Did you notice the words servants and handmaidens in

Acts 2:18? When you are born again, you do not become a

servant of God. You become a child of God. In order to become

a servant or handmaiden, you must make a choice. Vine’s

Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words says these words mean

“one who gives himself up to the will of another.” Because of

your love for God, you choose to serve Him. You yield your

will to His will and become a co-laborer with Him. Those who

totally give themselves to His service will be God’s mouthpiece

in the earth. They will be the vehicles of His Spirit.

The Apostle Paul called himself a servant of Jesus Christ.

Vine’s defines servant as being in “subjection without the idea

of bondage, the perfect example being Christ Himself.” Paul

had the right to go free, but didn’t. He served his Master out

of love and dedication. God is calling us to be His servants.

Jesus said that many are called but few are chosen (Matthew

20:16). In other words, few dedicate themselves to servant hood.

Upon those and out of those who are dedicated to

Him, God will pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh.

Jesus said, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall

give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him

shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting

life” (John 4:14). The Spirit of God is a well of living water

inside you, springing up. A well is for personal use. God’s ultimate

purpose is that other thirsty souls can partake of that

water. He desires to pour out of His Spirit from the inside of

you through intercession.

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of

his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). A river is

for everyone’s use. The outpouring of the Spirit is a flow of the

Holy Spirit coming from inside the believer. That flow is the

source of all the signs and wonders and miracles! Everyone—

the Scripture says, all flesh—will benefit. Intercessory prayer

is going to play the major role in this outpouring. It is what

causes God’s power to flow in the earth, unhindered.

Prayer is the doorway into the mightiest release of power

known to man. It brings the very presence of God to and

upon man, in any part of the world. That power operates as

believers allow those rivers of living water to gush toward

the dry and thirsty. The torrential outpouring of the Spirit

will cause life to spring forth in those who receive the seed

of God’s Word. The result is the harvest of new creatures in

Christ Jesus (1 Peter 1:23).

Let’s study the art of intercession. Isaiah 59:16-17 says,

“And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there

was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto

him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on

righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon

his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,

and was clad with zeal as a cloak.” What is His arm? Jesus.

The sole purpose of Jesus’ coming to the earth was to be that

intercessor. He wore the helmet of salvation and the breastplate

of righteousness.

That is the same armor in Ephesians 6 for the Body of Christ.

Jesus came as an intercessor. We are to put on that same armor

and enter into the same field of prayer. His arm is bringing

salvation again. As intercessors, we are His arm in the earth

causing reconciliation between men and God.

Jesus said, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you”

(John 20:21). The armor is the same and the calling is the same.

You may say, “Do you mean to tell me that I have the same

calling on my life Jesus had?” Absolutely! Second Corinthians

5:18 says we have been given the ministry of reconciliation.

Jesus said, “[You] go…into all the world, and [you] preach

the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). He also said, “The

works that I do shall [you] do also; and greater works than

these shall [you] do; because I go unto my Father” ( John

14:12). He went, didn’t He? Then you and I are responsible

for the works. He provided us with the new birth. God said in

Ezekiel 36:26 that He would put a new spirit within us. Jesus

said in John 14:17 that His Spirit would be in us. That gives us

the right and the miraculous power to enter into the intercessory

prayer ministry.

Intercession is the highest expression of love. It is loving in

the spirit, applying spiritual power for another person. It will

overpower the evil influences that have bound that person.

Your prayer may be for salvation, healing, or any other area

of deliverance from Satan.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries