We are all familiar with missionaries who focus on preaching or mercy deeds (providing food, medical care, etc.). But the Lord is also calling forth a new type of missionary that is essential to completing the Great Commission. The foundational example of this type of missionary is found in Luke 2:36-38:

“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38 NKJV)

Anna prayed night and day in the temple with fasting for over sixty years just prior to the First Coming of Jesus. Anna was the first evangelist that we see in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit is raising up those like Anna once again to pray, fast and preach prior to Jesus’ Second Coming. This “Anna Anointing” transcends gender and age, where men and women, young and old live as intercessory missionaries laboring for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Intercession and worship is the means that God has chosen to establish His kingdom on the earth. Prayer changes the spiritual atmosphere over cities and nations (Matthew 6:10, Psalm 149). Prayer brings us into agreement with God’s heart, and from that place of full agreement and partnership God’s kingdom breaks in to the earth.

An intercessory missionary is one who has been divinely “set” on a wall of intercession (Isaiah 62:6-7) as one who would give the Lord no rest in prayer until His desires are fully brought forth on the earth. This intercessory mission calling is entirely selfless by definition – it is a giving of oneself wholeheartedly for one Man’s agenda, with the knowledge that His plan and purpose is far greater than anything man could possibly devise. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Joel 2:17).

Jesus’ desire was that the kingdom and the will of God would be completely manifest on the earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Jesus won’t do this “in a vacuum”, apart from men and women doing it in partnership with Him. He chose seemingly foolish means to bring this to pass, because He longed to do it in intimate relationship to human beings. Jesus said that His kingdom would not come not by human force or might and not by human intellect or wisdom, but by Godly wisdom – simply by saying back to God in prayer what He told us to tell Him. It is as the church all over the globe and these “set”, full-time watchmen like myself ask the Lord persistently and cry out day and night (Luke 11, Luke 18:7-8), He promises to release speedy justice and establish the kingdom of God on the earth.

Some supporting scriptures:

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”
(Isaiah 62:6-7 NKJV)

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment—This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 149:1-9 NKJV)

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.”
(Matthew 6:10 NKJV)

““So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!””
(Luke 11:9-13 NKJV)

“And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?””
(Luke 18:7-8 NKJV)

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.””
(Luke 24:49 NKJV)