Part II

    
Intercession literally means intervening on behalf of another (New
Oxford American Dictionary). In 1 Corinthians 2:10-13,15, Paul writes, "The
Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men
knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way
no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received
the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand
what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by
human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in
spiritual words...the spiritual man makes judgements about all things, but he
himself is not subject to any man's judgement." When we receive the Holy Spirit
we become partakers of the very heart of God, becoming carriers of His passion,
His righteousness, His judgements; bringing Israel and the Church to the
knowledge of the saving grace found in Jesus Christ and bringing His kingdom to
earth (1 Cor. 4:1,20; Hosea 3:4-5; Ro. 10:1; Ro. 9:3-4; Ro. 11:11; Matt.
23:37-39; Matt. 6:9).  If Jesus is
interceding even now on our behalf then are not we, who are possessors of His
very Spirit, called to step into that very same ongoing reality of intercession
(Ro. 8:34, Heb. 7:25)? We are now called to be partakers of his suffering so
that we may also be partakers of his glory (Ro. 8:17). "In the same, way the
Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but
the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express"
(Ro. 8:26). "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). Therefore intercession is made through the Spirit, as
the Bride joins Him in divine unity.

       Another key to effective
intercession is unity in the body. When we become possessed with the very heart
of God, then the body becomes one just as Jesus and the Father are one (John
17:11, 23). This is the Son's unceasing prayer for it says, "Make every effort
to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" and "Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God." (Eph. 4:4, Matt. 5:9).
Paul speaks of the fulfillment of this truth when he writes, "Instead, speaking
the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that
is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every
supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its
work" (Eph. 4:14-16). Again he prays out of the confidence of his identity
before his heavenly Father, when he writes, "For this reason I kneel before the
Father, from whom His whole family on heaven and earth derives its name. I pray
that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his
Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have
power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and
deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge
-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Eph.
3:14-19). This is our glory that we may become one even as He is one. That we
may continually reveal to the world, through truth and love, the glory of our
Father and the saving grace given to us by His Son.

     Every creature on this earth was created
by God for God and we who are possessors of His very Spirit were made to
continually reveal to all creation the glory of His nature. For "creation waits
in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed...We know that the
whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the
present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the
redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved" (Ro. 8:19, 22-24).
John G. Lake once said, "God the Father manifested Himself through that one
beautiful, holy, purified body of Jesus Christ in such a manner, such a perfect
manner, that when men look upon Him they did not see the man Jesus, but they
saw God. Until He ascended and sent His Spirit to the world, to the Church, to
you and to me. What for? That the new body should come forth and the Church,
the real Church - united to God, filled with the Holy Ghost, whose names are
written in the Lamb's Book of Life - are the body through which God is going to
manifest Himself to mankind again" (Liardon, 176-177). Nothing about God
contradicts Himself; when His people become possessed with the true Spirit of
God there ceases to be division, we become of one heart, one mind. I believe
one of the most startling things that the Church will possess in the last days
will not only be the power of God made manifest through them, but also the
unity and love that will exist between them. For we will be one just as They
are one and glory of God will be manifest through us "bringing many sons to
glory" (John 17:11, 23; Heb. 2:10). We will stand as did the Church of Acts
stood, confident in our identity, standing on the word of God, and we will see
His glory fall for surely "if the former rain was abundant, shall not the
latter rain be more abundant" (Deut. 11:14, paraphrased).