What’s the difference?
Interlopers are famous for sticking their noses into other people’s business. It’s like when a “colleague” steps in to work on your project that they were not assigned to. And if the project fails, the blame falls on you, because the colleague was never officially charged with executing the task. Interlopers love to appear as if they have been selected to participate in areas in which they lack expertise, and as such they demand inclusion even in the face of their inexperience.
Intercessors are famous for staying in the background. In the book of Daniel we see a clear layout of what I’ll call “the characteristics of the intercessor”:
They don’t broadcast their business. Pastor Martha made a point that is well worth further reflection: Daniel often did his intercessory prayer work at home, staying away from the people and projects for which he was praying (see Daniel 2:17-18; 6:10-11; 7:1).
They don’t promote themselves. Daniel, throughout his exile, never sought to gain position or promotion based on his work of intercession.
They suffer. As we mentioned in an earlier blog, Daniel's work of intercession brought him physical and mental exhaustion (and, sometimes, even illness).
Interlopers on one end, intercessors on the other. Friend, where do you fall on this continuum?
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