Chasing the Beautiful God

Note: This is shared not to blow my own trumpet but in the hope of imparting vision and hunger.

Right now I can honestly say that I am earning more than I have ever earned in my life. I am driving the nicest car I’ve ever driven and living in the biggest, swankiest house I’ve ever lived in. There is so much to be thankful for.

But I am not content. There are so many reasons to be thankful but very few reasons to be content. How can I be content when so few in this nation know Him? How can I be content when He is still in heaven and we are separated from Him? How can I be content when there are still so many areas of compromise and immaturity in my own life?

Psalm 116:12-13 says, What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation. And call upon the name of the Lord.

In others words, how can I thank God for all His kindness toward me? I will ask for more. I will refuse to live content. I will choose to live hungry (Matthew 5:6) for more. I will choose to live poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3). I will choose to live as one who mourns until the coming of the bridegroom (Matthew 9:15) – until all that God has promised is true upon the earth.

Matthew 11:12 says, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”

That’s the heart of an intercessor. An intercessor is one with violent, holy discontent. He/she is one who takes hold of the promises of God and will not let go until He fulfils what He’s said He will do.

Jesus was and is an intercessor. It says that, “…He … offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save…” (Hebrews 5:7) It says that even now He lives to intercede at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 7:25). He bids us come and join Him.

In our time God is looking for intercessors. He is looking for ones who would take the kingdom with force – who would stand unshakably on His promises with not only their prayers but the force of their very lives.

Like Jacob when He wrestled with God, intercessors refuse to let go until the Lord blesses them and the people they intercede for (Genesis 32). They refuse to let go until they have the fullness of what God has declared.

For the love of God and for the love of people they stand between the two and draw them together in the spiritual realm. Intercessors are labourers of love.

And the reward? (Apart from seeing the power of God break out on the earth J ) There is a depth of intimacy with God that is only available to those who would cultivate this kind of vision. Whether I choose to go on this journey or not God still loves me with abounding, unconditional love but the deep things of His heart He only shares with the hungry. There is an ecstasy of intimacy with Jesus that He can only share with those who would walk as He walked (see Philippians 3: 8-11). I want that. I long for that. It’s a glorious invitation and it’s open to all.

Joel Ratcliffe

For more detailed notes on the Theology of Intercession click here.