Beloved intercessor, are you struggling with feeling lonely and isolated on your intercessory journey? If so, I want to minister to your soul with a word today about the pioneer call.

I first learned about pioneering from Prophet Ray Hughes’ 3-part audio series, The Spirit of a Pioneer (found here on Teachable). (I highly recommend this series.) Listening to that series changed my life because it broke a lot of frustration and even depression off me. As an intercessor, I had been so frustrated because it seemed like no one else in my sphere could see or envision what I could see or envision. Even worse, it seemed like no one else cared.

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But after I listened to Brother Hughes’ series about pioneering, I suddenly saw that pioneering was a totally separate call—which is why other people couldn’t see what I saw. Over time, I have studied the pioneering call in-depth from the Word, and have learned a lot from my personal experience as well. This is why I desire to encourage you today.

This is the key:

There are two major categories of job descriptions in the Body of Christ, and two major groups of people in any move of God. The first group is made up of pioneers. The second group is made up of settlers.

Intercessors are often pioneers. Intercessors take new territory in the Spirit; we are called to pound down spiritual walls with our prayers. We create breakthrough through our intercession and declaration of the Word. By definition, intercessors go where no man has gone before.

This is why intercession can be a very lonely call. Based on my observation, I believe pioneers are almost always 5 years ahead of everyone else; usually at least 10 years ahead, and sometimes 20 years or more ahead of the people around you! Is it any wonder, then, that your non-pioneering friends don’t “get you”? Is it any wonder that those around you don’t carry the same burdens?

Here are some key facts about pioneers and settlers, and the way they work together:

1. Pioneers are not more important than settlers, and settlers are not more important than pioneers. Both have to exist, and both have to work together in order for the Kingdom to advance over time.
2. There are a LOT more settlers than there are pioneers. Think about our American history: there were only a few people like Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Jim Bridger, Lewis & Clark, and Sacagawea who opened the West to European settlers. However, over 400,000 people traveled the Oregon Trail to settle the territory the earlier pioneers had opened.

Therefore, if you feel all alone, that may not be far from the truth—but you can still find a group of people who are pioneers like you are, who will be kindred spirits to you! Just don’t expect to find them in every group or on every corner. J

3. People sometimes say, “Don’t force things to happen!” “Don’t try to make things happen!” “If God is in it, doors will just open and you don’t have to try!” Those statements can be true for many people. However, it is NOT true for everyone; and it’s very important to know when it is true—and when it’s not—in case YOU are one of the ones for whom it is NOT true.

Pioneers DO, in fact, have to fight for the territory they gain.

In the Kingdom, pioneers are built for war. They live by a holy mandate; a fire that burns in their bones to take new territory for the King, come what may. They survive by fasting and prayer. They learn how to win in the prayer closet, which does make things easier for them; but they still have to slay wild beasts, fight tremendous battles, and sometimes persevere through hell in order to open up paths where no man has trodden before.

Doors open for pioneers both with the help of the Lord AND because pioneers kick those doors down.

Settlers, on the other hand, are more likely to be men and women of peace.

Things do come easier for them by definition because the wars that take new territory have already been fought by the time the settlers arrive. Settlers then occupy the territory the pioneers have won through intercession, blood, sweat, fasting, and tears.

Also, you need to be aware that settlers simply don’t have the drive to take new territory that pioneers have. This can be really frustrating for pioneers if pioneers don’t recognize the key differences between these Kingdom job duties of pioneering vs. settling.

Settlers often don’t have to make things happen. Although they may occasionally fight, they don’t have to fight as hard. Their ease of life was purchased for them by the warfare waged by pioneers.

Settlers are still necessary, though. Pioneers tend to get bored with new territory after they have tamed the new land in the Spirit. Pioneers get up and move on. Settlers, however, are in their element at that point. Settlers want to occupy the territory that the pioneers have won and become bored with. Settlers want to make that territory great, and these folks are EXTREMELY necessary in the Kingdom.

Without people to settle the land we intercessors win, the new territory we take would quickly be lost.

Beloved, being a pioneering intercessor can be discouraging if you don’t understand the fullness of your spiritual DNA.

If you, as a pioneer, try to fit in, blend in, or compare yourself with others, you’ll come out depressed every time. If God made you a pioneer, you have to understand the breadth of the pioneer call in order to beat the depression and discouragement that will come against you.

You also have to understand that you are not likely to fit in with people who are not pioneers. You might like them, love them, and enjoy their company; but if you’re a pioneer, non-pioneers are simply not going to “get you.”

Therefore, beloved, know this:

Do you want to find your posse—a group of kindred spirits that you can run with? If so, ask the Lord to bring you alongside fellow pioneers who are winning new territory with their intercession. Ask Him to bring you people who can walk beside you in both peace AND spiritual warfare.

If you ask, He will bring you together with a pioneering posse who lives by the same mandate you do: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).

Beloved intercessor, does this message about the pioneer call resonate in your heart and encourage you today? If so, leave a comment below! Pray with author Jamie Rohrbaugh today at 12:15 pm ET. Call (712)775-7430 or IFApray.org/live.

Jamie Rohrbaugh equips people to walk in the manifest presence of God. Jamie blogs for a global readership at FromHisPresence.com, where she writes about radical prayer, the prophetic word, the supernatural lifestyle, inner healing, and Kingdom wealth. She is a frequent contributor to Charisma Magazine, The Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, and various other ministry outlets.  Her podcast, Take Your Territory with Jamie Rohrbaugh, can be found on iTunes and Spotify. Download her free ebook containing 555 names of God for prayer and worship here. (Photo Credit: Canva.)