Intercession

"Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak" (Colossians 4:3,4)(ASV)

This devotional about intercessory prayer is by Dr. Elliot R. Cole.

Paul, one of the greatest of preachers and teachers, never reached the place where he considered himself above the need of prayer nor did he hesitate to request other believers to pray in his behalf.

The request of the Apostle was not limited to himself but included all of his associates in Rome. The request was not for simple petition to "bless the missionaries in Rome," but that individual interest be undertaken in behalf of each with definite, specific intercession for each.

His prison chains were not uppermost in the mind of Paul, but the chains of sin that held men in bondage. He prayed for doors of utterance to open and not the door of the prison. When most would be on the defensive, Paul was on the offensive. He wanted to be used right where he was.

Were the prayers of intercession of the Colossians and others answered? The next letter written by the Apostle Paul, of which we have record, is the letter to the church at Phillipi. To them he could say, "I want you to understand, brothers, that my experiences have turned out for rather than against the advance of the gospel, so that throughout the imperial guard and everywhere else my shackles have become known in union with Christ" (Phil. 1:12,13, Berkeley). Intercessory prayer turned Satan's supposed victory into Satan's defeat. No more needed ministry exists today in the church of Jesus Christ than the ministry of intercession from which no Christian is exempt.

O Thou by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way!
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray!
--James Montgomery

Mere Christianity Quotes (p.12)

Here's another passage from the Christian classic by C. S. Lewis about what all Christians believe, Mere Christianity.

"Other people wrote to me saying, 'Isn't what you call the Moral Law just a social convention, something that is put into us by education? I think there is a misunderstanding here. The people who ask that question are usually taking it for granted that if we have learned a thing from parents and teachers, then that thing must be merely a human invention. But, of course, that is not so. We all learned the multiplication table at school. A child who grew up alone on a desert island would not know it. But surely it does not follow that the multiplication table is simply a human convention, something human beings have made up for themselves and might have made different if they liked? I fully agree that we learn the Rule of Decent Behavior from parents and teachers, and friends and books, as we learn everything else. But some of the things we learn are mere conventions which might have been different--we learn to keep to the left of the road, but it might just as well have been the rule to keep to the right--and others of them, like mathematics, are real truths. The question is to which class the Law of Human Nature belongs."

Quick Praise (Ps. 111:1)

Hallelujah! I will praise the Lord with all my heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. (Psalm 111:1)(HCSB)

Is there a part of your heart that you're holding back from God? Give it to Him so that He can have your whole heart in worship!

Mere Christianity Quotes (p.10)

Here's another passage from Mere Christianity,  the Christian classic by author C. S. Lewis about what all Christians believe.

"Another way of seeing that the Moral Law is not simply one of our instincts is this. If two instincts are in conflict, and there is nothing in a creature's mind except those instincts, obviously the stronger of the two must win. But at those moments when we are most conscious of the Moral Law, it usually seems to be telling us to side with the weaker of the two impulses. You probably want to be safe much more than you want to help the man who is drowning: but the Moral Law tells you to help him all the same. And surely it often tells us to try to make the right impulse stronger than it naturally is? I mean, we often feel it our duty to stimulate the herd instinct, by waking up our imaginations and arousing our pity and so on, so as to get up enough steam for doing the right thing. But clearly we are not acting from instinct when we set about making an instinct stronger than it is. The thing that says to you, 'Your herd instinct is asleep. Wake it up,' cannot itself be the herd instinct. The thing that tells you which note on the piano needs to be played louder cannot itself be that note."

Ancient Words, Ever True?

Ancient words ever true

changing me and changing you

We have come with open hearts

O let the ancient words impart

We sing this chorus written by Lynn DeShazo fairly often at the "Ridge" partly because of the beautiful yet singable melody, but more because it speaks of the truth and reliability of God's Word, the Bible. Look at the opening line of the chorus of the song again--Ancient words, ever true!--But more and more often in our modern culture that statement has become more of a question or doubt instead of a given or a certainty.--Ancient words, ever true?--I know that many Christians identify with the statement that you may have seen on bumper stickers...The Bible says it...I believe it...and that settles it! And while I agree with that thought, we need to realize that there are many non-believers out there who need more than that to believe that the Bible is true. I think that much of the reason for the statistics that show decline in church growth and attendance is that the church has lost its focus on evangelism and teaching of God's Word. But the truth is that there are many people, perhaps more than ever in our nation's history, that don't really believe the Bible to be God's Word. To put it like I heard a young man say in a recent video I saw, "I believe that the Bible is just a book about God written by man." So as Christians, yes we believe the Bible is true and inerrant, but that's not good enough if we want to impact the lost world around us who needs more proof, more reasons to believe in the Bible.

"What kind of book is the Bible? I submit there are only two plausible answers. The Bible is merely a book by man about God, or it is a book given by God through man, to man." That statement was made by Greg Koukl, a well-known author and apologist, he is the founder of the ministry, Stand to Reason, and author of the book, Tactics. Koukl states in a recent on-line article from STR's website, Ancient Words, Ever True?, that if the Bible is merely a book by man about God, then it is just a record of human wisdom marked by human limitations. But if it is truly given by God, then God is the ultimate author and His word is the last word. Further, it would most likely bear supernatural marks or God's fingerprints in a sense. Koukl offers six reasons that he thinks the Bible is God's book, six evidences of supernatural authorship conveniently paired with parts of the hand so you won't forget.

I'm going to briefly outline the evidence and reasons that Koukl writes of in the article, please go to str.org for the complete information:

The "Pinky"
For the first evidence, think "pinky--prophecy."
The Bible has fulfilled prophecy--detailed, precise, predictions relating to individuals and entire empires given with hairsplitting accuracy. Daniel gives prophecy so exact it reads like history written after the fact. There were dozens of specific prophecies fulfilled in Jesus' life alone. His own prediction that the temple would be destroyed stone by stone was dramatically fulfilled 40 years later when Roman legions under Titus razed Jerusalem.

The Ring Finger
A wedding ring, symbolic of marital unity, reminds us of the second evidence for the Bible's supernatural origins--a remarkable unity of purpose and plan despite its diverse origins.
The Bible consists of 66 books written by 40 or more authors from diverse backgrounds (rabbis, warriors, shepherds, kings, historians), in a diversity of conditions (dungeons, deserts, battlefields, palaces, pastures), on a diversity of controversial subjects, over a 1500 year period of time. The Bible doesn't read like 66 different stories though. Instead, a profound harmony of perspective is woven through the account from Genesis to Revelation as God progressively unveils His rescue plan for fallen creation.

The Large Finger
The largest finger brings to mind the Bible's ability to address the big issues of life in a coherent way that's also entirely consistent with our deepest intuitions about reality. Simply put, the worldview of the Bible makes sense.

The Index Finger
The index, or pointing finger, reminds me that the Bible points to history for verification. It's a reliable, detailed record from the distant past of events that have profound spiritual significance.

The New Testament documents are the best historical documents of the ancient world when approached using the standard canons of historical research untainted by naturalistic (anti-supernatural) presuppositions. There are five reasons historians take the New Testament material seriously:

1. The accounts are early. As ancient records go, the narratives were written very close to the events they report.
2. Multiple, independent, primary source documents verify each other. In addition to the works of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the writings of Peter and Paul, 17 secular references along with prodigious archaeological evidence further corroborate the canonical accounts.
3. The New Testament documents include details of eyewitness testimony: times of day, weather conditions, local customs, names of provincial rulers, and other minutia characteristic of authentic accounts.
4. The Gospels include embarrassing details. Jesus' disciples are petty, slow to understand, arrogant, and unfaithful. Peter denies Christ; the rest flee. Women, disrespected in the ancient world, are the first to witness the risen Christ. Why include these unflattering details if the Gospels are works of fiction?
5. There was no motivation for the writers to deceive. Those who lie, do so out of self-interest. A testimony that brings torment, torture, and execution is not likely to be fabricated. The earliest disciples--those who were in a position to know the truth--signed their testimonies in blood. Peter wrote, "We did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Pet. 1:16). His claim fits all the facts.

Thumbs Up
"Thumbs up" was the emperor's sign that a gladiator had won the right to live to fight again. It reminds me that the Bible supernaturally changes people's lives in deep, profound, and irreversible ways.

The Fist
The clenched fist reminds me that the Bible is a fighter. It has demonstrated remarkable survival through time and persecution. No other book in history has seen such concerted attempts to obliterate it--both externally (through destruction) and internally (through criticism)--to no avail. No other book has been printed as much, read as much, or quoted as much as the Bible. It remains today the bestselling book of all time.

As Christians we need to know that there are plenty of good reasons and evidence that the Bible is true. We need to do a better job of taking a stand for the authenticity of God's Word and be ready to give people the reasons why we believe the Bible is true beyond just "The Bible says it..I believe it." Koukl closed his article with this:

If all the evidence--subjective and objective--shows that God has spoken in the Bible, then our appropriate response is to bend the knee. Our beliefs bow to revelation, because God Himself is the best authority to tell us what is right and true and good. When God speaks, our opinions are silenced. The ancient words are the final word--"ancient words, ever true, changing me, changing you."

Quick Praise (Ps. 104:24)

How countless are Your works, Lord! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. (Psalm 104:24)(HCSB)

God, not evolution or natural selection, is my Creator!

Mount of Communion

And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would; and they came unto him. (Mark 3:13)

Here's another devotional from Charles Spurgeon. This one is about a closeness of fellowship with God, a close communion with Jesus, who stands on the mountain and calls us to come to Him.

Here was sovereignty. Impatient spirits may fret and fume, because they are not called to the highest places in the ministry; but reader be it thine to rejoice that Jesus calleth whom he wills. If he shall leave me to be a doorkeeper in his house, I will cheerfully bless him for his grace in permitting me to do anything in his service. The call of Christ's servants comes from above. Jesus stands on the mountain, evermore above the world in holiness, earnestness, love and power. Those whom he calls must go up the mountain to him, they must seek to rise to his level by living in constant communion with him. They may not be able to mount to classic honors, or attain scholastic eminence, but they must like Moses go up into the mount of God and have familiar intercourse with the unseen God, or they will never be fitted to proclaim the gospel of peace. Jesus went apart to hold high fellowship with the Father, and we must enter into the same divine companionship if we would bless our fellowmen. 


No wonder that the apostles were clothed with power when they came down fresh from the mountain where Jesus was. This morning we must endeavor to ascend the mount of communion, that there we may be ordained to the lifework for which we are set apart. Let us not see the face of man today till we have seen Jesus. Time spent with him is laid out at blessed interest. We too shall cast out devils and work wonders if we go down into the world girded with that divine energy which Christ alone can give. It is of no use going to the Lord's battle till we are armed with heavenly weapons. We must see Jesus, this is essential. At the mercy-seat we will linger till he shall manifest himself unto us as he doth not unto the world, and until we can truthfully say, "We were with him in the Holy Mount."

Quick Praise (Isa. 45:22)

Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:22)(NASB)

Who are you turning to today? God is the only One who can save you.

Mere Christianity Quotes (p. 9-10)

Here's another passage from the Christian classic by C. S. Lewis about what all Christians believe, Mere Christianity.

"We all know what it feels like to be prompted by instinct--by mother love, or sexual instinct, or the instinct for food. It means that you feel a strong want or desire to act in a certain way. And, of course, we sometimes do feel just that sort of desire to help another person: and no doubt that desire is due to the herd instinct. But feeling a desire to help is quite different from feeling that you ought to help whether you want to or not. Supposing you hear a cry for help from a man in danger. You will probably feel two desires--one a desire to give help (due to your herd instinct), the other a desire to keep out of danger (due to the instinct for self-preservation). But you will find inside you, in addition to these two impulses, a third thing which tells you that you ought to follow the impulse to help, and suppress the impulse to run away. Now this thing that judges between two instincts, that decides which should be encouraged, cannot itself be either of them. You might as well say that the sheet of music which tells you, at a given moment, to play one note on the piano and not another, is itself one of the notes on the keyboard. The Moral Law tells us the tune we have to play: our instincts are merely the keys."

Quick Praise (Mt. 14:33)

Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." 

(Matthew 14:33)(NKJV)

The One who walked on water....the One who calmed the sea....Jesus....is truly God's Son and worthy of all our praise.

Asaph and the Descendants of Korah

David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. (1 Chronicles 15:16)(NLT)


The following is a worship profile from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House. It is a very good study Bible, and I highly recommend it to all who want to learn more about biblical praise and worship. Let's take a look today at the worship of Asaph and the Descendants of Korah, and find out what we can learn from their example.


Music has an amazing power over us. It can haunt us, transport us, inspire or elate us. It's hard to imagine a world without music. In the same way, it's difficult to imagine worship without singing. Thankfully, we can praise our Maker with music, and the Bible shows us what an integral part music can play in our worship.


When the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, King David charged the Levites to appoint a choir to sing joyful songs. These songs were to be accompanied by musical instruments. Among the musicians for the choir was Asaph son of Berekiah, who played the cymbals (1 Chronicles 15:19; 16:5) and penned a number of psalms (Psalms 50; 73-83). The descendants of Korah were another important group of worship leaders, and twelve psalms are ascribed to them (Psalms 42-49; 84-85; 87-88). These Temple singers and musicians helped to foster a spirit of worship and praise among their fellow Israelites.


Temple Musicians as Worshipers


The Temple musicians did not accept their duties casually. They made a lifetime commitment to serve God through music and then passed their musical skills from one generation to the next. Centuries after King David's reign, 128 descendants of Asaph returned from the Babylonian exile to participate in the restoration of the Temple and its worship. That family line of Temple musicians survived for almost five hundred years through very difficult circumstances.


Learning From the Temple Musicians


In their worship, Asaph and his fellow Levites were very concerned with both order and appearance. Each musician was assigned duties, and each played a unique and integral part. The Levites also worshiped by means of their physical appearance, dressing in robes of fine linen (1 Chronicles 15:27) to symbolize the purity required of them. Obviously they desired to please the Lord in all aspects of their worship.


At many of the great moments in Israel's history--the moving of the Ark to Jerusalem, the dedication of the Temple, Hezekiah's purification of the Temple, and the rebuilding of the Temple foundation--the people celebrated and worshiped the Lord with instruments and song.


Following the Example


Let music enhance your worship this week. Sing out as you worship at church. For your personal devotions, find a hymnbook and a place where you can be alone to sing. If you play a musical instrument or lead worship at church, consider the diligent preparation of the Temple musicians, and offer to God your very best. Then lift your voice in song, and celebrate the greatness of our God.