The INTERCESSOR+ ... Passover Meditations for the Monastic-At-Heart ... Ephesians 1:16

Take the Name of JESUS with you !

Meditations  for Pascha

(The Passover Season, 2016)

+  +  +

Meditations for the Monastic-At-Heart

Now is My+ soul troubled;

and what shall I+ say ...

FATHER,

save ME+

from this hour ?

but for this cause

came I+ unto this hour.

FATHER,

Glorify Thy Name.

Then came there a Voice from Heaven, saying,

I have both glorified IT,

and will glorify IT again.

John12:27-28

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Meditation Verse 

Ephesians 1:16

[ I, Paul ]

Cease not to give thanks for you,

making mention of you

in my prayers;

+  +  +

Meditation

Our dear Brother and Apostle Paul !

Why did Paul’s prayers have SO MUCH POWER ? Let us look at his life briefly to find the power of prayer, always remembering:

EVERY OBEDIENCE

BRINGS

A FURTHER ANOINTING.

2 Corinthians 11 relates some ... just some... of his sacrifices for the New-Born Church.  Verses 23 to 28 --- five short verses --- records a LIFE-TIME of suffering.

Are they ministers of CHRIST?

(I speak as a fool) I am more;

in labors more abundant,

in stripes above measure,

in prisons more frequent,

in deaths oft.

Of the Jews

five times

received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods,

once was I stoned,

thrice I suffered shipwreck,

a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often,

in perils of waters,

in perils of robbers,

in perils by mine own countrymen,

in perils by the heathen,

in perils in the city,

in perils in the wilderness,

in perils in the sea,

in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness,

in watchings often,

in hunger and thirst,

in fastings often,

in cold and nakedness.

 Beside those things that are without,

that which cometh upon me daily,

the care of all the churches.

We see this same Apostle who had been transported into the Third Heaven and heard unspeakable words that were "unlawful for man to utter" ...

saying this: 

 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

For I could wish that myself

were accursed from CHRIST

for my brethren,

my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Romans 9:2-3

Thus we see this great Apostle and mighty Confessor of The LORD JESUS CHRIST not only "simply prayed for "... but he ALSO  made intercession for the other followers of JESUS.

What is intercession?

How does INTERCESSION differ

from supplications

and other prayers ?

It is what Our LORD JESUS CHRIST did for each one of us: 

HE+ came

between

the satan and us.

HE+ intervened --- placed HIMSELF+ between the destroyer and us, his victim  --- and protected us from destruction by the satan.

HE+ took the satan's blows, meant for us. The LORD JESUS fought the devil and won.

The LORD JESUS came as a man but lived in unity with His+ Heavenly FATHER, pleasing HIM in all things.

As the SECOND ADAM+ , JESUS fought the devil ... and beat him FOR US.

His+ Divine intercession entails more than supplications and requests to Our FATHER for us.

It is interVENTION.

JESUS INTERVENES --- placing Himself+ directly between us and the satan --- for us. Furthermore, CHRIST ever liveth to make intercession for us... which takes effect when we submit our lives unto HIM+.

Hebrews 7:25

Wherefore HE+ is able also to save them to the uttermost

that come unto GOD

by HIM+,

seeing HE+ ever liveth

to make intercession for them.

HE+ not only delivered the victims from the satan's domain once

"taking captivity captive"

at the Resurrection,

but HE+ is living -- abiding, staying, remaining constant forever --- in that VICTORY, winning  over the satan  daily in the  battles, traps, and wiles the devil sets for our souls.

The satan loses and loses and loses... over and over again ... because of HIS+ INTERCESSION, the intervention, of our LORD JESUS on our behalf.

The Apostle Paul knew how to intercede.  He knew how to make supplication to Our Heavenly FATHER for the New-Born Church.

But also...

that dear Apostle did not hold himself back from all manner of suffering for the sake of the church.

He wrestled with the evil spirits IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST in order to deliver them from the satan's grip.

Remember Acts 19 and the sons of Sceva ?

19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD JESUS, saying, We adjure you by JESUS Whom+ Paul preacheth.  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

19:15

And the evil spirit answered and said,

JESUS I know,

and Paul I know;

but

who are ye?

That was the real question then.

Here is the real question today:

Who are we ...

to the evil spirits, when we pray ?

Are we so in unity with the Will of Our LORD JESUS, with the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, and our Heavenly FATHER ...

that the evil spirits

tremble when we pray   ?

Have we the commitment to turn away from self indulgence ... in all the little ways we employ... to do like the Apostle Paul and bring our bodies into subjection daily ? (1 Corinthians 9:27 ) 

Are we willing and able to  endure suffering for the sake of wrestling individuals from the grip of the satan ?

Are we as certain that The LORD JESUS will honor our suffering for the Kingdom of GOD as was this Apostle who followed JESUS' example?

The Apostle Paul did not cease to give thanks for the Brethren.

Nor...

did he cease to labor and embrace suffering for the New-Born Church. 

What a good example !

Our LORD JESUS is the Great Intercessor+. Our Brother and Apostle Paul simply followed The LORD'S example in his heart, in his life ... and in his daily dying to himself.

That, dear brethren,

is how we resist the devil .

REMEMBER: 

EVERY OBEDIENCE

BRINGS A FURTHER ANOINTING

+  +  +

Let us pray:

Thank YOU+, LORD CHRIST, for going to the Cross, coming between me and the satan, for my deliverance.

Forgive me for forsaking the Cross when it is uncomfortable. Help me to embrace the Obediences YOU have called me to embrace.

Help me, O LORD, to embrace true intercessory prayer. Strengthen me to die daily to my flesh for the sake of Your Kingdom.

And in that death to Self, help me, LORD, not to be afraid. Help me to entrust my happiness and my well-being unto YOU, my LORD and my KING+.

For the sake of Your Holy SON+, the LAMB+ of GOD Who+ takes away the sin of the world, I offer You my life through JESUS CHRIST my LORD. 

Amen.

+  +  +

Worthy is the LAMB+.

Worthy is The LAMB+

that was slain.

Worthy is the LAMB+,

slain

from the foundation

of the earth.

Revelation 13:8

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PRAISE and THANKSGIVING

be to The FATHER,

and to HIS Beloved SON+

JESUS CHRIST,

and to

the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT.

ONE GOD:

FATHER,

SON+,

and HOLY SPIRIT,

both now and forever,

world without end.

Amen.

HE+ 's Coming ! HE+ 's Coming !

 Christmastide Meditation

Nativity and St. Jerome's Cave

Oh My+ Children! How often would I+ have gathered ye under My+ wings, but ye would not.  You wanted nothing to do with My+ ways, My+ values, but rather have chosen the world. 

With the world , then, you shall go. 

Have I+ not told you to FORSAKE the ways of the world and come and be full time for My+ Kingdom?  To spend your days full time WITH ME+ ... and ye would not ? 

Have I+ not told you to make NO PROVISION for the flesh... but instead, ye have made plenty... to live a life-style far above My+ Presence ? 

Have I+ joy in half-step obedience ? Have I+ joy in your following the example of other "good Christians" ... yet not following MY+ Example ? 

I+ had no pillow for My+ head; you have several. 

I+ had no animal to ride; you have two vehicles. 

I+ had no silver or gold; ye have both. 

FOCUS your heart upon ME+, 

not upon things of this world. 

Lay up, lay up for yourselves TREASURES IN HEAVEN; no moth nor man can steal those. Your treasures in Heaven, committed unto ME+ will give you the best return of any investment you could make in the Mammon fields.

For Mammon is about to fail. 

All will fall with it, whose hand is upon it.  

Mammon will not keep you;

 I+ will. 

And I+ say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Luke 16:9


Invest your treasures in Heaven; divest your keepings for the Eternal Habitations. You cannot out-give ME+. 

Be prepared for My+ Coming. 

Few were prepared for my first Advent. Fewer still are prepared for My+ second. Hide yourself in ME+. Learn to live by My+ Voice. I+ will direct you. 

Prepare for My+ Coming. It will be soon... sooner than you think. 

O My+ children... My+ children !

Need a SIGN like Gideon's FLEECE ? .... Judges 6

Placing a fleece before The LORD....

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The Importance of Gideon's Fleeces

When Gideon put forth fleeces asking The LORD for confirmation of His+ will, many men's lives were at stake, as well as their defenseless wives and children.

   

Israel's oppressors, the Midianites, were ruthless towards the Israelites.  The Israelites were hiding out, living in caves ( 6:2-6 ). It seems this fear was based in reality,  substantiated by the treatment the people of Israel had been receiving. [ Chapter 7 points out that great fear also.]

Any Other Examples ?

We know, though, that The LORD did NOT honor OTHER folks who asked , " How can this be?"  ... such as Zachariah who was struck dumb because he did not believe the Word of the LORD to him via Gabriel. 

Part of growing requires TRUST... a foundational, personal security ... that HE+ will do it,  that HE+ will perform exactly what HE+ says HE+ will do... and whatever HE+ requires us to do, HE+ WILL ALSO PERFORM! 

Why Did the Fleeces "Work" for Gideon ?

Gideon seemed to be a man after GOD'S own heart, like David was. And, Gideon was so very, very humble and little in his own eyes, endearing himself unto The LORD.  

Also,  Gideon had asked earlier for a sign that he himself had found grace in The LORD'S eyes in verse 19, and The LORD honored that request .

The Key to Answered Prayer

The key to everything that happened in Judges 6 , included putting forth the fleeces 2 times, is found in verse 6:34. 

[ Courtesy of Biblegateway.com ]

  ³⁴ But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.  

Even more striking is the Hebrew of  verse 34 of Judges 6:  

" And the SPIRIT of JEHOVAH clothed GIDEON ( with HIMSELF ) " … 

The "with HIMSELF" is understood in the verse, according to JP Green’s Interlinear.

Needing a SIGN for Confirmation

of The LORD'S Will ? 

We are always desiring The LORD to give us a CERTAIN AND SURE sign of confirmation, if we need to do something. The more major the decision, the more we yearn for certainty about it, right?  

The problem is: signs are easily duplicated by satan to a doubting heart, and mankind is easily duped. 

There IS a way to know The LORD'S Will, however, and The LORD shows us how to do this in Judges 6. 

However, Gideon’s 2 fleeces, as miraculous as they were, ARE NOT THE MAIN message in Judges 6 that The LORD wants us to see ! 

Two Main Points 
--- not fleeces --- 
in Judges 6 

The First:  OBEDIENCE 

One of the MAIN points of this chapter reveals the utter obedience no matter the cost , on Gideon's part.  

Gideon must have determined inwardly to obey WHAT THE LORD TOLD HIM TO DO . 

And, Gideon obeyed The Word with his whole heart, even unto death,  and The LORD knew it... hence the blessings that followed.   

The Second:  REMOVING SIN

The OTHER main point was that SIN had to be knocked down, shredded asunder, and burnt as an offering unto The LORD (vs 26 ) before... yes, before... any deliverance would be forthcoming. 

In order to do that, Gideon had to go against his own father's household and the men of his own community !  In order to shred the enslavement to sin in his own father's household, Gideon  had to lay his own security and well-being on the altar  too.

Do we realize HOW HARD that was, since he was the youngest, least-in-authority son of his father?  In addition to that... he used his father's bullock for a sacrifice ! Without asking Dad !

Do we take into account that Gideon likely jeopardized his entire family's lives by angry towns-folks when he destroyed the grove and altar / pillar of Asherah ? Israel was involved in idol worship and its accompanying immorality. 

 THIS IS THE TRUE LESSON  of this passage...   

SIN must be forcibly and determinedly removed  .... before The LORD will grant any victory..... and indeed, any request.

Yes, ( yawn, ho-hum, ) we "know"  we must remove sin...  

... but we fail to realize when our troubles pile up and our requests are going awry that HE+ sees something in our midst that is dis-pleasing to HIM+. 

Something that is stifling our growth. 

Something that is hindering our nearness to HIM+. 

   

HE+ wants THAT “something” removed. And furthermore, HE+ will not budge until we remove it.

It is STILL TRUE... 

 "No good thing will HE+ withhold 

from those who walk uprightly,"  

  

GIDEON WON GOD'S APPROVAL !

GOD showed HIS great good approval to Gideon and granted him his requests because Gideon FACED CERTAIN DEATH in order to obey GOD. 

Gideon worked immediately and effectively to remove the sin in their midst,  which could have cost Gideon his life.

This is why it is SO IMPORTANT to read the Scriptures.  Men are fallible but The WORD of The LORD is not, and it usually explains itself , if we will just let it reign over the thoughts of man.

If we could simply still our own thoughts and WAIT upon the blessed HOLY SPIRIT,  HE+ will reveal the real message of  Scriptures to us.

Instead of being enraptured by putting out fleeces, then, our focus should be to REMOVE the sinful things from our midst that we have drifted into, in order to fight against sin within our own lives. 

Then  --- and only then ---  would we be able to hear and know ... and yes, even ABLE to follow ... the Will of The LORD for our lives. 

 We do not need fleeces; we need repentance.

Deep, utter, cleansing repentance of our motives and priorities... our double-mindedness... our sneaking ways of serving Self.

 No, we do not need fleeces.  

We need oneness with GOD. 

We need to walk in ONENESS with The LORD JESUS… so closely that our hearts throb in unity with HIS+ heart , in unity with His+ Will.

His+ thoughts replacing our thoughts. 

His+ desires, our desires.

His+ concerns, ours.

Then, there will be no desire to put out fleeces because there simply will be no need to do so.  

  

THIS is the true lesson of Gideon in Judges 6.

Let us pray: 

O LORD JESUS CHRIST!  I call THEE+ "LORD, LORD," but I set my own priorities.  

Forgive me, LORD, and renew a right spirit within me. I turn over to THEE+ my plans, my desires, and yes, even my daily concerns.  

Turn my heart to do Thy+ Will, O CHRIST.  Make  me ONE WITH THEE+, precious SAVIOR.  

Then, LORD, I will know that I please THEE+... THOU+ joy of my heart. 

In the Name of THE FATHER

WHO created me;

HIS Beloved SON+

WHO+ saves me;

And the blessed HOLY SPIRIT, 

WHO sanctifies me. 

Amen.