Letters to the Family of God
by Joe Franzone | March 17, 2022 | Pastor's Blog
March 17, 2022
Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)
God's hearing of our prayers does not depend upon sanctification, but upon Christ's intercession, not upon what we are in ourselves, but what we are in the Lord Jesus; both our persons and our prayers are acceptable in the beloved. Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)
Dear Friends,
I recently had an enjoyable and brief conversation with my daughter about Easter. It was sweet, interesting, and refreshing. We both acknowledge Easter can help people ask questions. Because they want to know more about who Christ is and what Christ has done in His death, and what it means that He has risen.
At the end of our talk, because I love her, I wanted her to know I am praying for her, but, more importantly, Christ is.
Christ Intercession
There is no Christian who has ever been alive that has not had their name spoken by Christ to God our Father in His ministry of intercession. Think of that for a moment.
The Leadership of Apple, Revlon, Google, Macy’s more than likely have never spoken your name out loud in a meeting. Our State and National leaders to that same end. In the case of businesses, we’ve probably been pooled together with types of persons or are part of an algorithm to determine what might make us purchase their products. Amazon has an algorithm right now which can predict with 89 percent accuracy the top-selling products people will purchase from them region by region, and therefore they stock those regions with those products for hyper-speed delivery. Which is what a business should do. But your name said out loud—probably not.
The word intercede means to plead on someone’s behalf to another. It involves at least two things. First, it is the making of requests to someone that prevails for something good. Jesus did this in His earthly ministry.
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. (Hebrews 5:7)
Second, intercession involves a sacrifice. In heaven, Jesus presents Himself before the Father, as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is seated at the right hand of God (Hebrews 8:1-2). There He lives to make intercession for God's people.
As Jesus speaks to God on the Christian's behalf, He prays as one who cannot be refused. He is the Son of God, raised in power (Romans 1:4). Charitie Bancroft put this in beautifully in the hymn Before the Throne of God Above.
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest, whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
Most Christians know the fearful feeling that God could not have anything more for them than what they have already been given. Remembering Jesus’ ongoing intercessory ministry for them will put that fear away. Indeed, Romans 8:34 tell us that the ongoing ministry of Christ intercession is exactly because of our ongoing battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil. Just as the Christian would not be able to rest from the penalty of sin without the death of Christ, our right now life cannot be at rest if not for the intercessional ministry of Christ.
Subsequently, because Christ is making intercession for us, we can be certain of His love. Certain, He sympathizes with our weakness. Certain, He does not criticize those He purchased with His own blood. He lived for us on earth. He died for us on the cross that we might receive His righteousness imputed to us by faith, and He intercedes for us in Heaven that we may know His blessings, care, direction, and protection as His bride, the Church on earth.
An Intercessory Prayer of Jesus
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me, and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
Amen, and we praise His name together. May God help us find comfort and rest in the intercessory ministry of Jesus for His church.
Pastor Joe