True Intercession

True Intercession

Genesis 44: ³⁰ “Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, ³¹ it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. ³² For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’ ³³ Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. ³⁴ For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”

 

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Judah concludes his appeal to Joseph by saying his father would die if Benjamin did not return. He also explained that he told Israel that he would be responsible. Judah interceded for Benjamin by saying he would become Joseph’s slave.

 

My Observations:

• Judah had nothing to gain and everything to lose.
• Judah wanted to keep his promise even though the consequences would cause him to lose his freedom.
• Judah expressed that he wanted his father to live and that he wanted Benjamin safely returned.

 

Intercession is sometimes a little harder than we think. It could mean giving up everything for someone else to go free. That is what CHRIST did for us. HE gave up everything for you and me to become freed from the consequences of sin.

 

Judah had no idea what was in store for him. All he knew was Simeon spent months in prison and that his brother Joseph was a slave or possibly dead. His intercession would cause him to lose his flocks, friends and family. It was more than a few seconds of prayer. Judah had true intercession.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Judah’s decision to become a slave?
• Have you ever had ti vouch for someone’s reputation, not knowing if your reputation would be tarnished by doing so?
• Is GOD growing you up from safe intercession to something greater?

Participate Anyway

Participate Anyway

Galatians 4:¹⁷ Those other people show a deep interest in you, but their intentions are not good. All they want is to separate you from me, so that you will have the same interest in them as they have in you. ¹⁸ Now, it is good to have such a deep interest if the purpose is good—this is true always, and not merely when I am with you. ¹⁹ My dear children! Once again, just like a mother in childbirth, I feel the same kind of pain for you until Christ's nature is formed in you. ²⁰ How I wish I were with you now, so that I could take a different attitude toward you. I am so worried about you!

 

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After a long day I sat on the bus headed home. Traffic was thick so we creeped down the street. I looked out the window and saw people from my school taking an alternate route since the main one was filled. I could also see thugs waiting to rob them.

 

• I felt there was nothing I could do.
• I felt bad for the those who were about to be victimized.
• I felt angry at those who were trying to take advantage of others for their own gain.

 

Paul expresses his deep concern for those who have turned away from the saving message of JESUS to follow other messages that provided temporary hope. Thieves desiring attention were busy trying to steal love versus living it. All Paul could do is be concerned from a distance. It seemed hopeless.

 

My Observations

• When I see someone being wronged, I can ask GOD to intercede.
• GOD lets me know that prayer is more powerful than thieves, even though it doesn’t feel that way in the moment.
• Vengeance is for the LORD so my participation is for all people involved to receive HIS mercy.

 

It is painful to watch someone try to steal people’s hearts. I mean, those who are hurt try their best to keep other people hurt because misery loves company. BUT GOD holds the key to that situation.

 

It takes faith to let go of the obvious trap you can see someone walking into. GOD sees the heart of those who are being victimized and those who are being predators. HE hears your prayers even though you may have to participate from a distance. I am glad GOD intervenes and intercedes for those HE is bringing back to HIM.

 

Challenge

• What “other people” is the writer speaking about?
• Can you feel the writers pain and passion for everyone he spoke the gospel to?
• If you see someone intentionally trying to hurt someone and you are not able to directly intervene, will you participate anyway by asking GOD for HIS protection and mercy?

Interpreter

 Interpreter

Romans 8: ²⁶ In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express. ²⁷ And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will.

 

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“Let me handle it” said my boss. I was furious and wanted to give the leader of another department a piece of my mind. My words would not have been quite as nice. I explained the situation to my boss who in turn went to the department head on my behalf.

 

• There have been times when I needed someone to say the right words for me.
• There have been times when I felt one way but needed to feel another way to remain at peace.
• There have been times when I had to remain silent while someone else spoke for me.

 

Paul continues expressing the enlightenment he received from the HOLY SPIRIT. He tells everyone that the SPIRIT has a difficult job, pleading with GOD on our behalf. Since humans are sinful, the thoughts and prayers would be sinful. The HOLY SPIRIT interprets what is needed and expresses it to the FATHER and aligns to HIS will.

 

• The HOLY SPIRIT speaks on my behalf to the FATHER each day.
• The HOLY SPIRIT knows I am weak and sinful and goes to the FATHER to plead for me.
• The HOLY SPIRIT explains the wickedness in my heart and expresses the need for my forgiveness each day.

 

Coming to GOD correctly is hard for a blind person. I mean, when I am complaining about “that” person, I may not be seeing the complaint “that” person has against me. My blindness may make my ears stop working and soon my tongue says more and more evil.

 

BUT GOD knew I would be weak and sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me. HE sees every thought and asks the FATHER to forgive me in words I cannot understand. HE groans on my behalf and lines me up with GOD’s will. I am grateful I have an interpreter who loves me.

 

• Do you have a complaint about someone?
• Does someone have a complaint about you?
• Have you thanked the HOLY SPIRIT for interceding for you?
• Will you ask GOD to have your hear cleaned so you can align to GOD’s will today?

How should I pray?

1 Timothy 2:¹I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

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Puny was over exaggerating my size growing up. I had to gain weight just to be called puny. When the bullies would surface I had my escape plan handy. To this day I still abhor bully-ish behavior. When I see people trying to flex their control I get my boxing gloves out and dig in for a fight. This person needs to be taught a lesson.

• Fighting other people does not draw them to CHRIST.
• When I dig in to “teach someone a lesson” I may be pushing them away from CHRIST.
• Entrenching my position does not yield an atmosphere where GOD can work through me.

GOD wants me to ask HIM to do something “for” the person not “about” the person. This requires that I get to know them and actually want something better “for” them. HE wants me to discuss them and talk about them in a way that HE would say something about them.

When they don’t act like they should HE wants me to step up and speak on their behalf to HIM. Most of all HE wants me to be thankful for the person because a thankful attitude yields a better relationship.

• GOD wants me to have peace so I’m the one who starts it.
• GOD wants me to have a quiet life so I have to douse my rage with forgiveness.
• GOD wants me to have a godly life so I must intercede for those who may not have my best interest in mind.
• GOD wants me to be holy and since I am a sinner my holiness only comes by understanding I am an enemy of GOD unless I believe in HIS SON as my mediator.

It’s easy to pray for friends and family who treat me right. It’s a little harder to desire the “best” for those who treat me like dirt. GOD wants my intercession as an act of worship to HIM.

• Is there someone in your life who has done you wrong?
• Can you stop looking for them to ne changed and start praying for GOD to treat them with peace?
• Will you act as a mediator for the person, asking GOD to treat them well so they can be saved?
• Do you know that maybe someone needs to intercede for you?