Chapter 8 - Partnering with Our Intercessor

INTRODUCTION

Read Romans 8:34. Explain what it means that Jesus is our Intercessor.

Through His advocacy, Jesus is representing us before the Father. Because the Son has such favor before Him, the Father will accept Jesus’ cry on our behalf. Jesus pleads our case before God, and God hears Him. This is what He is doing as our Intercessor.

FOUR THINGS WORKING FOR US

In this section, Henderson lists four things that Jesus is working on our behalf. Fill in the blanks in the list of these four things below and provide a brief summary of their meanings.

The first thing, His death for us, was the ultimate act of obedience.

He died because He loves us, but His greatest motivation in making that sacrifice was His complete obedience to God His Father. Philippians 2:8–9 tells us the esteem that God has for Jesus because of this tremendous act of obedience.

The second thing working for us is that Jesus is risen.

This means He is alive forevermore. His resurrection means He won, so He is interceding for us from a place of great victory. Death and the devil could not defeat Him. He rose from the dead, never to die again, and He is the victorious King who reigns forevermore.

The third thing that works in our favor is that Jesus is at the right hand of God.

According to 1 Timothy 2:5–6: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Sitting at the right hand of God, Jesus represents both the Godhead and humankind. He has the ability to secure for us the benefits of the salvation He purchased, while representing the values, virtues and demands of who God is. This is the position He holds.

The fourth thing working for us is that Jesus is making intercession for us.

Notice that His intercession is for us. He loves us dearly. All that He is presently doing is done on our behalf and for us. This is the exalted place He holds as our recognized Intercessor who represents us before God. This kind of representation before God is a tremendous principle of prayer.

THE UNPARDONABLE SIN

In this section, Henderson states five things someone must experience before they are eligible to commit the unpardonable sin of blasphemy. Fill in the blanks in the five things below:

First, you would have been enlightened so that by revelation, you would have known who Jesus is. You would have been saved, just as by revelation Peter told Jesus that He was the Christ in Matthew 16:15–17.

Second, for someone to fall away and sin unto death, that person must also have tasted of the heavenly gift.

Third, such people also must have partaken of the Holy Spirit, having received His filling and power.

Fourth, they must have tasted the good word of God, experiencing His power and anointing as His word was ministered.

Fifth and finally, they must have been touched by the powers of the world to come. This would mean they have seen and known the miraculous demonstration of God.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION BEFORE GOD

Henderson writes, “Answered prayer is therefore God our Judge rendering a decision based on the testimony of Jesus on our behalf.”

Henderson writes, “Notice that the Holy Spirit makes intercession in agreement with the will of God. He creates within us an unction/spirit of prophecy that empowers us to agree with the prayers of Jesus.”

THE DYNAMIC TESTIMONY OF TONGUES

Henderson writes, “Before the disciples could manifest the Kingdom of God in these spheres in the earth, they first had to possess them in the realms of the spirit.”

Henderson writes, “One of the chief ways we give witness and agree with Jesus’ testimony is through praying in the Holy Spirit, or in tongues.”

Henderson writes, “Through tongues, we are petitioning this court setting of heaven in agreement with the testimony of Jesus.”