In the last post I talked about how the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. He is our great “cheerleader” reminding us of how amazing our Father is. He is looking deep into our innermost secret place to pull out our most private and guarded desires, hurts, pains, disappointments and every skeleton we want to hide from God. He then presents them in praise to our loving Father. We may be afraid to let God in. We may be afraid to share our hearts. Still God finds a way. His will is for us to know Him, really really know Him. That only happens when we are in an intimate relationship with Him. That is why verses like this one exist:
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (ESV)
So how about we take a look at another amazing verse about our greatest ally. He is your brother and your God. He is Jesus. He reveals the Father. He agrees with the Father. They may be two in expression but one in mind. Check this out:
Rom 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (ESV)
Often the spirit of religion uses fear to distort this verse. How about I don’t even give that demon the time of day but instead just show you the truth!!! First look at where the verse comes from. It must be one of the most motivating chapters in the entire Bible. First…no more fear! Say it, chant it, declare it…no more fear. I can’t hear you. No more fear! Why? He is my Daddy. I am His child. Jesus is my brother. The Holy Spirit reminds me of this unshakable relationship. And on top of all that we are becoming the manifest goodness of God on this Earth!
Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (ESV)
If that wasn’t enough again we are just like Jesus. We are the first fruit of many like Him. We are justified and glorified (an expression of the manifest goodness of God)! So who could possibly be against us? Who could bring a charge against us? The devil? His minions? The condemnation condoning clergy? The punitive punish pushing pastor? How about little sweet shame sharing sister Sue? How about YOU? Who can be against YOU? Nobody! You are justified (made right with God, in a right relationship with God, never rejected by God).
Rom 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (ESV)
Had enough? OK how about not only rejecting the lies but actually defeating the enemy? I am sure that is the best plan ever!!! No politician, no fallen angels, no future, no past, no power of any kind, no not even death can defeat YOU! How is that possible? You cannot be separated from God’s love by anything, any being, any circumstance, any mistakes, any created thing, any spiritual thing, any curse, any hopelessness, anything at all!
Rom 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)
Are you motivated? OK how about our verse in context:
Rom 8:33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (ESV)
This is where it gets fun. Jesus died for us to prove God’s love for us. That should be enough right? But there is more. He was raised from the dead by resurrection power. That same power is from the Holy Spirit who is in us. That same miraculous power to do the impossible is with you and in you. God is so for you He lives in you. You are His jar of clay to carry Him. That should be enough but wait there is more. Jesus is now at the right hand of God. Why is that important? How about these verses:
Eph 2:19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (ESV)
And if that wasn’t enough how about these two words: “interceding” and “for?”
“Interceding” is the Greek word “entugchanó” which means to
(a) I meet, encounter, hence: (b) I call (upon), make a petition, make suit, supplication. It also comes from the root of 5177 (tygxánō) which means “to strike, hit the bulls-eye” (“spot on”). Accordingly, it is used in classical Greek as the antonym of harmartia (“to miss the mark, sin”).
Can you see it? Jesus always hits the bulls-eye for us. He never misses the mark when it comes to “interceding” for us.
The word in this verse “for” is a rare translation for the Greek word “hyper.” Yes it looks like the English word hyper and it is where we get the English word hyper and it means what you think it means.
5228 hypér (a preposition) – properly, beyond (above); (figuratively) to extend benefit (help) that reaches beyond the present situation.
Way way above and beyond.
Come on! You have to be excited now. Besides all the supporting verses that Paul lays out about how much God is absolutely for us, we have this verse that says it all in one. Jesus proves God’s love! Jesus is alive and still active today in us! Jesus is way above all the powers and junk that could come against us! He is precisely targeting all the sources of condemnation in our lives. He is doing all that precision strike work above and beyond anything we can imagine in order to move us above and beyond our circumstance. Can you see it now? Mediation from Above!!!
Yay God!
Lance
alancetotheheart 