Two Intercessors

By Jeff Arnette

    I was recently studying the book of Romans and came across something extraordinary. As I prayed and reflected on Romans 8:26, 35, a completely new and encouraging truth came to my heart and mind.

    We are never alone in this journey we call Christianity. We are surrounded by brothers and sisters, but sometimes that can seem distant and aloof. Occasionally, our struggles happen in the middle of the night when no one else is awake or available to help. Yet, we are never alone. We are never alone because we have two wonderfully loving, kind, and powerful intercessors.

    Romans 8 really reinforces this truth for us.

Romans 8:26–27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (ESV)

Here we are told that the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit who dwells within us and with us (John 14:16-17), the Helper whose work is to ensure our success is always there. He is always there helping us with our weaknesses, helping us pray, and making intercession for us. The force of this word is striking and comforting.

    The Holy Spirit of God is always there with us, pleading for us, appealing to us, and working to ensure our success and comfort. You are never alone as long as the Spirit of God lives. You are never alone because He is eternal, all-powerful, and in overwhelming fashion loving us onward toward success.

    It doesn’t end there. You have another intercessor, another advocate who is also working for you. Consider this one verse.

Romans 8:34 “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (ESV)

This means that we have an intercessor within us, who is always with us in the good times and the bad times. That is not all. We also have an intercessor seated at the right hand of God on high. We have our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the one who sits on the throne with the Father, interceding for us. That is why sin and Satan cannot condemn you. It cannot condemn you because Jesus is the judge, and He is fighting for you. With a steep price, He secured our salvation, and it doesn’t stop there. He is always with us, always on our side, and always fighting for us.

1 John 2:1–2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (ESV)

    We could say so much more about this, so much more we could allow into our hearts and minds. I hope that this is enough to place a new and powerful truth within your heart and soul. You are never alone! You have two intercessors who are always with you, always fighting for you, and constantly fighting with you. Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there for you, working to ensure your success. This means that God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, wants you to succeed and have done everything within their limitless power to make sure you win.

    As Paul says in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Your success is assured because your God is all-powerful and cannot fail.

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/