by Dutch Sheets
And I hope you're ready for this: I don't believe the intercession attributed to Him now in heaven on our behalf is prayer either. I'm certain it refers to His work of mediation (see 1 Tim. 2:5), to His being our Advocate with the Father (see 1 John 2:1). He is now functioning as our representative, guaranteeing our access to the Father and to our benefits of redemption.
In fact, He tells us in John 16:26 that He is not doing our asking or petitioning of the Father for us: "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request the Father on your behalf." So what is He doing as He makes intercession for us? He is mediating, or going between, not to clear us of charges against us as He did to redeem us from sin, but to present each of us to the Father as righteous and one of His own.
When I approach the throne, He is always there saying something such as: "Father, Dutch is here to speak with You. He isn't coming on his own merits or righteousness; he is here based on Mine. He is here in My name. I am sure You remember that I've gone between You and Dutch and provided him with access to You. He has a few things to ask You."
Can't you just hear the Father say in response, Of course I remember, Son. You've made him one of Ours. Because he came through You, Dutch is always welcome here. He then looks at me and says, Come boldly to My throne ofgrace, Son, and make your request known.
Jesus isn't praying for us; He is interceding for us so that we can pray. This is what is meant by asking "in His name."
Let's look at one more aspect of Christ's intercession in the context of the Fall. Basically, humanity needed two things after the Fall. They needed someone to "go between" themselves and God to reconcile themselves to God; they also needed someone to "go between" themselves and Satan to separate themselves from him. One was a uniting, the other a disuniting. One reestablished headship, the other broke headship. It was a twofold work of intercession.
We needed both. Jesus did both. As the intercessor-mediator, He went between God and humanity, reconciling us to the Father; and between Satan and humanity, breaking Satan's hold. This was the redemptive work of intercession and it is complete. Therefore, in the legal sense of humanity's redemption, Christ is the one and only intercessor. This is why the Scriptures say, "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). The verse could just as easily read, "one intercessor."
This revelation is critical. It means our prayers of intercession are always and only an extension of His work of intercession.
Why is this so important? Because God won't honor any intercession except Christ's, and also because this understanding will make our prayers of intercession infinitely more powerful.
Let's return to our conversation in the throne room. I am there asking the Father to extend mercy and bring salvation to the people of Tibet. The Father could reply, "How can I do this? They are sinners. They worship false gods, which is really worshiping Satan. And besides, they don't even want Me to do this. They themselves have never asked."
I answer, "Because Jesus interceded or mediated for them, Father. I am asking based on what He did. And He needs a human on Earth to ask for Him because He is in heaven now. So, as He taught me, I'm asking for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done in Tibet. I'm asking for some laborers to be sent there. I'm asking these things for Christ and through Christ. And I am asking You to do it based entirely on the redemptive work He has already done."
The Father replies, "RIGHT ANSWER! You heard the man, Gabriel. What are you waiting for?"
Distributors for God
When I say our prayers of intercession are an extension of His work of intercession, the difference is in distributing versus producing. We don't have to produce anything-reconciliation, deliverance, victory, etc.-but rather we distribute, as the disciples did with the loaves and fishes (see Matt. 14:17-19). Our calling and function is not to replace God, but to release Him.' It liberates us from intimidation and emboldens us to know that:
• The Producer simply wants to distribute through us.
• The Intercessor wants to intercede through us.
• The Mediator wants to mediate through us.
• The Representative wants to represent through us.
• The Go-between wants to go between through us.
• The Victor wants His victory enforced' through us.
• The Minister of reconciliation has given to us the ministry of reconciliation (see 2 Cor. 5:18-19). We now represent Him in His representation ministry. God continues to incarnate His redemptive purposes in human lives.'
We don't deliver anyone, we don't reconcile anyone to God, we don't defeat the enemy. The work is already done. Reconciliation is complete. Deliverance and victory are complete. Salvation is complete. Intercession is complete! Finished! Done! WOW! What a relief. And yet . . .
We must ask for the release and application of these things. So, let me offer the following as a biblical definition of intercessory prayer: Intercessory prayer is an extension of the ministry ofJesus through His Body, the Church, whereby we mediate between God and humanity for the purpose of reconciling the world to Him, or between Satan and humanity for the purpose of enforcing the victory of Calvary.
Christ needs a human on the earth to represent Himself through just as the Father did. The Father's human was Jesus; Jesus' humans are us, the Church. He said, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21).
The concept of being sent is important and embodies the truths of which we have been speaking. A representative is a "sent" one. Sent ones have authority, as long as they represent the sender. And the importance or emphasis is not on the sent one but on the sender. The setting of conditions and the ability to carry out or enforce them is all the responsibility of the sender, not the sent one. For example, an ambassador representing one nation to another is a sent one. He has no authority of his own, but he is authorized to represent the authority of the nation sending him.
Jesus was a sent one. That is why He had authority. He received it from the Father who sent Him. Forty times in John's Gospel alone He mentions the important fact of being sent by the Father. The result of this arrangement was that, in essence, He wasn't doing the works, but the Father who sent Him (see John 14:10).
The same is true with us. Our authority comes from being sent ones, representing Jesus. As long as we function in that capacity, we function in Christ's authority. And, in essence, we're not really doing the works; He is.
Let me illustrate. In 1977, while praying about an upcoming journey to Guatemala, I heard the words: On this trip, represent Jesus to the people.
At first I rebuked the voice, thinking it was an evil spirit trying to deceive me. But the voice came again, this time adding the words: Be His voice, be His hands, be His feet. Do what you know He would do if He were there in the flesh. Represent Him.
Suddenly I understood. I was not going to represent myself or the ministry with which I was working. In the same way that Jesus represented the Father-speaking His words and doing His works-I was to represent Jesus. And if I really believed I was functioning as an ambassador or a sent one, then I could believe it wasn't my authority or ability that was an issue but Christ's-I was simply representing Him and what He had already done.
A Galilee Jesus Became a Guatemala Jesus
Once in Guatemala I traveled with a team to a remote village far from any modern city. There was no electrical power, no plumbing, no phones. Our purpose in being there was to build shelters for the villagers whose adobe homes had been destroyed in the devastating earthquake of 1976. It had killed 30,000 people and left 1,000,000 homeless. We had trucked in materials and were building small, one-room homes for them during the daylight hours. In the evenings we would hold services in the center of the village, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to them, explaining that His love was motivating us to spend our time, money and energies helping them.
We had been ministering for one week with very few people coming to Chris
t. The people were listening, but not responding.
I was to preach on the final night of our trip. Just as the service was about to begin, a team member told me about something he and others had found on the far side of the village-a little girl, six or seven years old, tied to a tree.
Not believing what they were seeing, they asked the family that lived there, "Why is this small girl tied to that tree?" It was obvious she lived there, much like a dog, in the back yard-nasty, filthy, helpless and alone.
"She is crazy," the parents replied. "We can't control her. She hurts herself and others and runs away if we turn her loose. There is nothing else we can do for her, so we just have to tie her up."
My heart broke as the member shared what he had seen. It was on my mind as we began the service. A few minutes into my message, standing on a folding table under the stars, the same voice that had spoken to me before the trip began speaking to me again.
Tell them you are going to pray for the little insane girl across the village tied to the tree. Tell them you are going to do it in the name of thisJesus you've been preaching about. Tell them that through Him you are going to break the evil powers controlling her-that when she is free and normal, they can then know that what you are preaching is true. They can believe that the Jesus you are preaching about is who you say He is.
I responded to the voice in my heart with fear and trembling. I believe the words were something like, WHATDID YOU SAY???
Same instructions.
Being the man of faith that I am, I replied, What is plan B?
Rebellion and failure, came the response. Remember what I said to you before the trip began? Represent Jesus.
Faith began to rise. The emphasis is not on me in this situation, I thought, but on the One who sent me. I am simply His spokesman. I merely release what He has already done. He has finished the work of delivering this little girl; my prayers release the work. I'm only a distributor of whatHe has already produced. Be bold, sent one. Enforce the victory!
With new assurance I began informing the people about what I was planning to do. They nodded in recognition as I mentioned the girl. Expressions of intrigue turned to astonishment as they listened to my plans.
Then I prayed.
On a moonlit night in a tiny, remote village of Guatemala with a handful of people as my audience, my life changed forever.
Jesus came out of hiding. He became alive: relevant . . . sufficient . . . available! A "hidden" Jesus emerged from the cobwebs of theology. A yesterday Jesus became a today and forever Jesus. A Galilee Jesus became a Guatemala Jesus.
And a new plan unfolded to me. A new concept emergedJesus and me.
The Heavenly Pattern
For the first time I understood the heavenly pattern: Jesus is the Victor-we're the enforcers; Jesus is the Redeemer-we're the releasers; Jesus is the Head-we're the Body.
Yes, He set the little girl free.
Yes, the village turned to Christ.
Yes, Jesus prevailed through a sent one.
So the partnership goes on-God and humans. But the correct pattern is critical: My prayers of intercession release Christ's finished work of intercession.
His work empowers my prayers-my prayers release His work.
Mine extends His-His effectuates mine.
Mine activates His-His validates mine.
In Kingdom Enterprises we're not in the production department. We're in distribution . . . BIG difference. He's the generator. We're the distributors.
Awesomites Re-Presenting His Awesomeness
I think this makes us His co-laborers. What do you think? I think Christ is awesome and wants us to be "awesomites." Humble awesomites representing His awesomeness, but awesome nonetheless. More than conquerors! Christ and His Christians, changing things on the earth.
There are many wounded and hurting individuals "tied to trees" around the world. You work with some, others live across the street. One of them probably just served you in a checkout line, seated you in a restaurant or served you food. Their chains are alcohol, drugs, abuse, broken dreams, rejection, money, lust . . . well, you get the point.
Plan A is for supernatural but ordinary people like you and me to: (1) wholeheartedly believe in the victory of Calvary-to be convinced that it was complete and final, and (2) to rise up in our role as sent ones, ambassadors, authorized representatives of the Victor. Our challenge is not so much to liberate as to believe in the Liberator; to heal as to believe in the Healer.
Plan B is to waste the Cross; to leave the tormented in their torment; to scream with our silence, "There is no hope!"; to hear the Father say again, "I looked, but found no one"; to hear the Son cry once more, "The laborers! Where are the laborers?"
Come on Church! Let's untie some folks. Let's tell them there is a God who cares. Let's represent-let's mediate-let's intercede!
"Can anyone find the present participator?"
Questions for Reflection
1. Define intercession and intercessory prayer. What is the difference? Why is this important?
2. How are intercession and mediation related?
3. Can you explain what I meant when I said Christ was THE intercessor and that our prayers are an extension of His work?
4. Explain the two aspects of Christ's intercession-reconciling and separating-relating it to humankind's twofold need created by the Fall.
5. What is the significance of being a "sent one"?
6. Do you know anyone chained to a "tree"? Please help them.
C H A P T E R F O U R
MEETINGS: THE GOOD,
THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Boy Meets Girl
"Dutch Sheets, I want you to meet Celia Merchant." The world suddenly stood still and my life changed forever.
The second most important meeting of my life was taking place-only my introduction to Jesus ranked higher. It was 1977 and I was a student in Bible college.
Having just enjoyed a time of private prayer, I emerged from the prayer room to see two individuals carrying a large folding table. One of them was a male friend of mine, the other was the most beautiful young lady I had ever laid eyes on.
Oh, it wasn't the first time I had seen her, but it was my first face-to-face encounter. Weak-kneed and tongue-tied, I nearly tripped over myself grabbing her end of the table. With a gallant demonstration of chivalry and muscle, I relieved her of her burden and nearly knocked the other guy off his feet showing how fast I could carry that table.
He then introduced me to what had to be my missing rib, and I knew life would never be right if I didn't marry this woman! I told God as much. Fortunately, He agreed and so did she. Life is good!
I sure am glad I spent that time in prayer. I would not have wanted to miss that meeting!
Boy Meets Baseball
I had another memorable meeting when I was in the sixth grade. This one wasn't so pleasant. It would also remain with me the rest of my life, however. A baseball met my front teeth. The baseball won-they usually do. I have two nice caps on my front teeth today as a result of that meeting.
I thought about revealing that I was trying to teach another kid to catch a baseball when it happened, but that would be too embarrassing. I won't mention that I was demonstrating what not to do when the accident happened. But I will say that when teaching your kids the fine points of baseball, show them what to do-not what not to do. Doing it backward leads to unpleasant meetings and cosmetic smiles.
God Meets a Mate, Satan Meets His Match
A figure hangs on a cross between heaven and Earth. Two meetings are about to take place-one good and pleasant, one ugly and violent. A Man is about to meet His bride and a serpent is about to meet a curveball to the teeth:
For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church (Eph. 5:31-32).
Arise, 0 Lord; save me, 0 my God! For Thou hast smitten all my en
emies on the cheek; Thou hast shattered the teeth of the wicked (Ps. 3:7).
Such beauty, such ugliness . . . union, disunion . . . Joining, breaking . . .
Actually, many other meetings could be mentioned as taking place through the Cross:
• Mercy met judgment.
• Righteousness met sin.
• Light met darkness.
• Humility met pride.
• Love met hate.
• Life met death.
• A cursed One on a tree met the curse that originated from a tree.
• The sting of death met the antidote of resurrection.
All the good guys won!
Only God could plan such an event-let alone have it turn out perfectly. Only He could marry such extremes in one occurrence. Who but He could shed blood to create life, use pain to bring healing, allow injustice to satisfy justice and accept rejection to restore acceptance?
Who could use such an evil act to accomplish so much good?
Who could transform an act of amazing love into such violence, and vice versa? Only God.
So many paradoxes. So much irony.
Don't you find it fascinating that the serpent who accomplished his greatest victory from a tree (of the knowledge of good and evil) suffered his greatest defeat from a tree (the Cross of Calvary)?
Don't you find it ironic that the first Adam succumbed to temptation in a garden (Eden) and the last Adam overcame His greatest temptation in a garden (Gethsemane)?
Can God ever write a script!
Perhaps you have guessed by now that hidden somewhere in these three stories-my wife, the baseball and the Cross-are pictures of intercession. In fact, I've actually used one of the definitions of the Hebrew word for "intercession," paga, 23 times thus far. I'll continue to use it more than 30 additional times by the end of this chapter. How's that for redundancy?!
Intercession Creates a Meeting
The Hebrew word for "intercession," paga, means "to meet."' As we have already seen by studying the English word, intercession is not primarily a prayer a person prays, but something a person does that can be done through prayer. This is also true in the Hebrew language. Although the word "intercession" has come to mean "prayer" in our minds, its Hebrew word does not necessarily mean "prayer" at all. It has many shades of meaning, all of which can be done through prayer.
