and God would close an access point to hell that had been open for over 700 years.  When land is defiled it gives the enemy legal right to bring the substance of hell and spew it on the earth.  Things were changing and shifting over Thailand.

What Causes Land Defilement

There are four primary causes for land defilement.  They are:

• Innocent bloodshed
• Broken covenants
• Idolatry
• Immorality

“Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.  By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn.” (Hosea 4:1-4)

“Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity.” (Ezekiel 36:17)

 “The land is defiled when man refuses to worship the one true Creator God and turns to other idolatrous practices, such as: worshipping riches, bloodshed, sexual perversions and broken covenants; which are some of the root causes. Defilement of the land creates legal grounds for the demonic to gain footholds and to attach to local cultures, including institutional demonic strongholds.” (Lockley C. Bremner, Native American)  

Innocent Bloodshed

“And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.’” (Genesis 4:10-11)

“So ye shall not pollute the land wherein you are: for blood defiles the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.” (Numbers 35:33)

In any place where there is bloodshed, especially innocent bloodshed, a curse comes on the land. The most obvious example of this, of course, is abortion.  But also, everything from the murder of an individual, to battlefields where thousands are killed… the blood cries out from the ground.

I heard a story of an intercessor brother who went to Russia and asked the Pastor he was with about a certain hill that he saw.  When the pastor asked him why he wanted to know, he said that, in the spiritual realm, he could hear the innocent blood crying from the ground.  The pastor, with a stunned look on his face, went on to tell him that on that hill thousands of Christians were martyred by the communists.

Of course, the first incident of blood crying from the ground is in the story of Cain and Abel.

“Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’ He said, ‘I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?’ And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.’” (Genesis 4:9-10)

Broken Covenants

“The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, Changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” (Isaiah 24:5)

Tremendous value is given by God to us following through with that which we agree to. In Numbers 30:2 this is illustrated. “If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”  When covenants, agreements or treaties, especially by governmental authorities, are broken the land is defiled.

Idolatry

“On that day a fountain will be opened for the dynasty of David and for the people of Jerusalem, a fountain to cleanse them from all their sins and impurity.  And on that day,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will erase idol worship throughout the land, so that even the names of the idols will be forgotten. I will remove from the land both the false prophets and the spirit of impurity that came with them.” (Zechariah 13:1-2)

Intentional false worship, as well as a dark atmosphere, is that which brings defilement over the land.  The release of the demonic through false religions, pagan worship, new age, Freemasonry, etc. happens more often than we might think.  If you travel to places like Asia, demonic false worship is not hidden, but it is right there in your face confronting you.

In 2012 I spent a month in the nation of Cambodia.  I traveled all over the nation with a Cambodian missionary named Chuck McCaul.  I began to notice in many places there were statues and carvings of multi-headed snakes. He said that they were revering a serpent or dragon named Naga. When Buddha received his enlightenment, this serpent came and coiled up and had Buddha sit on the coil. Then this serpent, with five heads incorporated in one large cobra like head, hovered over Buddha during the time of enlightenment.  Let’s see, spiritual being called a serpent or dragon, which is there when a religious leader comes up with a plan to deceive possibly billions of people. I don’t think there is any doubt that it is Satan himself we are talking about here.  This false worship is defiling the land.

The enemy draws power from false worship.  As the spirits entice humans into agreeing with them, they are able to exercise more control in that land.

Immorality

“For the land is full of adultery, and it lies under a curse. The land itself is in mourning.” (Jeremiah 23:10 NLT)

The increase of sexual sin in society today has brought a tremendous curse on the land.  Whole cities such as Amsterdam or Bangkok have been given over to prostitution, which has brought a curse.  The blight of human trafficking and sex slavery has grown to unimaginable levels and has stained the land across the globe.  Then there is pornography, which I heard one guy call the marketing for human trafficking.  It is at levels we never could have imagined just a few years ago.  Scripture is very clear that sexual sin comes with a price.

“For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.” (Proverbs 6:26)

Notice the word ‘reduced’ in this verse.  All of sexual sin robs from not only the one partaking of it, but also from the land where they live. Then it is compounded even more when governments and societies embrace sexual activity that is banned by scripture. Our first responsibility is for ourselves.  We need to live pure before the Lord.  Then we can begin to pray for God to turn the tide of this evil in our land.

Identificational Repentance

Once again in 2 Chronicles 7:14, as we turn from our wicked ways, then He will forgive our sin and heal our land.  It’s not just our sin, but the sin of those we are standing in for.  As we step into that place of repentance for those who have gone before, God will begin to heal the land.  I’ve included below some great quotes:

“Why should we be concerned about what our ancestors might have done? This is an important question raised by many who hear of identificational repentance for the first time. The answer derives from the spiritual principle that iniquity passes from generation to generation. One of many biblical texts on the matter comes from the Ten Commandments that Moses received on Sinai: ‘I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations…’ (Exodus 20:5). Technically speaking, sin can be understood as the initial act while iniquity is the effect that the sin has exercised on subsequent generations.”  From ‘The Power to Heal the Past’ by C. Peter Wagner

“We are called to live out the Biblical practice of identification repentance, a neglected truth that opens the floodgates of revival and brings healing to the nations.” from ‘Healing

America’s Wounds’ by John Dawson 

“Any time we pray for the land to be healed, we should include identification repentance.  I came across this great definition.  ‘Identification repentance is a term referring to a type of prayer which identifies with and confesses before God the corporate sins of one’s nation, people, church, or family.’ Such sins often stand in the way of revival, and God seems to move with greater blessing and power to advance the gospel and the cause of Christ where the Body of Christ prays this way.” Gary S. Greig  

Owning the Sin

I remember after teaching this in one of our schools of intercession someone came up with this question. “How can we repent for someone else’s sin, especially that of a previous generation?” That is a good question. Here are some scriptures that might shed some light:

“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, WE have sinned and committed iniquity, WE have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have WE heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people OF THE LAND.”  (Daniel 9:3-6)

“Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.” (Nehemiah 9:2)

Standing in proxy for the sins of our generation and the generations previous is the key to not only cleansing the land, but rolling away the reproach of that sin.

Reconciliation Enactments

Reconciliation Enactments are specifically designed to heal riffs and offenses between people groups.  The groups could be from nations, cities, tribes or families. It is best to actually go and place your feet on the land where that particular people group live or the offenses which caused the riff took place. This kind of prayer is especially effective with a group of people.  Below you will see how a Reconciliation Enactment should be implemented. Here are the primarily elements to a Reconciliation Enactment:

• Apology
• Receiving the Apology
• Declare Blessing over the Other Group
• Expressing Love and Forgiveness with Hugs and Handshakes

It’s also helpful to have those in the group who are directly connected to one of the two sides of the offense.  Ask if they were born there or they are of the bloodline of that particular group. Have the two groups get into lines facing each other.  Ask each group to elect a spokesperson for their group.

Have the spokesperson for the first group give an official apology for their part in the offence and bringing division with the other group.  Then have the spokesperson from the other group officially receive the apology.  Do the same the other way with the other group apologizing and the opposite group receives the apology.

Then have each group speak and pray a blessing on the other group.  Have them express their love and forgiveness to each other by coming together with handshakes and hugs.

The first time I was a part of one such reconciliation was in Thailand.  We were invited to go with a group of Thai and Burmese pastors to an ancient royal elephant pen. At this place there were life-sized bronze statues depicting the invasion of Thailand by Burma centuries before. It was around 95°f and high humidity with nothing but dirt underneath our feet.  As these Burmese pastors began to apologize for the invasion, they got down on their knees while wearing white shirts and slacks and, with many tears, apologized. When it was finished, they rose to their feet and all these pastors embraced one another and wept. I was stunned by what I was seeing and was aware that what they were doing was not only important but powerful.

Another powerful reconciliation enactment that we were involved in was in a town called Berwick-upon-Tweed on the English/Scottish border in northeast England.  This is a town that had gone back and forth between England and Scotland 14 times.

In 1296 King Edward Longshanks invaded Scotland and his first city of conquest was Berwick-upon-Tweed.  He destroyed the town and killed all 8,000 men, women and children residing there.

We went to a park near the River Tweed on a hill overlooking the town.  We had come from Glasgow with a group of about 15.  I asked if any in the group were born in England or had English descent.  We had five English and eight Scots lined up across from one another.  To represent the Scots, we chose a man named Mark Campbell. Mark is a quintessential Glaswegian with a thick accent. How he came to know the Lord was quite interesting.  He had just gotten out of prison for attempted murder and was in his living room getting ready to watch a movie.  Then all of a sudden Jesus showed up in his living room. As he stood there transfixed, Jesus said to him, “Mark, I love you. Why are you persecuting me?” Mark said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” As the burden of sin was lifted, an incredible joy filled his heart.  He ran into the streets to tell people, “It’s true, He’s alive, He’s alive.” He is now a radical evangelist and prayer warrior in Scotland.

On the other side, representing the English, a man volunteered that was quite a surprise to us. He was a quiet, meek man named Kevin Winsley. Kevin was born in England but now lives in Scotland.

As we began, Mark filled us in on the history of the invasion.  We were awestruck. We started with the English apologizing for the invasion.  Kevin was amazing.  Under the anointing, this man became an English statesman. He spoke with authority, passion and intentionality.  We were all amazed.  Mark, representing the Scots, received the apology.

Then Mark apologized for all the animosity that the Scots had harbored against the English.  The English received the apology.

They then prayed a blessing for each other and ran toward each other and embraced. Many wept as if they were the actual ones involved in what happened 716 years ago. As we were finishing, a dear friend named Tracy McVey spoke up. She was born in Galway, Ireland and wondered if we could say a prayer for the Irish as well.  So, we all, Scots, English and Americans, gathered around her and prayed for her and blessed the nation of Ireland.  God only knows what was accomplished in the spirit realm by that day’s event. What an honor to be involved in such an incredible event.

Here are some other reconciliation enactments that I have been a part of:

• Clan Campbell and Clan Macdonald – Glencoe Massacre – Glencoe, Scotland
• Highland Clans Reconciliation – Inverness, Scotland
• Cherokee and Early Americans – Swannanoa, North Carolina
• Adjoining Cities – Eugene/Springfield, Oregon

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19)

Land Rejoicing

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. “For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The Mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:11-12)

Once I was praying on top of a hill called Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland with a group of men.  From that place, we were rededicating the land of Scotland to the Lord.  The Lord had directed us to “have communion with the land.”  As we prayed, we picked up a rock and placed bread and wine on the ground and put the rock over it.  As we finished praying, one of the guys named Jeremy Wagaman was overcome by the joy of the Lord.  He shouted,

“Can you feel it? It is like the land is rejoicing.  It is like Isaiah 55 where it says the mountains and hills shall break forth with singing.” Then he proceeded to run down the mountain shouting and rejoicing.  We all had a strong witness of the Spirit, that what he was saying was really happening.  The land was beginning to heal.  As we pray onsite God releases his presence with joy, resulting in an open heaven. (Psalms 16:11)

Preparation and Implementation of Onsite Prayer

Here are some steps to take before the time of prayer and as you gather to pray together at the site.

• Not to be taken lightly – No Attitudes

Onsite intercession is serious business.  We are never to have a cheeky, arrogant attitude about what we are doing.

• Know the History – Mapping

It can be a real help to know some of the history of the place you are praying especially if it relates to the four areas of defilement.

• Combination of Pre-Planning and Holy Spirit Leading

A combination of prayerful pre-planning and leading of the Holy Spirit during the prayer is best for onsite intercession.  There are things that He will show you ahead of time and things that you will become aware of as you are there to pray.

• Confess Sin

It is good to take some personal time with the Holy Spirit for each team member to become aware of any area of sin that needs to be confessed.  Then declare that the team is covered in the blood of Jesus.  It is important to pray with a clean slate so as to give the enemy no advantage.

• Mantle of Humility

I believe the mantle of humility to be an actual spiritual garment that we need to wear in any onsite prayer endeavor.  Take a moment and ask the team to go through the motions of putting on this garment and embracing humility.  I believe this is the undergarment for the armor of God.

• Armor of God

Take a moment and have the team put on the armor of God.  Once again have them act out actually placing armor on their body.  You may want to pray through the list of armor in Ephesians 6.

• Flow with One in Charge

It is a good idea to have someone in charge of the team.  God works in delegated leadership.  That way, if there is any dispute about the direction to go in prayer, the one in charge can be the one to decide.  This will also guard the unity of the team.

• If Attacked, Get Prayer

Tell the team that if anyone senses that they are being attacked by the enemy (headaches and dizziness, etc.), they should get prayer immediately. Tell them not to wait until the end of the prayer time.  We have authority over every demon spirit who tries to personally attack any of our team members.  This does not happen very often in an onsite prayer session, but it is good to be aware just in case.  Pray a hedge over the team before you go and the likelihood of this happening will be minimized.

Prophetic Acts for Onsite Strategic Intercession

• Pouring Out Water

This represents the cleansing and washing of the land and, ultimately, the people of the land through salvation.

“After seven months, teams of men will be appointed to search the land for skeletons to bury, so the land will be made clean again.” (Ezekiel 39:14 NLT)

• Scattering Salt

This represents the returning of the savor and flavor of the Lord in the land.  It also speaks of the salt covenant and is also symbolic of making people thirsty for the living water that Jesus has to offer.

“Should you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?”   (2 Chronicles 13:5)

“And he said, ‘Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.’ So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.”  (2 Kings 2:20, 21)

• Pouring Out Oil

This represents the Anointing of the Holy Spirit and His power to bring change in the land. You also want to pray that the Holy Spirit activity in that geographic area will increase.  It is good to declare something like, “Holy Spirit we honor you in this place.”

“It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” (Isaiah 10:27)

Prophetic Acts Implementation

In pouring out the salt, the water and the oil, choose someone from the group and have them pour out the element as they are praying a prayer related to that particular prophetic act. Do these each, one at a time.  After they are finished praying, have two or three more from the team pray in relationship to the topic.

Other Prophetic Acts

Here are some other prophetic acts and you might implement during a time of onsite intercession:

• Ringing a Hand Bell – Symbol of a Sweet Sound
• Blowing the Shofar – A Reminder to the Enemy of the Last Trumpet
• Beating Drums – Bring the team into Rhythm
• Build a Spiritual Altar – Calling Back the Good that has been Lost
• Driving Wooden Stakes with Scripture Written on Them
• Releasing the Dance
• Making Declarations and Decrees
• Declaring Scripture

This list of prophetic acts is by no means exclusive. Ask the Lord about other prophetic acts that He may want you to implement during a specific time of prayer.

Other Directives

At the beginning of this session, we talked about being effective, but also being safe.  Remember, we are invading enemy territory.  There are lines we should not cross in order to remain on solid, safe, scriptural ground.  I believe that we do not have to “expect” backlash from the enemy.  If we do things right, we will be effective, but also remain safe relating to us, the team we are praying with, our families and our stuff.  Here are some points of wisdom that will help us remain safe and effective in Onsite Strategic Intercession:

• Pray in the Opposite Spirit

If you are praying about something negative, don’t focus your prayers on that, but pray and ask God to release the opposite, good thing of what needs to change.

• Pray For “Them” Not “Us”

Intercession is always about praying for others.  It is helpful to stay away from “we” or “us” and pray for “they” or “them.” The only exception is when we are doing identificational repentance and repenting on behalf of the people of the land.

• Pray For (Positive) – Not Against (Negative)

Keep your prayers positive.  Intercession is to pray for God to release the good, which will in turn displace that which is evil, hurtful and destructive.

• No Rebuking, Binding or Coming Against Directly

Onsite prayer is not the place to focus on binding and rebuking the enemy directly.  We are not to go out and directly confront Satan, principalities and powers or evil in society.  When I say evil in society, I am speaking of binding the people that are working to promote that evil. In onsite prayer we do not want to use words such as: we come against, we rebuke, or we take authority over.  Especially when praying for cities and nations.  We’ll be discussing this further in the chapter on The Principles and Protocols of Warfare.

I especially want to emphasize the importance of not rebuking principalities and powers.  The model in scripture is Daniel, Chapter 10.  Daniel interceded, which was his job, and the angels confronted the Prince of Persia (a principality). We must follow the model of Daniel 10 and do our job, which is intercession.

• Ending the Prayer Time

It is always good to pray over the team members and their families before you finish.  Declare that there will be no backlash of the enemy and that they will be hidden and protected by the Lord in the secret place of the Most High.  (Psalms 91) Then pray a blessing on each one for their willingness to come out and serve the Lord.  It is always good to seal the time of prayer with a worship song that everyone would know.

Final Thought

I believe God wants us to be as equally effective in praying onsite as we are in the prayer closet. As the Holy Spirit leads us into the realms of intercession on the land, we will see God do powerful things to effect change that will be tangible.