07/30/2018
Have you given yourself to Jesus so that he might intercede for you in all that you do? Have you become His, just as much as you have become God’s? To be a child of God through Jesus Christ is more than giving yourself over physically, or mentally, but to also do so spiritually as well... our spirit becomes His, and He then goes to the Father in prayer for us in our entirety... not just when we ask directly for His intercession but in everything that makes up our lives.
“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.”
John 17:9-10 ESV
We are not arbitrarily chosen by God to be given to Jesus. God doesn’t choose us because we have the right colored eyes, or because of our lineage, or birthplace. We are chosen because of our receptiveness to God, and His Word. When Jesus asked His disciples to follow Him they gave up everything and went straightway. They were already worshipping God, and now they were given to the Son, and His instruction and intercessory prayer for them began at once.
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”
John 17:14-15 ESV
When we understand that we are being prayed for, and represented before God Himself by Jesus Christ it is a thrilling realization. It is wonderful when we are being prayed for by those around us here on earth, but to know that the very Son of God in heaven is interceding for us day and night; and that His greatest desire is that we be protected from the evil one... this is comfort beyond our ability to comprehend.
Satan, and those he influences, are like a dimmer switch on a lightbulb, they don’t deliver full power to the bulb unless it is required. They put just enough electricity to the filament to see what it is they want to see... just enough to keep sin in our lives. So the greater and more determined you become in faith to God and Jesus Christ... the more power Satan will apply to his efforts. When we are new in the faith we can be tempted rather easily, but as our faith increases and our resistance more complete, Satan begins to froth and turn up the power to his evil juices. Yet we can rest assured that Jesus remains stronger than he is, and His intercession on our part is more than a match for those efforts. All that is needed from us is our firm belief in the Father, the Son, and our profession of faith; then our own prayers, and application of faith, is joined by His continuous prayer of intercession.
“"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
John 17:20-21 ESV
Professing our faith... If we keep our faith secret, then what threat is it to the efforts of the evil one? No one sees the glory of God in us, or the amazing effect Jesus Christ has on our lives... at least none that they can attribute to our faith, so the dimmer of Satan remains on low. However, when our belief is professed, and the world understands that those good things they are seeing in us are manifest by the Spirit within us, then that is quite a different story, and the efforts of Satan to thwart us become more intense.
So, as your life of faith increases then the efforts of Satan to come against you will increase, but we are not to fear because He that is in us is greater than he that is in the earth, and Jesus is interceding for us continuously, and more often than not we are not even aware. Satan probably celebrated when he heard Jesus say “it is finished” from the cross, but when the stone was rolled back, and our Savior defeated death there must have been a horrible moan arise from Satan’s mouth. Similarly, death does not defeat the martyrs of faith, but only increases them. There is no scenario in which the faithful in Jesus Christ suffer defeat.
“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.”
Hebrews 7:23-26 ESV
So whether you are new to your faith, and an old friend asks you to do something you once did, but now know as sin, or you are a saint, and Satan threatens your very life... Jesus intercedes for you with amazing power! If He is helping you to resist something you once did in your old life, or holding you hand as you defeat death, He is capable, and up to the task. Are you ready to hear His voice in intercession?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus who is standing before you at this very moment lifting me up in intercessory prayer. Thank you for calling me to you, and allowing me to come through Jesus Christ Himself. Thank you Mighty Father for defending me against all evil... not just the physical attacks of Satan and his minions, but those spiritual manifestations that threaten my spirit and soul. Keep me safe Holy Father from all those who would do me harm because of my love and faith in you. Give me courage in the face of such threat, and let me feel the power of the prayers of Christ as they surge through me from the mercy seat itself. Protect me Father from the subtle and the bold efforts that come against me in an effort to drag me away from you and pull me into the fire of sin. Let my faith be to your glory, for Holy, Holy, Holy, are you, and great are the prayers of your Son Jesus my savior, and constant intercessor.
Rich Forbes