Always Interceding
He is our Great High Priest, able forever to intercede for us. He knows our limitations. He was tempted like we are tempted. He was hurt like we hurt. He was forsaken, mistreated, lied about, and rejected. He has pity on us. He stoops to our weakness because He lived His life in weakness.
Jesus Priestly Intercession
Jesus exalted to the right hand of the Father is for His Priestly intercession for us. “This is atonement. Atonement means at-one-ment. Atonement restricted only to the cross always leads us astray with inadequate plans of salvation. The atonement starts in the incarnation, and includes: the life He lived, the death He died, the
Life Can Be Hard
Life is difficult, but God is praying for you! The overcoming Christ is praying for you to overcome. He is committing Himself to your success and is praying against your failure. He is for you. He is not against you. He died on a cross and descended into death for you. He ascended and
Our Work — His Work
We sometimes want God to do the work in the world that He has asked us to do. We question why He doesn’t act when He could rightfully question why we don’t act. Our prayers should align us with the God who is already at work in the world and in the lives
Praying with the Spirit
“We are called to pray with the Spirit as the Spirit prays through us. Pray until you hear the Spirit praying through you. This is hearing from Heaven. This is praying WITH the Spirit. This is praying IN the Spirit. Let your spirit be tuned to the Holy Spirit. Travel around with the Spirit
Interceding for You
“If the Trinity is what the church says it is, then the intercession of the Son and the Spirit is no less than the “Self-talk of God”. These are intimate conversations with the divine desire for the good of all mankind, the desire that none perish, but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
God’s Prayer Partner
If the Son (Romans 8:34) and the Spirit (Romans 8:26–27) pray to the Father for us, then God is talking to Himself about us. “The God who prays invites us to be His prayer partners. This will change how we pray. Our praying God is calling us to a life of prayer; it is
The Father Hears Prayer
Beginning this Ash Wednesday let’s talk about praying with the Spirit and the Son. More is happening when we pray than we know or even can imagine. Our prayers are mixed with the prayers of Heaven. The Son intercedes for us at Abba’s right hand. The intercession of the Spirit works in us to
Wanderers
Sheep wander away and sometimes people do. We are to never just merely “let them go”; we are called to bring them back. Wanders may leave because they are wounded; if so, we are to offer healing. Wanders may leave because they have fallen in some error; we are to help them return to
Sin and Sickness
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six
Suffering, Sickness and Prayer
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one
Say What You Mean
“But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation” (James 5:12 ESV). This certainly echos what our Lord said, “Let what you say be simply
Suffering and Patience
We want suffering to be over as soon as possible; most of the time, it does not happen that way. As with long races, we must find a pace to finish it. This requires patience; this patience expresses itself as steadfastness. In the common vernacular this is, “hang in there” and “keep on keeping
Overheard
We make a phone call and forget to hang up when it is over; we may then hear a conversation on the other end that we wish we had not heard. Grumbling is that way. “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing
The God Who Prays
We are accustomed to saying, “Jesus is interceding for us”; we also say, “The Spirit is praying for us”. The implications of what that means may escape us. We must let its truth grip us. We are not accustomed to saying, “God is praying for us”; it sounds too shocking. But, in fact, that
Needed Rain
A farmer who plants seeds knows that there needs to be at least two seasons of rain. The first is following germination for starting growth and the other is the rain prior to final harvest that yields maximum fruit; both are needed. The Lord comes to receive the harvest and rejoice in our growth.
The Abusive Rich
James, in the great tradition of the OT prophets, cries out against the rich who abuse the poor. These use the power of their position and money to rob the poor. They do not pay a living wage. The prophets have always cried out against those at the top who syphon all wealth off
The Right Thing
Sin is more than a willful action against the commands of God; it is also neglecting what God requires. The word of God is to train us in what is good; it trains us in deeds of mercy and acts of compassion. It shows us right from wrong. There is a right thing
What Is Your Life?
Life is a race to be won. It is a battle to be fought. It is a journey to be completed. It is a mixture of pain and joy, defeat and triumph. It is a test to pass. It is a farm to be cultivated. It is vapor that soon will pass. It is
On Speaking Evil
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge” (James 4:11 ESV). We are not to slander or
Steps to Drawing Near
Submit your total being to your Father. Resist the devil. There are forces at work in the world that are totally against your nearness to God; resist these forces. Draw near by cleansing your hands of any sinful act. Examine your heart and purify your divided heart so that it has one single mind
Married to God
The Father, Son, and Spirit function exists in a community of agape love. Each yearns for the other. The Father has poured out His Spirit in our hearts through His Son, the same Spirit with Whom He is in communion. He has placed His Spirit in us to invite us into His community for
Enemies of God
The friends of God act one way and the enemies of God act another way. Fighting to get what you want, regardless of who gets hurt is not God’s way. Even selfish praying is the way of the world. Friendship with the world is more than our chumminess toward the world, it is imitating
Wisdom with Meekness
If you have wisdom to share, speak it with meekness. If you have in your fountain, to use James’ metaphor, “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” you cannot be faithful to the truth. In fact, that kind speech may become demonic. We must learn to discern it when we hear it. True wisdom has its
The Tongue
Folks who use their tongue to praise God on Sunday can use it to hurt people on Monday. James sees the tongue as a “restless evil” and a fountain that springs drinkable and undrinkable water. It is seen as a vine that produces unexpected fruit. It blesses and curses. It is a fire capable