Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June 1/58

Contributor - H. E. Franken

Title - He Maketh Intercession For You

Topic - Resurrection

At this season we are reminded of Jesus going to heaven. That is where He came from and it is most natural that He would go there again after He had accomplished His miss-ion on earth.

It takes a great deal of energy to get a satellite into orbit, so much so that one said that Russia took down its iron curtain to accomplish it. All the attempts have not succeeded. It is not strange that earth's elements resist leaving it. On 'the other hand the earth could not keep the Son of God because heaven is His habitat. He ascended and will cause His loved ones to ascend.

One of the things He does UP there is to pray for us who are His (and we have been bought with a price of blood), Hebrews 7:25. We naturally wonder what His prayers are. We can only judge what He prays there by what He has done here and what is told us about Him in the Word. The Spirit too makes intercessions with groanings that cannot be uttered. Romans 8: 26. When we do not know how and what to pray.

He can effectively pray the Father for us since He has been here and understands all our needs and problems. The Father will hear Him for He is His only Son, who He gave to the world and the Father is well pleased with Him. None other can so effectively pray for us. The Father has even promised that if we come in His name He will hear us.

If we read the High Priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17 we may note several things. It is one of the chief concerns of the Son that those who are His may know the Father. That is one reason Jesus came to earth, to reveal the Father. So we ought to make every effort to know God. His chief concern is that those of the household of faith know God. He says to the Father in effect "Take good care of them." "Keep them in thy name.

We sometimes think that the Father could best take care of His Own by taking them out of the world. No, says the Son, but keep them from the evil one in the midst of 'the world. For His own are to be witnesses in the midst of the sinful world. But watch over them while they are as "sheep in the midst of wolves". Certainly there is a day coming that they will be out of the world, for He is coming to take them unto Himself.

He is not so concerned with our material welfare as we are. He has promised that if we first seek His kingdom, the other things will be added. He is determined that we be sanctified. His chief desire is not what we have but what we are. And besides He wants His kingdom to continue - He also prays for those who will believe because of the preaching and teaching of those who do believe. He is a covenant God. Continuation of the kingdom is His honor.

As much as continuation of His kingdom is His desire, so is, that there be unity and a oneness of Purpose in it. That the church be universal. What would heaven be like without this unity. The relationship is to be a that of a family in the highest sense.

Behold, He prayeth for you.

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