May 04, 2011
. . having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus . . . —Hebrews 10:19
Beware of thinking that intercession means bringing our own personal sympathies and concerns into the presence of God, and then demanding that He do whatever we ask. Our ability to approach God is due entirely to the vicarious, or substitutionary, identification of our Lord with sin. We have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.”
Spiritual stubbornness is the most effective hindrance to intercession, because it is based on a sympathetic “understanding” of things we see in ourselves and others that we think needs no atonement. We have the idea that there are certain good and virtuous things in each of us that do not need to be based on the atonement by the Cross of Christ. Just the sluggishness and lack of interest produced by this kind of thinking makes us unable to intercede. We do not identify ourselves with God’s interests and concerns for others, and we get irritated with Him. Yet we are always ready with our own ideas, and our intercession becomes only the glorification of our own natural sympathies. We have to realize that the identification of Jesus with sin means a radical change of all of our sympathies and interests. Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God’s interests in others for our natural sympathy with them.
Am I stubborn or substituted? Am I spoiled or complete in my relationship to God? Am I irritable or spiritual? Am I determined to have my own way or determined to be identified with Him?
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May 4, 2011
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Yesterday I was firm and focused with another believer Lord. Perhaps I was even stern and unyielding. He was torn about what to do, vacillating back and forth about his next steps. And while I prayed and continue to pray for him, Lord, I told him I could not work with him as long as he was vacillating, Lord I told him I would not be an option in his evaluation of options and that if he wanted my support for his decision (s) he would have to make a decision, stick to it and ask for my support. I told him I could support him then, but was unable to move back and forth with him as he vacillated.
And God says…”He is moving back and forth unable to make a decision because he is afraid. His fear of making the wrong decision, fear of dwindling resources are all basic issues of faith and trust in Me. He is in the boat in the storm and afraid to step out with Me onto the water. You have been exactly where he is many time. And you are right; you cannot help him until he makes the decision to trust me…..Faith means taking the right action even though you do not know the outcome. There must be risk for faith to grow.”
“Trust in the Lord in all your ways. Do not rely on your own abilities and understanding and I will make your paths straight. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. ”
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