The Onyx Stone - Calling Forth The Intercessors

ASHER.... A happy heart.... SELF - ASSURANCE.... A place of CONTENTMENT; Without FEAR, A place of personal fulfillment....

ONYX....The NAIL.... that which is driven inwardly (or the SHELL; the personal image.)

JEHOVAH ROHI....THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD....

Psalm 23

I shall not want; I shall not fear....He who leads us to pasture. He who makes us content.

We want to make ourselves content, to determine our own PASTURE. But God is calling us to let HIM be our Shepherd. We find contentment within our being....

EL ROI - The Lord Our Shepherd a denoting of El from the root word ‘ul’ which means “To be strong”. Our Lord is a strong shepherd.

*********************************************************************************

All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all. [I Pet. 2:24, 25.]

He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living [stricken to His death] for the transgression of my [Isaiah's] people, to whom the stroke was due? And they assigned Him a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. [Matt. 27:57-60; I Pet. 2:22, 23.]

Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When You and He make His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself [which He possesses and imparts to others] shall My [uncompromisingly] righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God), for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt [with the consequences, says the Lord]. Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great [kings and rulers], and He shall divide the spoil with the mighty, because He poured out His life unto death, and [He let Himself] be regarded as a criminal and be numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore [and took away] the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors (the rebellious). [Luke 22:37.] Isaiah 53: 6-12 AMPLIFIED

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8: 26-28

**********************************************************************************

There is a key element in the character of those who would overcome that is much different than others. That key element is an ingrained portion of Father’s very character which becomes part of the Overcomers personality. This is something that is formed IN the heart of that person who desires to be one with God in His purpose and desire, not just for creation, but that personal element which causes them to come to God in faith to be one with Him. The longing to be ever so one with the Lord becomes paramount. And that element of the personality of God that the Overcomer gains is one of “The Fear Of The Lord”.

It is this Fear of God that this portion of the Onyx Stone represents, for today in this world and in Christendom there is NO Fear of the Lord as it should be. There is “fear” about the Lord, His wrath, doctrines of eternal torment, doctrines of escapism and being found worthy to escape the “wrath to come”. There is much fear about the world situation, money, world powers. There is fear about what the Lord is going to “do” with the world, and how angry God must be because of the world’s sin. There is fear that if a person is not aligned right in the will of God that they will not be a part of His next motion of Spirit, that they will somehow miss God. There are all kinds of fear, but I fail to see any real FEAR OF THE LORD. For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is this fear that causes our footfalls to become aligned in the perfect will of God with a communion that cannot be broken. A secret hidden place in God is discovered only by knowing this fear which is a “learned experience”.

When I behold the Ephod with the Onyx Stone upon the center bottom row, it speaks to me of the Fear of God. It speaks to me of infinite Holiness, even that character of God which separates Him from all He created. It speaks of the in-working of God’s Spirit in a yielded life to accomplish a perfect identity.

It is not my purpose to speak of the Fear of the Lord as just the subject of this study, but rather the RESULT that the Fear of the Lord brings to an Overcomer. There is only ONE WAY to gain the fear of the Lord and that is through the chastening rod of God. To be scourged and chastised is what places the proper fear of God into an Overcomers life. God does not spare His corrections from us when we desire this oneness with Him and those corrections are very hard on our carnal nature, in fact, the corrections of God KILLS the carnality in us. But not just that, the fruit of this chastisement, the fruit of being scourged by God as a child that is His peculiar treasure is the fear Of The Lord, but the result of that fear is what I am wanting to reveal. For the Fear of the Lord will bring forth ONE VERY PARTICULAR MINISTRY IN THE LIFE OF AN OVERCOMER. And that ministry is one of INTERCESSION.

Now, there are intercessors all throughout Christendom. But not one of them truly has that “tone” of the fear of the Lord in them which makes their intercessions effective. The Overcomer is much more different. For when the rod of correction is upon the back of the Overcomer, and their way is brought forth from futility to fruitfulness, they gain a portion of God’s very nature and character that the religious know nothing about and have never experienced. True intercession of the Overcomer before God is very unique. For they are ONE in tone and ONE in desire and ONE in personality with the very Heart and Purpose of God Himself. The “El Roi” portion of God’s 12 names becomes prominent in the Overcomer as they intercede on behalf of the Body of Christ. For this El Roi portion of God is that pastoral part of the Heart of God that the conquering soul becomes one with. For you cannot overcome anything at all in your life if you are not one with the very Heart of God in His purpose and in His Love. There is one key element God is looking for in His Overcomers. It is not that they can put down fleshly desires. It is not that they can control their anger problems. It is not that they can control lusts of various sorts. It is not that they can keep themselves cloistered away from the rest of the world and that they are successful in not loving the world or the things in the world. The key element God is looking for are Overcomers who will INTERCEDE FOR HIS BODY. Those who with Jesus stand between God and man, man and God. For God desires to be so ONE with His creation that His determination for this will only be done through THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION.

Intercession is the element of the Onyx Stone I see in a prophetic stance. For by intercession we will have two elements take place in this world which all creation is groaning for.

1} That by the Ministry of Intercession, the Overcomers will bring forth that standing in God which will allow Him to manifest His children and reveal them for who they are. This manifestation is the key element in ending the death pall that is upon creation through Adam’s fall.

2} That by the Ministry of Intercession, the Overcomers will bring a finality to the purpose of God. In this finality God will be ONE with His creation in such a manner as that all creation, including all humanity, including those in death or life, will be swallowed up into Himself alone so that God will be just God with all things brought INTO HIM. For God and the Glory of God, is the FINAL TEMPLE {resting place} that will be seen in the New Jerusalem.

Intercession is more than just “praying for others”. Intercession becomes the very personality trait of an Overcomer. It becomes part of their make up as Sons or Daughter’s of God. Intercession is the deepest part of communion which bares one’s face before God so that there is no rift of division between them. The Overcomer is so one with the Heart of God while enduring SOLITUDE that no one else on earth may ever know about it, for it does not extend to realms beyond a personal prayer closet. It is the “secret place” in the heart of the Overcomer and in the Heart of God that may not be known or identified by any other person or element around them. This absolute solitude that the Onyx Stone represents is for the purpose of bringing the Overcomer into the Ministry of Intercession. Both to intercede for Christ’s church, but also to commune as the deep calling unto the deep in their souls with God Himself. It is a place of communion with God that is to be greatly envied if only others knew about it. It is here that the savor of God comes upon the personality of an Overcomer and their very life becomes a standard by which all those around them are measured.

Intercession as a ministry ministers to God alone in the highest form of Worship. For an Overcomer to intercede they must first lay down completely their life to come into this solitary place where intercession before God is all they know to do. It is the verbal response of the Overcomer to God’s dealings in their lives as well as the world around them. There is nothing else they can or will do other than to Worship God in the Holy of Holies in INTERCESSION. And this intercession is not due to a demented view of God as wrathful and angry with man’s fall, but for the sole purpose of becoming one with the beating of His Heart, one with His very Love, His very desire, His very person. The end result of intercession will be to find God in Love with His creation {which includes humanity} and to restore that fallen creation back into the perfect Love of God.

**********************************************************************************

“And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.

And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.

And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.” 1 Kings 17: 17-24

Here is the mystery of Intercession for the Overcomer. The body of Christ in this hour is representative of this dead boy in the verses above. As a body of people in this hour, the masses of Christendom lack the very life of God to promote any kind of change or life in this world. Their doctrines have been reduced to escapism theories and thoughts of rapture. The stars truly have fallen - the systems of man {Christendom} have CEASED TO GIVE LIGHT. There is no life in these assemblies but just a frenzied working up of soulish emotion that cannot ever show forth the true identity of God in their midst. The assemblies are corrupted with money schemes and promotions of every kind to increase numbers to appease an angry God.

It is to this body that the Intercessor, the Overcomer, is sent in the ministry of Intercession. Lay your eyes upon this body’s eyes. Lay your limbs upon this body’s limbs. Lay your torso upon this body’s torso. And breathe your breath dear Overcomer into this body. The life of God is in you, and this body will come to life.

**********************************************************************************

{Portion of a prophecy}

“And from there thou shalt branch out, yea, thou shalt be as an arm of the Lord. And even as Elijah went forth and was totally obedient to the spirit of God, I say unto thee, even as Elijah laid down his body upon this child, this young boy, and the boy was raised from the dead; I say unto thee that the resurrection life of the living Christ within thee shall be so mighty; that the Lord shall cause these dead bones to come to life. Even those of my body that have been in carnality and death, I say unto thee that thou shalt have a ministry of deliverance and healing that shall move through thee, and thou shalt be as a humble servant of thy God. As a wise and a holy one. Thou shalt be honorable, thou shalt be cleansed, I say unto thee that thou shalt speak forth a word to my people that shall bless many. That shall cause many that have fallen by the wayside to come once more to the highway of Holiness, to walk once more into that place where God is calling them, even into that walk of righteousness. Fear thou not, for He has caused a cry within thee, a cry that shall continue as a travailing voice before the throne of God, where thou shalt be used as an intercessor to pray for the body of Christ. Even this corporate body, and thou shalt be as a living stone. I am placing thee, even at this moment, in this perfect place in my body. Thou shalt walk in this place, and thou shalt not falter, but thou shalt go forth with mighty courage and mighty power.

And yea, pray my son for humility. Pray for this my son. For I shall indeed call thee as a mighty servant of God, yea, even as Elijah of old. Fear thou not for this, yea, even as a royal cloak I am placing upon thy shoulder, yea, this mantle of my anointing; yea this purple mantle shall not leave thee for thou shalt continue to be humble in my sight. And thou shalt continue to serve God in obedience, taking each day at a time. Even as thou shalt be afflicted, even at times thou shalt feel weak, thou shalt have pain to bear. But I say unto thee that thou shalt be identified with Christ. Yea, even as He walked upon this earth, He did bear the weight and the burden of sin. Yea, He did pray in the times of fasting and prayer before His God. Yea, the Lord Jesus Christ, thy Lord, did fast and did die to self, yea, and overcame, and yea, thou shalt indeed follow this pattern son. For He is thy pattern. And as thou shalt keep thine eyes, yea, firm upon the Lord Jesus Christ, Yea, I say unto thee, that the power that is in the power of the blood of Jesus, yea shall flow through thy veins !! And yea, thou shalt experience this flow. The power that is in the blood of thy savior is in thee also!! And thou shalt experience this flow as a mighty river of God. Yea, and as thou shalt reach out to others in faith and lay hands upon them, the gifts of the spirit shall flow through thee, and yea, thou shalt speak a word of prophecy, yea, the gift of tongues, the gift of interpretation shall flow through thee. And the word of wisdom and counsel shall come through thee. And thou shalt not falter and thou shalt not stumble; for it is the Lord thy God within thee that doth speak. Thy tongue shall be the tongue of the learned. And thou shalt speak a word of revelation; yea, even the mystery of the Kingdom of God thou shalt speak to my people. Yea, for I have called thee to be as one that would preach the Kingdom of God.”

{End portion of prpphecy}

**********************************************************************************

It is not that we are ‘against’ those in denominational bondage. We are not. What we are against is THE DEAD SYSTEM. But we are not to “revive the system”. We are to “revive the people from that realm of carnality and death. Lay your life UPON THEM. Let your prayer breathe forth the very desire and Heart of God TOWARDS them. Cover every part of their being, body, soul and spirit - lay yourself 3 times upon them - and REVIVE THEM. Animate them to once more come back onto that highway of Holiness, to once more come to walk with God alone who desires to be one with them in perfect Love and Holiness. Set them once again by your very intercession into that place where they know how precious they are to Father, that Father loves them unconditionally, and forever. This is done by the TONE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD’S PERSON UPON YOU. Bring them to realize that the final and only church they are a part of is not made with hands, not build on earth and held in a structure, not religious in nature but real in person! Allow your life to be laid down as an Intercessor to SET THEM FREE OF DEATH. For the life of Christ in these ones has become buried by their traditions and religious efforts. Bring each one to that place wherein they walk with God in communion and fellowship which they have not known before. That they are part of an ethereal structure which cannot be measured by human hands but is of the dimension and Spirit of God. That God, and His Glory are the structure they are truly a part of.

Do this intercession in your closet of prayer. But then walk forward. Walk forward in the world in full view of those that are around you so that what you accomplished in your closet becomes a fragrance of Christ to those who view you as you walk forward. Walk Oh Overcomer, walk and allow your life to be exposed for what it is, part of the Melchisidec Priesthood who bears now the weight and the burden of The Royal Ephod. Walk in such a way that the Spirit of God THROUGH YOU does this work of PRACTICAL INTERCESSION. This will DRAW THOSE IN CARNALITY AND DEATH TO COME ONCE MORE ONTO THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS, TO RUN ONCE AGAIN THIS RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE THEM, TO WIN CHRIST AS THE PRIZE.

Not only this, but intercede on behalf of God also. Bring God Himself to that place in your Intercession where He moves on those you lay your life upon and revives them! He fills them with the very resurrection life of Christ Himself. That God will move at your bequest in the laying down of your life to renew, refresh and make alive those who have been lost in carnality and in death. This is the ministry of the Overcomer. They bear the weight of The Royal Ephod, and the bottom course of Stones, center in place is this precious Onyx Stone. The Stone of Absolute Solitude, but also the Stone of the highest height and the deepest depth of INTERCESSION. Communion with God in the Holy of Holies that is not known by any other creature. The Overcomer bears this Intercession in prayer, but also in action. They go between they on the earth and God in Holiness in Glory, and they bring forth the desire of God to this world. But not only so, they also bring each one to stand before God as complete whole living Stones, part of His church, His body, alive and animated forever. This is indeed a High and a Holy Calling. And this calling continues in the life of the Overcomer even in the time that is coming when God shall Glorify His Sons and Daughters when He comes and manifests them to the world. Even in the future glorified state, this oneness with Jesus in Intercession will continue until all the ages consummate into the Kingdom of God.

This intercession ministry will continue until all things are restored, until God has made all things “new”. Oh what a wondrous ministry, done in a closet of prayer, but openly manifested to the nations of the earth. What a calling! What a promise! What a measure of humility to be identified with Jesus in such a way!

We are now done the studies of the Stones of the FACE of the Ephod. In the next study Lord willing I will begin the two shoulder Stones, starting with the “ouches” which held the Urim and Thummim Stones.
Please read Exodus 28:11.

To Be Continued.......................... Kenneth B Visscher

Site Navigation