JESUS IS OUR INSURANCE 2
(week 06/14)
OLUBI & SARAH JOHNSON
Last week, we saw that the Lord Jesus’ intercessory ministry is the spiritual insurance of our covenant with God. Also that how much we will enjoy the benefits of this insurance will depend on
1. How quickly you repent and forsake the sin:
Proverbs 28:13 ESV: Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
2. How diligent (consistent) you are in your daily, weekly and monthly prayers.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
3. The quality of your prayer life.
James 5:16 NKJV: Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
This was why even though David committed adultery and murder, he was still able to survive God’s judgement of Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam. 12.9-13) and fulfill part of His destiny as a landmark patriarch, like Abraham (Mt.1.17), of the Lord Jesus (Rev 22.16).
However, it is instructive to observe that David still suffered great judgement for his sin: he lost 4 sons (2 Sam. 12.6; 12.19, 13.33; 18.15; 1 Kg. 2.24-25). Furthermore, he did not live long enough to build the temple (1 Chr.28.3).
So we should avoid sinning as much as possible and if and when we do sin, we should be quick to confess and forsake the sin (had David quickly confessed the sin of adultery he would not have had to murder Uriah and his judgement would have been much less severe!) and be diligent in regular effectual and fervent praying.
So by praying diligently, fervently and effectually in the Spirit on a daily, weekly and monthly (1 Chr. 23.30-31 cp. 1 Pet. 2.5) basis for different areas of our lives, we are actually ‘paying’ our spiritual insurance premiums as it is the Lord Jesus Who is praying for us, by the Holy Spirit (Jn.16.13; Act.2.4), through us, thus guaranteeing that even when we sometimes sin or fail ALL things will still work together for our good.
Hebrews 4:14-16 MKJV: Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. (16) Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 7:25 KJV: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Romans 8:26-28 NKJV: 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.
Finally, note that the degree of diligence and quality of our regular prayers (our ‘premiums’) will determine what kind of insurance we will enjoy:
i. ‘Third party’:
1 Corinthians 3:11-12,15 NKJV: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, (15) If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Or
ii. ‘Comprehensive’
1 Corinthians 3:11-14 NKJV: For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, (13) each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. (14) If anyone’s work, which he has built on, it endures, he will receive a reward.
Selah!
