Thoughts On Intercession: Standing In The Gap

These are some thoughts/reflections/revelations about intercession that I have been pondering lately. These have been influenced by many areas of the School of Intercessory Prayer I am part of – by teachers, by school staff, by the book we are reading, through things my friends are sharing, through prayer and listening to God and reading his Word and revelation of the Word. Thanks to all of you. And thanks be to God.
•

If you know me – and if you are reading this you probably know me – than you know that I am a mind person; I process logically, I have been called a Vulcan and Spock, and I LOVE Germany in part because they are highly rational. I am continuing to learn Greek, German, and English and I love etymology. Thus the way I introduce this entry, with a definition.

intercede – from French intercéder and Latin intercedere, inter– "between" + cedere "go"
The verb to intercede means literally to go between, which is done on behalf of another.

After the prophet Isaiah has a revelation of the Lord in the temple and God extends great mercy and grace to Isaiah, the Lord asks "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah responded "Ooh, ooh, pick me!" (Is. 6:8, paraphrase mine). God is seeking an intercessor, someone to go between God and God's people. And he wants someone with a heart that screams "I'll stand in front of them for you!"

Practical example: A lawyer is one example of an intercessor. He goes between a client and the Judge and intervenes on behalf of the client. He advises, he counsels his client. Hmmmm...

Later in Isaiah, he writes, "The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him" (Is. 59:15,16). And in the end of a chapter in Ezekiel about all the ways Israel has despised and broken promises with the Lord, God says, "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach [gap] before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads" (Ez 22:30,31).

God is righteous and merciful, full of wrath and full of peace and forgiveness. He desired earnestly for an intercessor to go between him and Israel and say "Lord, forgive this people and give your mercy for them to turn back to you!" Maybe no one listened when his Spirit spoke to them. Maybe no one could hear the Lord. All that matters is not one person said "Ooh ooh, pick me! I'll go!"

There is much I could go into at this point, but I will not now. What I am beginning to see and receive is that God desires people who will share his heart and listen to his will; who will agree with him, no matter the cost. This is so brilliant to me. I have just realized this:

God does NOT want or need to be convinced or persuaded! It's his desire to release mercy and grace and peace and joy and life!... all the things I desire at my core. He is righteous and just and holy, and the Law brings judgment and wrath that he must uphold if no intercessor will stand in the gap.

The Levites, the priests for the Hebrew people were intercessors for the people to go between them and God to offer atonement for their sins everyday. The High Priest interceded once a year for the whole nation.

Which is where Jesus comes in. And there is again too much that can be said about many things, so I focus on this: Isaiah 53:12 testifies of Jesus that "he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors." God sought for a man who should stand in the gap, he asked "Who will go for us?" and Jesus said "I'll go" and became the ultimate intercessor, the One in whom we have confidence in intercession.

"The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:23–25.)

God searches for people to stand in the breach, and Jesus gladly became human to live and die and live again to be the perfect intercessor. The Spirit of Jesus Christ lives in those who trust him to be their intercession before the Lord for their sins.

So I have confidence in the place of intercession that when I stand in the gap before God, when I listen to what his will and desire are, how he wants me to pray, he will not be slow to answer or give in only after hours and days of pleading and fasting, but knowing he will move quickly to accomplish his will.
•

That's all for now. I have a lot of stories and testimonies and thoughts, and I love sharing them, so please ask me. And I would be happy to pray if there is anything you want intercession for.

Grace and peace!

Chris

Springing into a New Season Pt. 1

I found out a week ago that I have been accepted as a student for a YWAM course called SOIP – School of Intercessory Prayer. I've spent the last week beginning to process that I'm transitioning from full-time staff to being both student and staff. I have class in the morning, then in the afternoon I will be working at least two hours each day in IT where I have been for the past two months. Some days I might work as many as six hours in the afternoon. The thing about working in IT here is sometimes it is very slow and there isn't too much to do... and sometimes it's complete chaos, e.g. if someone needs multiple prints done a specific way (I do all print jobs for anyone without printer access... which is most people).

I LUV the work I'm doing. The SOIP came up completely unexpectedly. Someone encouraged me to pray about doing it, and I wanted nothing to do with it. When I prayed, God simply asked me to apply and not worry about doing the school or not. So I applied, and as I was waiting I talked with a number of people who did the SOIP last year, and they encouraged me greatly. I had my questions and concerns answered and... this whole time God has opening me, softening my heart, and giving me an excitement for the unknown and what he wants to break down and rebuild in me.

I think part of the reason the Lord asked me to do a School of Intercessory Prayer is I have a huge capacity for studying his Word as literature or historical account, using my intellect... All this is necessary and important in the life that follows Jesus. And I think it is amazing that I am gifted in scholarly study. But there are disciplines at the opposite end of the spectrum which are equally important and help bring balance. Scholarship engages the mind in powerful ways... God wants us to know him and his Word. But the heart may not be engaged. This is where a discipline like intercession comes in. Prayer is an outpouring of learning about God.

I know that Paul writes frequently about prayer, and he tells the churches to "pray without ceasing," and " be constant in prayer," or "continue steadfastly in prayer" (1 Thes. 5:17, Rom. 12:12, Col. 4:2). I know that we're commanded to pray at all times, but there I have never prayed without ceasing. I believe God is calling me to a season of refinement to put his Words into practice. I'm very excited, and I'll share more details in the next couple days.

Here is a link with some information about the School of Intercessory Prayer at Herrnhut. And please feel welcome to ask me any questions you might have.

Mourning that Waits Expectanly for Joy

It's been a while. Not much has happened since the last time I've sent out an update. This is part of how I'm processing, so I am sorry if the writing is rough and off.

I can only really think one thing. My maternal grandmother had a heart attack and went into a coma Wednesday and she was declared brain dead and taken off life support today.

I will not be able to fly home for her funeral, but I'm asking that God might somehow provide tickets. I've heard of crazier things happening. I am upset that I won't be able to come home for her funeral and be with my family. So I appreciate your prayer and encouragement for my family.

I guess this is part of the reality of being in ministry away from home. I'm confident that God is at work, that He is good, and He loves us. And I remember Easter, that death has been defeated. There is comfort, there is peace, there is hope.

"For if we have been united with [Jesus] in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." – Romans 6:5

Grace be with you.

He is not God of the dead, but of the Living

I'm amazed that it has already been a year since I left for Hawai'i to do my DTS. God has blessed me beyond anything I could have imagined during the past year, led me into new seasons and places I would never have thought He would take me. He has done extensive heart surgery and rehab and healed wounds I thought would not heal. He has trusted me with more of His heart for the nations and His love for people. And I have made friends all along the way, and I rejoice that the Spirit is working through all of us in union and someday we will all stand before Jesus together... God is good.

Nigeria
Everyone has been asking me about Nigeria and if I am going, and I want to thank you for asking. I've been praying into going to Nigeria, and weighing what trusted friends have spoken... As I've prayed about going to Nigeria, I've been excited, but I never felt peace about going. I have felt peace about staying in Herrnhut, strengthening connections here, learning German and gaining computer networking skills. A few people have had the same word for me that this is a season for me to stay where I am and they have encouraged me with that. Thank you all for praying, and for seeking updates, and for speaking with me.

I know I would like to work in Africa again. The important thing is waiting for the right time. God has been blessing me in Germany with a season where the Holy Spirit has been growing fruits in me like never before, especially patience and peace. I can tell cultivating these fruits is what he has for me, and Herrnhut is the soil I need to be in to grow. You can pray that the fruit of the Spirit would be growing in me more and more.

Easter
There are so many thoughts going through my head about the death of Jesus on Friday, and His resurrection on Sunday – how the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in Christ, how a new covenant is ushered in, how death is defeated in such irony... I guess since I have a hard time understanding when I try applying my understanding to the cross, this is the most fitting:

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God... For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:18, 25.

Thank you, Father, that you have redeemed me from my "wisdom" and "strength", and that you have forgiven me for my sins and all the times I have missed the mark. Thank you, Jesus, that I can share in your sufferings and share in your joy.

He is risen!

Christopher

Questions

1. What were your favorite childhood games and activities?

Waterfall, a game I played with my cousins that involved a jump rope and falling down stairs. We seriously played this for hours on end. Swinging and pretending to fly like Peter Pan. And jumping out of swings. Going to museums and the zoo for fieldtrips.

2. What qualities of your best friends do you admire most about them?

• Loyalty

• Patience

• Courage

• Honesty

• Creativity

• LOVE

3. What do you believe are your greatest gifts and what qualities do you admire most about yourself?

I’ll be honest – this is hard because I tend not to think about my gifts or qualities or strengths. I think more about my weaknesses and flaws and failures. I would rather my friends and the people who know me best answer this…

When I put my mind to introspection, I think sympathy and empathy toward people around me are gifts I have that are very important in my life. Others might be desire and enjoyment for learning. I don’t think I can say I admire these things about myself, but I appreciate them.

4. What is the meaning of YOUR life? What makes your life meaningful?

It’s as simple and awesome as this: “I will bless you so that you will be a blessing.” [God to Abram, Genesis 12:2, the Bible.] I think this is a way to summarize everything that matters and is beautiful. It’s a summary of the Bible and what Christian faith and life is to be. It’s the definition of grace, the ultimate gift.

I do not take or receive and not give back; that’s selfishness. I body of water like a pond or lake that does not have an outlet becomes stagnant and festers. That is being blessed simply to be blessed. There is no greater meaning in it.

In the verse before, 12:1, God tells Abram to leave is country and his people and everything he knows. It’s a call to sacrifice, to lay down rights, to trust there is something better. And being blesses to be a blessing to others means to continually surrender those things we know and love, believing that bettering them will better the world. And it’s faith that God has more and better blessings to give. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Summary: I am blessed, therefore I bless.

5. Related to question #4, what makes your life YOUR life? (In other words, what defines your life, and makes your life distinct from other people's lives?)

I share so much in common with different people wherever I am – at college, I’m a Knox student; or in South Africa/Germany I’m an American, or specifically a Coloradoan; or I’m a YWAMer; or I’m a home school/charter school/P.S.1 student; or I’m a [want-to-be] Greek scholar. And wherever I go I carry all the things I am, all the people I love, and I bring unique qualities and interests and perspectives to every group. In some way the things that make my life my own are the things I have in common with people who are somewhere else.

6. Related to questions 4 and 5, but on a deeper level, list three things that are true of you, but of NO ONE else in the entire world (to your knowledge).

1. The set of amazing friends and family that only I have. Like Erin and Mark and Kevin and Rachel and Sarah and Janet and Gabe and too many to name. I carry you with me everywhere I am.

2. The set of songs I love and have shaped my life.

3. My sense of humor and my personality and quirks.

I’m not sure I went any deeper… Sorry.

7. List three or more thing that are true of you AND everyone else in the entire world (to your knowledge).

1. I have known heartache and break and healing; wounds and healing and scars that remain and remind.

2. I have a longer for something which nothing seems to satisfy.

3. I experience love.

8. What observations do you have about your responses to questions 4 and 5?

I am myself and I am special, yet I am connected to people by similarities between my life and other people’s lives.

9. Are there any books, songs, movies, events, or other things that have changed/influenced your life and/or your perspective on life?

Heck yes there are.

Books: A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken, and I Kissed Dating Goodbye – I read these books at a time where things in my life somewhat paralleled the books, and it helped me get through. The Bible, especially Leviticus and Philippians. C.S. Lewis…

Songs: Songs by Brooke Fraser, especially Love Is Waiting, Deciphering Me, and The Thief, and Hosanna; Whatever You’re Doing by Sanctus Real… anything by Jimmy Eat World… there are so many others.

Movies/TV: Stranger Than Fiction; Monty Python and the Holy Grail; Doctor Who; Bleach; I could go on and on…

Events: 1. Being home schooled with my sister for nine years helped make us closer than we would have been had we gone to public schools. My sister is one of the most important people in my life. 2. Going to a non-traditional high school, where I had to give many long presentations, where I learned math inductively, where I spent three weeks in Honduras… set my life on a course of being an empowered, compassionate and contributing individual who is informed and aware, happy and healthy, and gave me a passion for life-long learning. 3. Making the biggest mistake of my life, which God redeemed to become the greatest blessing of my life. I thought I was acting in love but in truth I acted in selfishness, and I lost a friendship that meant the world to me and fought more than a year of heartbreak. But the suffering produced greater endurance, and stronger character, and deeper hope. 4. DTS/3 months in South Africa/working in Germany.

10. What are some of your favorite memories?

Ones of my friends. =]

We had an eight-year-old boy on the South Africa team. Him holding my had while we walked around or carrying him, playing in the ocean, like I had a little brother, was wonderful.

Reading books out loud with friends.

Sharing my heart… listening to friends pour out their hearts… praying together… crying together…

11. List three or more things you want to do before you die.

• Sky dive.

• Be an embodiment of Jesus’ love to everyone I meet.

• Read War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, & Sense and Sensibility. And Ulysses. And Plato’s Republic. In Greek.

• Share love and life with one special woman.

• Write and publish a book.

12. Did you find these questions...

a) enjoyable

b) reason to smack Erin upside the head for sending me so many e-mails and/or making me think so much

c) both of the above

d) All of the above and deeper appreciation and love for Erin. =]

What are your answers to these questions?

Be blessed and be a blessing. Grace and peace [grapes and peas],

Chris