Powered By Blogger

Happy To Welcome You To The Hallelujah Chorus

I will exalt you my God, the King, I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you and exalt your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:1-2

Monday, July 15, 2013

"Jesus - Our Encourager Forever"

We all need some words of encouragement from others of true faith who have walked in our shoes and dealt with the same challenges. They wont judge or berate because they understand where we are at the moment and they know firsthand that with faith in the love of our Father, we too will get to the other side of every threatening circumstance. These words absolutely encourage me every day -

"Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely  those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them." Heb 7:25 NIV

I have spent many profitable hours just contemplating the implications of this truth about Jesus, which is founded on the proclamation of the great prophet at Isaiah 53:12.
1) I am never alone in my spiritual struggle with our common enemy. Hear and feel in your spirit these words of Jesus as he told his fearful apostles "I am with you always, to the very end." Matt 28:20 NIV
And, NO that isn't only meant for those who actually heard him speak those words. They're meant for all of his disciples because the commission Jesus gave at that time is still very much alive in the will of the Father.
2) The underlying assumption is that we humans will always be susceptible to the temptations that are a daily part of life in a world controlled by the "evil one". We will always have need of a priest who is fully capable and qualified to be our intercessor with the Father. Jesus' priesthood clearly rises far above any that have preceded or succeeded him. This seems to be the central theme of the book we call Hebrews.
3) I sometimes sort of fantasize about what is actually happening between Jesus and God in heaven. I know how to define the word "intercessor" (one who stands between or in defense of), and we can see glimpses of this interaction in Jesus' Revelation. I think probably the best biblical example is John 17. Jesus here pleads with the Father in a way that seems to fit the definition of "intercession". At the very least, I can see him at the right hand of God speaking up for me in my weaknesses and failures. Also 1 John 2:1 further solidifies the reality of the interaction that takes place on my behalf.

I could go on and on about this but surely you get the point. Satan is always a deceiver and discourager just like Jesus said long ago. But, as one who has come to God through Jesus, I live without fear of life or death because I always know Jesus is here helping me through his Holy Spirit and that he is at the right hand of  God speaking on my behalf when I fail. Truly, John's words are thrilling and encouraging -

"You dear children, are from God and have overcome them (the evil spirits from Satan) because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 NIV  HALLELUJAH!!