Expensive Exercise

Many Spirit-filled Christians do not realize that there are five (5) "spiritual senses" which are as active and operative as any of the five physical ones. Allow me to list them.

Body senses: ("soma" Gr.)

• Sight
• Smell
• Hearing
• Taste
• Touch

Soul senses: ("psyche")

• Imagination
• Conscience
• Memory
• Reason
• Affections

Spirit senses: ("pneuma")

• Faith
• Hope
• Reverence
• Prayer
• Worship

Until a person is born again, the spirit part of him/her is dead. (SEE Ephesians 2:1) . After salvation, with the body we (that is, the soul, the real us), touches our physical world. With the spirit we (that is, the soul), touches God and the spiritual world. As we physically exercise by the five physical senses, we spiritually exercise with the five spiritual ones.

In each event, the more we "exercise" any of the senses, the stronger (or weaker, as the case may be) we become. Strong Christians are that way because they spiritually exercise more.

This week's discussion addresses only one of a Christian's spiritual exercises - that of prayer - and especially, intercessory prayer.

According to 1 Timothy 2:1-8, there are four levels of prayer, and anyone interested may have this complete study, "Paul's Recipe For Prayer", gratis by requesting it from: W. L. Boone, P.O. Box 2487, Orofino, ID 83544, or, e-mail: lesboone @ juno.com. [No spaces.]

Intercessory prayer differs from other kinds in that it is in behalf of other persons or interests other than ones own. Intercessory prayer is an expensive exercise, for the cost to God exceeds any human concept of value. Intercessory prayer is at the expense of the sacrificial, intermedial blood of our Jesus.

Each thought, each breath, each heart-cry, each sigh, each tear, and every yearning prayer of intercession draws on the redemptive resources deposited by Jesus at Calvary.

The throne of grace referred to in Hebrews 4:16 widely opened to all believers when the veil of the temple was split from top to bottom, providing constant and instant access through Jesus' death.

When we intercede, we bow on the holiest of heaven's places; we kneel in the most sacred territory of God's realm; we pray in a vaulted aura of hushed, glorified ambiance attended by millions of angelic beings (SEE Daniel 7:9 & 10). Intercessors do what angels cannot! It is a strictly human right and effort!

And angels are awestruck by such incredible authority entrusted - and restricted - to humankind! And they wonder why we waste and misuse it!

Intercessory prayer is the greatest earthly power, and is restricted and assigned to Spirit-filled believers only. Does any reader wonder why it is so severely contested by the powers of darkness? Do we question why Satan will place every barrier and hindrance in our way to keep us from using it?

An intercessor's greatest encouragement comes from our Helper, God's Holy Spirit, Who is the Prompter, the Director, and the Energizer in the art of intercession. "Thank You, Lord!"