Hebrews 7:25 says in part, “He always lives to intercede for them.”
“He.”
Jesus is the “He” here. Jesus, the beloved Son of God, stands in the gap and offers up petitions to God on our behalf. He is the One who is interceding for you and me.
He “Always.”
Jesus prays and keeps on praying.
Matthew 6:8 (New Living Translation) says, “… for your Father knows exactly what you need EVEN BEFORE YOU ASK HIM!”
I have here a story that is drawn from an old issue of Guideposts magazine. "I'm 16 years old, and ever since I was a young girl my parents told me that God is always watching over us. I believed this, but I couldn't really say that my experience had proven this to be so. Maybe it will when I get older, I thought.
One winter night an unexpected sound woke our household at 3:00 am. My father dashed down the hall, sniffing the air. My sister and I scurried to our bedroom door. When Dad came back upstairs, he said, "I don't understand it." He breathed a sigh of confusion, then returned to his room.
I couldn't go back to sleep. I went to my parents' room and said to my father, who couldn't sleep either, "Are you sure? Did you check ‑‑?" "Yes, Tracy, I checked everything," said Dad. I started back to my room, but as I reached the door my mother suddenly cried out, “The coffee pot! I think I left the coffee pot on at church.”
Earlier that evening my mother had served coffee at a church gathering.
Now, in an instant, Dad was gone. Mom and I waited at home. I could tell Mom was terribly afraid that she might have been guilty of burning down the church. Ten minutes later my father returned. He let out a relieved sigh and said, “The pot was on ‑‑ burned empty and beginning to smoke.”
And what, a half hour earlier, had awakened us? The smoke alarm in our own smoke free house!
Do you have an explanation for such things?
I choose the third answer. I believe that Jesus is far more involved in our affairs, in caring for us
and protecting us, than we can ever imagine. Because He IS ALWAYS on task – even at 3:00 in the morning -- He is able to catch things “even before we ask.” Only in Heaven will we fully understand the impact of the Lord’s intercessions on our behalf.
He always “Lives.”
Some folks live to eat. Others live to travel. I have known people who live to work. Jesus, on the other hand, lives to pray for you and me. Praying on behalf of His children is His thing.
He always lives “To intercede.”
Just to be honest with you, there are times when I do not know what to pray or even how to pray.
I have two daughters as well as four grandchildren – two of whom are teenagers. I also have two sons-in-law. I love each of these people. I want them to be healthy, to serve God and to be safe.
So, again, how do I intelligently pray for them when there are so many things that I don’t know or understand? The answer is, I let Jesus (by way of the Holy Spirit) pray through me.
He always lives to intercede “For them.”
Who makes up the “them” in this verse? We do. The “them” speaks of those who belong to
Him. Again, them is us!
The Redeemed Team
“He.”
Jesus is the “He” here. Jesus, the beloved Son of God, stands in the gap and offers up petitions to God on our behalf. He is the One who is interceding for you and me.
He “Always.”
Jesus prays and keeps on praying.
- He doesn’t stop due to weariness.
- He doesn’t stop to go watch a ballgame or to
- go fix something to eat.
Matthew 6:8 (New Living Translation) says, “… for your Father knows exactly what you need EVEN BEFORE YOU ASK HIM!”
I have here a story that is drawn from an old issue of Guideposts magazine. "I'm 16 years old, and ever since I was a young girl my parents told me that God is always watching over us. I believed this, but I couldn't really say that my experience had proven this to be so. Maybe it will when I get older, I thought.
One winter night an unexpected sound woke our household at 3:00 am. My father dashed down the hall, sniffing the air. My sister and I scurried to our bedroom door. When Dad came back upstairs, he said, "I don't understand it." He breathed a sigh of confusion, then returned to his room.
I couldn't go back to sleep. I went to my parents' room and said to my father, who couldn't sleep either, "Are you sure? Did you check ‑‑?" "Yes, Tracy, I checked everything," said Dad. I started back to my room, but as I reached the door my mother suddenly cried out, “The coffee pot! I think I left the coffee pot on at church.”
Earlier that evening my mother had served coffee at a church gathering.
Now, in an instant, Dad was gone. Mom and I waited at home. I could tell Mom was terribly afraid that she might have been guilty of burning down the church. Ten minutes later my father returned. He let out a relieved sigh and said, “The pot was on ‑‑ burned empty and beginning to smoke.”
And what, a half hour earlier, had awakened us? The smoke alarm in our own smoke free house!
Do you have an explanation for such things?
- Coincidence?
- Luck?
- Or God?
I choose the third answer. I believe that Jesus is far more involved in our affairs, in caring for us
and protecting us, than we can ever imagine. Because He IS ALWAYS on task – even at 3:00 in the morning -- He is able to catch things “even before we ask.” Only in Heaven will we fully understand the impact of the Lord’s intercessions on our behalf.
He always “Lives.”
Some folks live to eat. Others live to travel. I have known people who live to work. Jesus, on the other hand, lives to pray for you and me. Praying on behalf of His children is His thing.
He always lives “To intercede.”
Just to be honest with you, there are times when I do not know what to pray or even how to pray.
I have two daughters as well as four grandchildren – two of whom are teenagers. I also have two sons-in-law. I love each of these people. I want them to be healthy, to serve God and to be safe.
- And yet, I don’t know for sure where any of them are at this very minute. One of them might be home with the flu; one of them might be having car trouble; one of them could be dealing with some personal emergency.
- I don’t know what is in their heart at any given moment. They may be dealing with fear, hurt, anger or lust or greed or joy or hope.
- I don’t know their future. Right now, each of them seems to be doing well. But, truthfully, none of us knows what tomorrow brings.
So, again, how do I intelligently pray for them when there are so many things that I don’t know or understand? The answer is, I let Jesus (by way of the Holy Spirit) pray through me.
- He knows each of their needs.
- He loves them more than I love them.
- Then too, Romans 8:27 states that the Spirit “intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.” I may not know God’s will for my family; however, Jesus knows it perfectly and prays accordingly.
He always lives to intercede “For them.”
Who makes up the “them” in this verse? We do. The “them” speaks of those who belong to
Him. Again, them is us!
- Jesus especially prays for us when we feel like we have met the limits of our strength.
- Jesus prays for us when we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances.
- Jesus prays for us when our faith is under attack.
- Jesus prays for us when we fail; when we have sinned.
The Redeemed Team
