Living Intercession
1 John 5:4-5 says, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
There is a greater victory for you in Christ Jesus.
We would be foolish to put our heads in the sand and ignore the battle waging around us. The enemy works to bring deception in every area he can—culture, art, politics, education, relationships, and more.
Perhaps if we close off from the world and live in a bubble, we could hide from the evil of the world around us (although there’s no telling what iniquity might be lurking within us out of our sight). Yet John seems to show a picture of victory that is unique to the believer. Faith in Jesus brings authority over the schemes of the enemy.
What does it mean if every child of God defeats the evil of the world through faith in Jesus Christ? Does it mean that we are given cosmic blasters that eradicate every form of evil on sight? Not really… at least not so simply!
Every believer who accepts the calling to freedom is also called to a kind of living intercession—our lives of freedom spill over into the lives of those still stuck in bondage. We stand secure in Christ and uphold each other’s burdens, proclaiming the hope of the gospel.
This place of communion and grace is the ecclesial expression of Christ’s body. The church can extend hope to the world through our testimony of faith. It’s that simple.
Of course, no one on this side of eternity will be perfect. Even if we live our lives near the veil of heaven, sin can still creep into our lives. We don’t have to browse through the news very long to grasp this idea that even kingdom-shakers can fall. This model of living intercession has to extend to the believers within the church. It forms a sort of unshakable web of connection and support. Paul might have called it the “bond of peace.”
Imagine the power of a church that operated as living intercessors. Imagine the beauty of a family of God partnered in God’s work of grace to the believer and to the worldly.
It’s all built on faith. Faith is more potent and powerful than we realize. We have more grace available than we know. Grace only flows where dependence on God is prioritized. And why would we want to live outside of grace?
Today, I want to invite you to contemplate the power of faith in God. What sort of ripple effect would take place if you renewed your faith in God today? Remember his works. Remember that victory is yours in Christ Jesus, and then look for ways to extend that grace to others.
Amen.
