Category: intercession

Old Prayers That Penetrate Deep

O Lord, Lover of men, who forgivest us our sins; Cleanse us of all that is base or selfish, and make us to be in all things thy servants, and the messengers of thy love. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that we may meet all difficulties and temptations with a stedfast heart, in the strength of thy indwelling spirit. Amen.

Shield us, O God, from the darkness of soul which seeth thee not, and from the loneliness of heart which heareth not thy voice, and through life and in the valley of the shadow of death, forsake us not; for thy Name‘s sake. Amen.

Deepen and quicken in us, O God, a sense of thy Presence, and make us to know and feel that thou art more ready to teach and to give than we to ask or to learn; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother.
May I know thee more clearly,
May I love thee more dearly,
May I follow thee more nearly. Amen.

O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us; Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer, 1928

http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1928/S&S_Prayers.htm

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Replacement Therapy

Jesus died instead of you

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of grace. It’s God doing for you what you could not do for yourself. You owe a debt you cannot pay. He paid a debt He didn’t owe. Look at it this way: God treated Jesus Christ as though He had lived your life so that He could treat you as though you had lived Jesus Christ’s life.”

James McDonald

Long ago, something happened.  It was the most pivotal and critical event in the history of the universe.  It was cosmic and earth-shaking– changing everything.  In a real way history has become “His-story” and rightfully so. The complete overhaul and transformation of the human race is to bring Him glory and honor, for ever and ever.

At the heart of this momentous work, is the staggering principle of subsitution.  Replacing my life of sin and rebellion, the wonderful life of Jesus is mine.  You could say, we have switched places.  He became my sin, so I could be righteous.  On the cross, God treated Jesus as if He had committed every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe.

  1. He was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (II Corinthians 5:21) (I Corinthians 15:34)
  2. He was rejected that we might be fully accepted in the beloved. (Isaiah 53:3) (Ephesians 1:6)
  3. He was bruised that we might be free from emotional bruises and gain a new identity in him. (Isaiah 53:3) (II Corinthians 5:17) (Galatians 2:20)
  4. He bore our griefs and sorrows that we might be comforted. (Isaiah 53:4). (John 14:18)
  5. He carried our diseases that we might be healed by his stripes. (Matthew 8:16-17) (I Peter 2:24)
  6. He was forsaken of the Father that we might be adopted as children of God never to be forsaken. (Matthew 27:46) (Hebrews 13:5)

 

The Ultimate in Intercession

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”

John 17:20, ESV

There is a considerable interest in the last words of a person.  Within them we believe we are hearing words of wisdom and understanding.  Jesus is on his last legs, and he is just waiting until they come and collect him for crucifixion.  He moves directly in this.  He is never caught off guard.  Jesus knows deep-down what is going to happen.

There is an urgency here.  And Jesus starts to pray.  He begins to intercede for his followers. They are like “babes in the woods.”  Because of them, he stands as an intercessor for their safety and all that each might step into.  He loves people, and shows it by his prayer life.

But Jesus reaches.  He not only prays for his disciples, but he extends further.  He starts praying for everyone who will follow him.  He intercedes for you and for me.  This is terribly important to him.  And for us it is a bit astounding.  Jesus prayed for me.  He knew we would come to this place of faith.

When we consider Jesus’ prayer life, we find it to be two things–The first is to be efficient and strong.  The second is to be reaching each believer, whatever generation and whatever culture.  First world, or third world.  He establishes by prayer his victory in the lives of everyone who follows him.

Jesus has the distinct and plain approach of “standing in the gap” for you and me.  It isn’t a long prayer, but it carries a momentum and power that reaches us.  The prayers of Jesus for us are short, but spiritually sweet.  Perhaps, that is the reason you are standing at all!

We live in such grace.  Wherever we look, we should be able to see it.  The new-agers speak of everyone having an aura.  Perhaps a small slice of this carries some truth.  Each of us, as believers, carries a definite presence of something supernatural.  We can’t explain it. But this is real, and authentic.