JC Blog

Do you know what God's will for your life is? The Holy Spirit does, he is the one who actively intercedes for you so that God's will may be fulfilled in your life. He searches your heart and knows every intimate detail about you. David spoke of this in Psalms 139, "O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" ( Psalm 139:1-7 ). David paints of wonderful picture of the intensity of God's love for you. He is engrossed with every detail of your life. So it is only fitting that the Holy Spirit who understands your heart and who knows the mind of God is the one to intercede for you in accordance with God's will.

God has a plan for your life. He created you for a purpose. The Holy Spirit is the one to speak to your spirit this plan. Paul advised us in today's passage that "he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." ( Romans 8:27 ). The Holy Spirit is the translation piece between our spirit and God's spirit. Being flesh and blood, the Holy Sprit helps us by interceding for us with groans and utterances that words cannot express ( Romans 8:26 ).

This is one of the amazing things that we as born again believers experience in life. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, who is fully God, to us to help us on this earth. He reminds us of everything that Jesus said and shows us the constant love of the father. He speaks these truths to our hearts so that we can experience boldness before God. This wasn't always the case, it is because of what Jesus did that we can have this kind of relationship with God. Jesus turn our connection with Him from an outside observer to intimate fellowship.

Jesus revealed an amazing truth to the women at the well, he told her, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" ( John 4:24 ). Up until this time worship was ritualistic following guidelines and rules. But Jesus expanded worship to include relationship and intimate knowledge of God. Being a spirit, we connect with God on an entirely different level than the patriarchs did. We connect with him spirit to spirit. This is why it is so important to understand office of the Holy Spirit. He helps our spirit communicate with God's Spirit in an uninhibited and unrestrained way.

The Holy Spirit knows God's will, he also knows our intent. So it is his job to take our heart and communicate that to God and take God's will and communicate that to our hearts, so that it will be fulfilled in us. The Amplified Bible puts it best, "And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will" ( Romans 8:27 ). It is amazing to know that we have intercession before the Father who makes perfect our requests before him. It is wonderful to know that he knows our heart and God's heart and helps us in our weaknesses. It is encouraging to know that our prayers are not offered in limitation but carry the full power of God. Today may you find joy in understanding this tremendous truth, Amen!

Has a passage of scripture ever knocked you over the head as if it were a baseball bat? Recently in my Monday night small group I stumbled over this passage as we were discussing the strengths and weaknesses of Peter while reading the book "Twelve Ordinary Men" and since then, this verse has given me many moments of reflection.

In this passage, Jesus is telling Simon Peter that he is about to go through some intense testing at the request of Satan. The Disciples are reclining at the table partaking in the Last Supper. They had been arguing over which one of them would be the greatest and the Lord turns to Peter and tells him that Satan has specifically asked His permission to shake him to the very core.

Satan was very explicit as to what his intent with Peter was. He asked Jesus for permission to sift him as wheat. This is the process of tossing wheat into the air so that the chaff would blow away with the wind. I can imagine that this process is somewhat taxing on the fragile wheat, but it is a necessary procedure to get rid of the unwanted portions that were of no use leaving the wheat in pure form.

What I find the most interesting is that Jesus gives Satan the permission he seeks but reassures Peter in the process that He would be praying for him through this testing. Then, He reassures him that he would survive the testing and lastly, He reassures him that when it was over he would strengthen his fellow disciples, and live up to the nickname Jesus had given him… Rock.

How thankful I am that Jesus prayed for Peter during these trials. This testing brought forth the most devastating event in Peter's life, denying any association with Jesus during His trial and crucifixion. But because Jesus had prayed for Peter these events were soon followed by one of his most glorious victories… preaching on the day of Pentecost when over three thousand people came to the Lord.

I am reminded now, that in our own church family we have been going through some intense testing… physically, mentally and spiritually. When we ourselves struggle it is easy to seek counsel and prayer from our beloved Pastors, but what happens when they go through it.

Because of Jesus, we have the privilege to intercede to the Father on their behalf? Have you placed enough importance praying daily for them? Do you pray for God to bless them financially, relationally and spiritually? Do you pray for the wisdom to lead this church? Do you pray for an understanding of the Bible and an ability to preach these truths fearlessly? Do you pray for protection from temptation? Do you pray for compassion for the lost and passion to serve the Lord faithfully? Do you pray for their children?

Did you know that our Pastors will give an account to the Lord on our behalf because God has entrusted them with His most precious possessions… The church and each one of it's members. Today, I challenge you to make a habit of praying for your pastors.Then watch how God blesses them and the church through your faithful prayers.