COVERED LIKE A BLANKET

Thursday, 08 January 2009

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

COVERED LIKE A BLANKET

I have a small photograph near my computer of my son and me when he was around 2 years old. In the photo, we were just beginning a walk on a gravel road near my house (I can tell by the trees exactly where we were). This road was heavily wooded, rampant with the unidentifiable (to him), and cacophonous sounds of birds and critters. It seemed to have been a bit scary for him as a tiny tyke. He had an adorably uncertain look on his little face. I am bending over in the photo, sort of supporting and comforting him simultaneously.

I keep this photo in front of me for two reasons: the first is a reminder not to forget my role (especially as an intercessor for him presently) as his mother and loving Truth-teller. The second is that it provides a reminder of what Jesus does for us every single day of our lives. Well, ok, the third is that I love the photo. It is a wonderful memory of my precious time as a young mother.

I have been re-reading a marvelous book called, Intercessory Prayer, by Dutch Sheets recently in order to brush up on my personal ability to access God's power to move mountains. I have been finding my prayers to be puny and ineffective. I found a chapter that describes what this photo depicts and what Jesus does for us as our #1 Intercessor and top Supporter.

Sheets begins the chapter by describing Charlie Brown's degradation once again by Lucy (for those of you who are too young, google Charlie Brown by Charles Schultz). Snoopy, his loyal dog/friend, walked over to the pitcher's mound where Charlie was standing on his head in total humiliation and stood on his head! He shared in Charlie's humiliation! Sheets states, "We are not merely to carry burdens for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we're to carry them away...one involves sharing a load; the other involves removing a load" (p.61).

Have you ever had a friend who you just absolutely KNEW was standing with you in prayer for an issue? It actually feels at the time that your burden has become like the downy underfeathers of a lofting eagle--like you can finally, finally inhale that deep breath of crisp, clean mountain air--like you are not standing as a solitary sentinel on an island in a vast and roiling sea. It is an amazing thing, this prayer for others---truly God-designed!

Sheets says, "Two words are used for "bearing" in the New Testament. The first one , anechomai, means "to sustain, bear, or hold up against a thing," much as a person would tie a stake to a tomato plant to sustain it from the weight it carries. The strength of the stake is transferred to the plant and thus "bears it up."

Colossians 3:13 tells us, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another."

Ephesians 4:2 states, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." And, truly, this is a perfect picture of what we have with Jesus as our Intercessor. He places His arm around us and bends His head in prayer. He is right next to us, staked to us, holding us up when we think we might fall from the emotional weight of our burden. He is there...we always need to remember that. HE IS THERE ramrod righteous and bearing our heavy burdens as we walk them out.

"The second word is bastazo meaning to "bear up, lift or carry" something with the idea being to carry it away or remove it."

Romans 15:1-3 tells us, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on Me."

Galatians 6:2 explains, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this you will fulfill the Law of Christ." We all know that Christ's work on the Cross removed and indeed carried away our burden of sin! What an opportunity we are provided to demonstrate this on earth.

Jesus exemplified both of these "bearing" concepts perfectly. "His intercession for us was not a prayer He prayed, but a work He did. It was a work of going between to reconcile us to the Father and break satan's dominion...The intercessory work of Christ reached its fullest and most profound expression when our sins were laid on Him and He bore them away" (p.63).

Isaiah 53:6 tells us, "We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:12, "Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."These verses use the Hebrew word paga twice. Paga is translated "laid on" or "intercession." " These instances refer to when our sins, iniquities diseases, etc., were actually placed on Him.

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him," (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Although we and our stunted spiritual selves do not have the ability on earth to remove the sins of those we love, we can intercede in prayer with 100% faith that Jesus has already died for those sins. He has heard and is staked out (ok, corny) right next to us and the person we are praying for, at the ready. He, of course, is anxiously awaiting their repentance so He can welcome them back. God's plan is infallible. It is perfect. He's got it covered like a blanket!

As I have been writing this, as it usually happens, I find that it was written for me too. God often uses my writing to draw out things that I, as well as others, might need to learn.

I will admit some things here and now. I have been struggling. I have sometimes second-guessed. I have allowed worry and concern to creep in. But, my precious Savior, my sweet and perfect Savior, Who is so full of wisdom and mercy and most of all, LOVE, has been hearing my cries. He has witnessed my pure and raw emotional melt-downs and has shouldered into me. I have felt it each and every time I have looked at this photograph of my little boy. Today, since I had an unmerited snow day, the time for prolonged and profound prayer was bestowed upon me. I lay prostrate and helpless before my King repenting for my lack of faith and praising Him for His faithfulness---in all things. I am learning that He is standing firm in righteousness next to me. As Deuteronomy 31:6 proclaims, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, He will never leave you, nor forsake you." Large comfort there. So, as I continue in prayer for someone who desperately needs me in that gap for him, I have assurance that my Jesus is right here, right now and forever with me because I pray within the Will of the Father.

Return Him

Return Him, Lord, into the fold,

Awaken his heart to You.

Return him, Lord, loose satan's hold,

Bring repentance on bended knee.

Although what we see is grim and dull,

You have the power to change

The hardest heart, the broken hull,

Into joy in Your arms again.

Return him, Lord, to where he belongs,

To what he was created to be.

Return him, Lord, remove the sin,