11th July 2024
To be with God
This is the fifteenth in a series of studies on the subject of prayer
…[Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Hebrews 7:25 (NIVUK)
In most English translations of our header scripture, the writer to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus intercedes for us. This translation can be a little misleading because the Greek word does not mean ‘to speak’ or ‘plead’ or ‘to make petitions’ or ‘entreaties’, rather it means ‘to be with someone’, ‘to meet or encounter someone’, especially for the purpose of conversation and consultation.1 Sometimes called ‘the intercession of Jesus’ this verse tells us about his ceaseless presence with the Father talking to him about us.
Jesus is with the Father, not begging the Father to be gracious, for the Father is in and of himself grace, and graciousness continually flows from him. Jesus is ever present with the Father, with the world upon his heart as he converses with him.
Here is a model for our prayers. If we think of ourselves and our prayers as being consciously in the presence of the Father, we will find that the many aspects of prayer are embraced within the act of being in God’s presence.
When you have a close friend, you may plan to spend an agreed period of time with them and be careful not to miss it. How you use that time is not necessarily planned, but during the time together news can be shared, requests made, regrets and successes may be lamented or celebrated, and thoughts expressed by talking and listening and even through little gestures. Aren’t our prayers rather like that? Prayer is spending time in the conscious awareness, and conscious presence of one who is not only our friend but is our creator and our Abba Father.
Within the space of being with God every aspect of prayer can be included: to feel awe in God’s presence is adoration; to be with God gratefully is thanksgiving; to be with God penitently is contrition, and to be with God with concern for others on our hearts is intercession. The key is the quest for God’s presence, as the Psalmist says, “Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:7-8).
Certainly, we will give careful thought to what we say in our prayers, but the outcome will be determined not only by our plans and designs but by God’s act in shaping both the time and ourselves as we come into his presence. Prayer is not only our actions but a divine activity as the Holy Spirit cries within us ‘Abba Father’.
As we are in our Father’s presence, we are likely to pass through adoration, thanksgiving, contrition and intercession as we wonder, thank, confess, and find people’s needs on our hearts. Let’s live to seek his face, to desire his presence, and our relationship with our Abba will grow.
Prayer
Loving Father, as we seek your face in prayer, please make your presence known to us, and prepare our hearts to encounter you. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Barry Robinson
1 Strong’s #1793 – ἐντυγχάνω – Old & New Testament Greek Lexical Dictionary – StudyLight.org
About the writer:
Barry Robinson is a minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Pastor for Southern England, the Midlands, and Wales
Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church