071207_Pastors_and_Leaders_Summit_Intercession_Why_Matt_Candler.doc

INTERCESSION: WHY? - MATT CANDLER

Pastors & Leaders Conference - 07/12/07                                                                                                                              Page 2

Intercession: Why?

I.                   intercession is the primary way that God governs the universe

A.                 Intercession is the primary means that God has chosen to release His government both in His relationship with Jesus within the fellowship of the Trinity and with His people now and forever.

B.                 The majesty and mystery of intercession is seen first and most in Jesus’ relationship the Father. The mystery of intercession is that we tell God what He tells us to tell Him to release His power. The mystery of intercession - we tell God what He tells us to tell Him to release His power.

25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25)

34 Christ…at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us. (Rom. 8:34)

II.                Jesus is the word of God

A.                 The Father has deep thoughts (plans) burning in His heart. Jesus gives voice to those thoughts. The Father chose Jesus to speak His thoughts and thus to bring them into existence in the natural world under His authority. Jesus is the Word that was with God the Father.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word (Jesus), was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him (Jesus functioning in intercession), and without Him nothing was made that was made. (Jn. 1:1-3)

B.                 Jesus’ name is the Word of God

11 Behold, a white horse. He who sat on him was called Faithful and True…12 on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. (Rev. 19:11-16)

1 That which was from the beginning…which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life... (1 Jn. 1:1)

C.                 Intercessory Principle - whenever the word of God is spoken, that is in agreement with the Father, the Holy Spirit moves in power. Jesus operated in this reality before His incarnation as well as after:

1. 1. 1. Pre-Incarnate Jesus - (at time of creation) - We see the intercessory principle in Gen. 1. The Father had great thoughts (plans). The Son spoke them out before Him. The Holy Spirit responded to Jesus’ words by releasing great power. Jesus is identified as the Creator who spoke and said, “let there be light” in Gen. 1. When Jesus declared the Father’s thoughts, God’s creative power was released. Jesus Sustains the created order by speaking the word to the Father (intercession).

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void...and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. (Gen 1:1-3)

9 God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together...and it was so… 11God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass...and it was so. 14 God said, "Let there be lights in the...heavens to divide the day from night; and let them be for signs and seasons...15 and let them be for lights...on the earth"; and it was so. (Gen. 1:9, 11, 14-15)

16 For by Him (Jesus) all things were created...in heaven and that are on earth. (Col. 1:16)

2 God has…spoken to us by His Son...through whom also He made the worlds. (Heb. 1:2)

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made… (Psalm 33:6)

3 Who (Jesus)...upholding all things by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3)

17 He (Jesus) is before all things, and in Him all things consist (hold together: NIV, NAS, RSV). (Col. 1:17)

2. 2. 2. Incarnate Jesus - The Son of God not only operated in this intercessory principle prior to His incarnation but also when He walked the earth with His disciples (Jn. 17).
      3. Incarnate Resurrected Jesus - Jesus’ methodology of creating, sustaining, and governing the universe will not change when He returns to reign upon the Millennial Earth.

7 I (Jesus) will declare the decree: The LORD (Father) has said to Me, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I (Father) will give You (Jesus) the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel." (Ps. 2:7-9)

1. 1. 1. 1. In Psalm 2:7, David makes one of the most important statements about Jesus’ method for world government. Jesus will rule by making decrees that the Father gave Him or by intercession. Through intercession, Jesus will break and dash every institution on the planet that does not righteously line up with His Father’s agenda.
         2. Jesus taught that justice would be established through night and day prayer. He will use this method now and after He returns to earth to establish justice.

Shall God not avenge (release justice) His own elect who cry out day and night to Him..." (Lk. 18:7)

3. 3. 3. 3. The foundation of King David’s ministry was his revelation of the governmental impact of prophetic intercessory worship (Ps. 22:3, 1 Chr. 23-25).
            
            
             

III.             Embracing weakness

A.                 God’s commitment to use the things that appear as weak to men.

27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."  (1 Cor. 1:27-31)

B.                 Intercession (and prayer for that matter) is a form of weakness

9 He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor. 12:9)

C.                 The desire for partnership - the illustration of my daughter making banana bread with her mom.

D.                 Prayer positions us to receive freely from God rather than earning us God’s power.

IV.             why intercession as the means of participating in government

A.                 Intercession causes us to internalize God’s Word by saying it back to Him throughout our life. Each time we say what God says, it marks our mind and spirit and changes us. In intercession, we declare God’s mind many times. This process progressively dominates and saturates our mind renewing our inner man. This process protects us while partnering with God in governing with Him.

B.                 God’s words are spirit and life (Jn. 6:63) and are the vehicle that carries and imparts the life of God. When we speak His words, the life of God works in us to progressively transform us.

63 The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (Jn. 6:63)

51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death. (Jn. 8:51)

C.                 Father’s word should abide in us which is, in essence, the fuel for intercession. It is the speaking of the Word that abides in our heart. (Jn. 5:39; 8:31-32; 15:7) Jesus spoke about the need of the Word abiding in us. The Father’s Word abides in us as it was abiding in Jesus.

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (Jn. 15:7)

D.                 The truth of God’s word renews our inner man when it takes root in us.

31 Jesus said…, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know (experience) the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Jn. 8:31-32)

E.                  Intercession is a brilliant strategy for government because it draws us into intimacy with God as it humbles, transforms and unifies God’s people as it trains them to operate in His government. It trains us in wisdom as it writes God’s Word on our heart. It reveals our weakness and humbles us so that when the answer comes in power we can be protected from our pride. It gives us hope while waiting. In other words, in intercession we participate in His government, while experiencing intimacy with God and community with His people.

V.                 God’s government through intercession

A.                 God has given the human race great dignity. We have a free will, which means we have been given the ability to make choices that make a real difference. These choices for righteousness or for sin will bring either blessing or evil to us and those around us. If we choose righteousness, we open doors of blessings on others. The choices we make provide the legal entry for both angels and demons to be more active in the natural realm. We affect the quality of life by our choices.

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