INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS
(mr 02/03/19)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Romans 8:26-29 NIV: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Here, the scripture tells us that God the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us the saints with groanings: wordless groans or sighs (Rom.8:26, Jn.11:33, 38, Mk.7:34) that come out of our mouths as the Spirit gives utterance like tongues. However, the volume or measure of power released is much greater than that which is released when we pray in tongues (Ps.42:7, Jn. 7:38).
Why does the Holy Spirit do this?
- To help us overcome the weaknesses in our souls: wills, minds and emotions; and bodies.
- To cause all things to work together for our good by manipulating men and circumstances, yet without violating their free will like He did for Esther and Mordecai, using King Ahasuerus and Haman (Est:4-10).
- To cause us to be conformed to the image of Christ: to grow into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ in this LIFETIME:
Ephesians 4:13-15 KJV: till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (14) that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, (15) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
1John 2:5-6 NKJV: But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. (6) He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1John 4:17 NKJV: Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we IN THIS WORLD.
John 14:12 NKJV: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
The Lord Jesus as our High Priest makes this intercession by God the Holy Spirit in us, through us and for us as shown in:
Romans 8:34 NKJV: Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
John 16:13 NKJV: However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Acts 2:4 NKJV: And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
For this to happen effectively, we need to make ourselves available for prayer REGULARLY as instructed in
Ephesians 6:18 NKJV: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Galatians4:19 KJV: My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
We make this intercession as spiritual sacrifices of the Melchizedec priesthood in the order and regularity typified by the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament:
Leviticus 16:17 KJV: And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
Observe the order here: yourself, your household and then the church.
So following this order, we make intercession for the saints with this regularity:
1Chronicles 23:30 KJV: And to stand every morning (daily) to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; (31) And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths (weekly), in the new moons (monthly), and on the set feasts (3-4 times a year), by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:
- Yourself for 1-hour (Mt.26:40-41, Act.3:1) daily or weekly (start with weekly and gradually make it daily).
- Your wife, children etc. 1-hour (Mt.26:40-41, Act.3:1) weekly.
- The Church 1-hour (Mt.26:40-41, Act.3:1) monthly or and quarterly.
As we make intercession for the saints IN THIS MANNER, we will grow individually and collectively into the fullness of Christ and all things will work together for our good!
Selah!
