I taught this message in person recently, but I wanted to share it with you as an article today and plan to share it as a video for you soon.

Intercession is more than a spiritual duty—it is a divine calling.

Those who take up the mantle of intercession do not merely pray; they step into a sacred partnership with God. Their prayers carry weight because they come from a place of deep identification, agony, and authority.

Tears are not a sign of weakness in the Kingdom of God. Instead, they are a form of spiritual currency, a language that moves the heart of heaven. The faithful intercessor does not just speak on behalf of the people; they feel the burdens of God, weep with His sorrow, and declare His purposes into the earth.

As Rees Howells emphasized, true intercession is not born from routine prayers but from an intimate, burdened relationship with Christ. There is no "gift of intercession" listed in Scripture. Instead, Jesus Himself is the Great Intercessor, and we are invited to enter into His work. From the dust of intercession, messengers rise in authority, carrying heaven’s mandate to the earth.

1. Identification: Weeping with the Heart of God

Intercession begins with identification—entering into the burden of the Lord. When we intercede, we align our hearts with God's, allowing His grief to become our own. This is where tears become more than emotions; they become powerful expressions of faith and surrender.

Jesus Wept: The Weeping Authority of Christ (John 11:35)

Jesus’ shortest recorded verse, "Jesus wept," holds immense spiritual depth. His weeping was not mere sorrow—it was a deep groaning (embrimaomai), reflecting His righteous anger against death and suffering. Even though He knew He would raise Lazarus, He still wept, fully identifying with human pain.

Before the miracle of resurrection came, Jesus took time to grieve. His tears were not wasted; they carried the weight of divine authority. This is a crucial lesson for intercessors—before we can call forth life, we must first weep with those who mourn.

The Woman Caught in Adultery: Jesus in the Dust (John 8:6-8)

In another moment of intercession, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust as the Pharisees condemned a woman caught in sin. Rather than responding with immediate judgment, He chose to intercede. His actions demonstrated the power of mercy over accusation.

True intercession does not rush to declare judgment; it first kneels in the dust to plead for mercy. The intercessor does not stand as an accuser but as an advocate, bridging the gap between God's righteousness and His grace.

2. Agony: The Power of Tears in the Spirit

Intercession often comes with travail—an intense, soul-deep groaning that echoes the cries of heaven. Scripture repeatedly highlights the power of weeping in the spiritual realm.

Psalm 126:5 – "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy."

Tears in intercession are not wasted; they are seeds planted in the courts of heaven. The history of revival is often written in the tears of those who prayed for it. Breakthroughs, salvations, and transformations are birthed through the agony of intercessors willing to weep before God.

Revelation 5:4-5 – "And I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll…"

John's tears preceded the revelation of the Lion of Judah. This moment in heaven reveals a spiritual principle—intercession brings about divine revelation and action.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 – "A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."

In a world that often dismisses sorrow, heaven responds to it. The intercessor’s tears are not empty; they shake spiritual realms, dismantle strongholds, and prepare the way for God’s power to move.

Even Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, agonized in prayer until His sweat became like drops of blood. His intercession in secret was the price for His public victory.

3. Authority: Weeping Precedes Resurrection

Jesus Raised Lazarus AFTER Weeping (John 11:38-44)

Jesus did not raise Lazarus with mere words—His tears preceded His command. His grief gave Him legal authority to call forth life. The same principle applies to intercessors today. Before declaring breakthrough, we must be willing to weep for it.

The Blood of Jesus Cries Out (Hebrews 12:24)

"The blood of Jesus speaks a better word." His sacrifice remains the ultimate intercession, eternally pleading on behalf of the saints. When we intercede, we join in agreement with the greatest intercessory act in history—the cross.

Hell recognizes authority when it hears the sound of tears mixed with faith.

The Call—Weep, Declare, and Occupy

Intercession is not passive—it requires action. To step into this calling, we must:

• Identify and renounce strongholds in our lives and communities.

• Take time to weep and intercede before rushing into declarations.

• Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit before making bold proclamations.

• Declare the Kingship of Jesus over our cities, families, and generation.

As prophetic gatekeepers, we stand and proclaim:

"Jesus reigns over this city, over this house, over this generation!"

Revelation 5:5 – "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered!"

A weeping intercessor is a roaring lion in the spirit!

The Reward of the Weeping Intercessor

Those who weep with the heart of God walk in true authority. Tears are not signs of weakness—they carry the weight of heaven’s burden, borne by those willing to align themselves with Christ.

• Jesus wept and then raised the dead.

• Jesus wept and then silenced the accuser.

• Jesus wept and then embraced the cross, securing eternal victory.

"The intercessor who has authority in the courts of heaven is the one who has wept in the dust at the feet of Jesus."

Tonight, we stand as those willing to weep so that we can call forth resurrection.

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About the author: Tammie Southerland is the founder and leader of Frontline Ministries International, a mobile prayer and equipping ministry dedicated to igniting passion for Jesus and equipping believers to fulfill their God-given destinies. As the apostolic leader of The Firehouse Prayer Furnaces and host of the Burning Messengers podcast, Tammie inspires a generation to burn with zeal for Christ. She is the author of Wordless Prayer and Permission to Burn and has been featured on programs like Sid Roth's It's Supernatural and CTN's Come Home with Jen Mallan. Based in Atlanta, GA, Tammie, her husband, Daymon, and their three daughters travel the globe, leading revival movements and calling people to live boldly for God. Visit her at burningmessengers.com