Our Glorious Intercessor

Dear Friends, “God the Father chose you long ago and knew you would become His children. And the Holy Spirit has been at work in your hearts, cleansing you with the blood of Jesus Christ and making you to please Him. May God bless you richly and grant you increasing freedom from all anxiety and fear.” (1 Peter 1:2 Living Bible)Those two lines at the end of my last letter I recognized as being quoted from a hymn, the tune of which came back to me out of the “dim and distant past.” I could not for the life of me (even with David’s help) remember the first lines in order to find the whole poem. But it provoked me to search until I found it!! The hymn is authored by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and is an eloquent portrayal of the effectiveness of the finished work of Calvary – for me – for you – FOR US!.

Coming out of a past century, it is another affirmation that the glorious Truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ has stood the test of time, and is applicable to EVERY individual believer in EVERY generation. I believe the Lord impressed me with these words to share with you, and they are certainly appropriate for this Season. Please take the time to MEDITATE on the words (I wish I could emphasize every word), and let their truth bless your spirit:-

Arise, my soul, Arise! – Shake off your guilty fears!!
The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Surety stands -
MY NAME IS WRITTEN ON HIS HANDS!
HE EVER LIVES ABOVE, FOR ME TO INTERCEDE; His all redeeming Love, His precious blood to plead;
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the Throne of Grace.
Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers,
THEY STRONGLY PLEAD FOR ME;

“Forgive her, Oh, forgive!” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die.”
My Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away the presence of His Son!
His Spirit answers to the blood -
And tells me I AM BORN OF GOD!

My God is reconciled, His pard’ning voice I hear;
HE OWNS ME FOR HIS CHILD, I CAN NO LONGER FEAR;
With confidence I now draw near;
And “FATHER, ABBA, FATHER!” cry.

“What can we ever say to such WONDERFUL things as these? If (since) God is on our side, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son FOR US, but gave Him up FOR US all, won’t he also surely give us everything else?

“Who DARES accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? Will God? NO! HE is the One Who has FORGIVEN US and GIVEN US RIGHT STANDING with Himself.

“Who, then, will condemn us? Will Christ? NO! For HE is the One Who DIED FOR US, and CAME BACK TO LIFE AGAIN FOR US, and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, PLEADING FOR US there in heaven.

“Who, then, can ever keep Christ’s Love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because He doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry, or penniless, or in danger, or threatened with death, has God deserted us? NO!…despite all this, victory is ours through Christ WHO LOVED US ENOUGH TO DIE FOR US..

“For I am convinced that NOTHING can EVER separate us from His love. Death can’t, and life can’t! The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away! Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are – high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean – NOTHING will EVER be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died for us!” (Romans 8, Living Bible) What more can be said?!

In Agape, Eulene