This sermon emphasizes the importance of intercession and prayer as a way to reign with Jesus. It highlights the role of believers as royal priests who are called to intercede for others, including praying for leaders and nations. The message stresses the power of intercession in changing lives, communities, and even nations, urging listeners to fulfill their role in reigning with Christ through prayer.

I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's been my joy to be here at your church in the prayer conference, prayer seminar, that began Friday night, two sessions Friday night, four sessions yesterday, until about 3.30 or 4 in the afternoon. And now, in some sense, this is an independent message, but in another sense, it is the final aspect of that prayer conference. I'm happy that a number of my books are here. My latest book, Revival Fire, the thrilling story of revival, primarily in the last three centuries, in various parts of the world. It will be available here in the country sometime within this coming month. It is off the press about a month ago. It's on the way someplace between the United States and New Zealand right now. And I hope you will all be able to take a copy of it. The first book the Lord led me to write was Touch the World Through Prayer. Already, in the aisle right over there, a brother said to me, In my life, this book has been next to the Bible. I have had hundreds and hundreds of testimonies of how God has used this. I hope you, if you don't have a copy, you will get one. Over 300,000 copies around the world in 31 languages or nations. And it just keeps extending further and further. A manual on intercessory prayer. The second book I wrote was because so many Christians seem to have a problem in understanding God's will in their life. And that I felt so many only thought of God's will in connection with the big events of life. Marriage, life work, so on. When God wants to bless us and guide us in everything, the Bible says the Lord will guide you always. That means daily. So I wrote this book. Let God guide you daily. The little decisions of life on which often great things hinge. Let him guide you in your praying, in your witnessing, in your purchasing so you save money, in your travel, in all sorts of events of life. The next book I wrote was A Blaze for God. Oh, that every one of us were really ablaze for God. As I was writing this, I was planning to call it A Flame for God. And one night as I was praying, I thought, well, a flame flickers up and down. That isn't what I want. I want a steady blazing fire for God. So I changed the title. A Blaze for God. How the Holy Spirit can use you in leadership. Lay leadership, youth leadership, children's leadership, missionary leadership, lay, any form of service for the Lord. In fact, many people who consider themselves, quote, only laymen, tell me this is the best book that I ever wrote. And then I realized there were those situations in life that do not easily yield to answers to prayer. Perhaps there are some of you here who have been praying for three years or two months and you don't have an answer yet for a situation. What more can we do to get important answers to the prayers and the cries of our heart? And so I wrote the book Mighty Prevailing Prayer. And we've been talking about the last two days, how to get your prayer more mighty, more effective, more God glorifying, how you can get more answers to your prayer. The last book that I wrote that I have here was this book, Measure Your Life. Do you know, I have been amazed. I am now 78 years of age. I don't think I've heard more than one sermon in my life on the time when Christians stared at the judgment throne of Christ. A lot of reference to when the sinners stand there. But if we come to Christ with repentance, the sins we bring to the cross, we leave. And they will never be mentioned against us again. We do not face our sins at the judgment throne of Christ if we belong to Christ. That's been taken care of. But we will, every one of us, stand before the judgment throne of Christ to be judged and then rewarded eternally for how we invested our life after we were born again. And do you know, millions of Christians are just living and don't think about investing themselves for God and His cause. And God is planning such tremendous rewards throughout the ages of eternity. It's His great joy because we're His children. He wants to bestow on us. And heaven will not be the same for everybody. Oh, we will all share the joy and the glory and the light and the beauty and the music and all of that. But there are going to be individual rewards. Your reward will be different from mine. Mine will be different from yours. That reward will be according to how we have prayed, how we have served, how we have loved. Yes, I have mentioned here 17 ways to evaluate your life from God's perspective. He will reward you for what your thought life has been. Have you been thinking about Jesus? Have you been thinking about the suffering world? Have you been thinking about the prisoners for Christ's sake that are in prison today? Your thought life. Your words. How much have your words glorified Jesus? Do you use your words every day to someone to glorify Jesus? How God will reward you for your sacrifice. For the world dimension. And so on and so on. These are all available at bargain prices. And I hope you get a copy of every one. An investment I don't think you'll regret. Many people who first bought one or two and then they want all the rest of them. And so I pray God will make them a blessing. I don't keep one dollar from the sale of my books. Everything above the actual cost goes to help print editions in poorer third world countries. They're in Russia. 50,000 of them. They're inside mainland China. Been carried in there and others will be carried in. You're buying the books. Helps get other books out around the world in 31 different languages or nations. And now I hope that I will give what is God's most important message for you for today. I read from the book of Ephesians chapter 1. Paul's telling us the prayer he prays for the Ephesian church. Beginning with verse 17. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. The glorious father may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. In order that you may know the hope to which he called you. The riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. And his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength. Which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead. And seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion. And every title that can be given. Not only in this present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet. And appointed him to be head over everything. The next verse. For the church. Do you understand why it's important that Jesus is head over all the world. Sitting at the right hand of God the father for the church. We're going to look at that this morning. Which is his body. The fullness of him who fills everything in every way. And drop down to verse 6. And God raised us up with Christ. And seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Some 30 years ago. When the British government was planning her majesty Queen Elizabeth's official state visit to India. They began a year in advance. And they decided she would have one Sunday in India. And they decided they would have her spend that Sunday in Varanasi. The old Hindu Banaras. Which was just about 90 miles from where we lived in Allahabad. And there was only one Church of England church there. So she would be attending St. Mary's Church. A year in advance. People came from Buckingham Palace. They looked the church over. They said your old failed. Strip of carpet down the aisle. Is not fit for the queen to walk on. You've got to put in new carpet this year. They said look, your church looks too barren here on the outside. You've got to put some nice shrubs here on the outside. Some flowers. Beautify it up a little bit. So on, so on. And they made all the other plans about her state visit. We were thrilled. Because that Anglican church was pastored by a born-again, spirit-filled. Background. Dear brother in Christ, Bob Harlan. Dear friend of mine and others. And it just so happened that his associate pastor had been sent to us for training. He had been my student. Had graduated from our OMS seminary. And it just so happened that almost every member of the choir. Was a member of a missionary society that was evangelical through and through. Staff members. So we said praise the Lord. The queen is going to be able to worship in that church. Now the bishop thought, oh what a privilege I'm going to have. I'll be preaching to her majesty the queen. About one month before the arrival. There came a letter from Buckingham Palace. The queen desires no special service. She wants to be a part of the regular congregational service of the church. So that meant the bishop was out. And that meant the pastor, my dear brother Bob Harlan. Was going to be the one who was going to preach to the queen. Oh we began to pray, Lord bless Bob. Lord give Bob just the message. The bishop said to me, now Wesley. I'm sorry I can't give you a ticket for St. Mary's Church. Well I said look I didn't ask for a ticket. He said I know. But he said you see that only seats 330 people. And every third person in the church has to be a secret police. And he said every British official in India. And that you see was years ago when there were British officials there in greater number. He said everyone wants to be present from the high commissioner on down. And he said Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit. Premier Nehru's sister. Who used to be the president of the United Nations. She wants to be there. Indira Gandhi wants to be there. The Maharaja of Benares. Great Hindu officials all want to be in the church at that time. I wouldn't dare let an American in. I said that's all right. I'll tell you what. I'm going to pitch a tent right out in front of the church in Ogden. And I'm going to give you a ticket. Your family. To sit in the tent. Well I said thank you Bishop. That's very kind of you. Then one week before the royal arrival. There came one more note. To the pastor. Your sermon is to be 12 minutes in length. Oh we said Lord help Bob Harlan. How is he going to give the kind of message you want him to give in 12 minutes time. The time came. We got there early in the morning. I brought my tripod. My movie camera. That was before we had automatic focusing cameras. I wanted the secret police to know who I was. So they wouldn't be disturbed by anything I did. So I brought out my tripod and set it down. Put my camera on top. Pulled out my exposure meter to measure the light in one or two places. So they would see the gestures I would be making. And the Bishop walked up in all his beautiful robes. It was nice to talk. Now I said Bishop. When the Queen talks to me what do I say? She looked at me. You don't speak to royalty. Until royalty speaks to you. And you don't ask anything of royalty. You only answer royalty. And besides. The first time she speaks you have to say Your Majesty. He got about that far. Then he realized it was a joke. So he smiled and I smiled. Of course I wasn't going to speak to the Queen. But at least I learned something very important. Here promptly at the right time. Here came the procession of military vehicles. And then Her Majesty's car. And I was standing with my movie camera ready. So right in front of me. About ten feet in front of me. The Queen and Philip got out. And the Bishop was there. And the pastor was there. And my former student, his associate pastor was there. Greeting the royal party. And I got them in standing there. And as they went into the church. My. That service went fast. I was praying the whole time. Oh Lord use this service. Lord help me. Anoint him. Use him this morning. Philip read the scripture lesson. My former student led in the prayers. And then Bob began to speak. He said there is a way to contact heaven. He said you can talk to God. You see I'm talking about prayer this morning. He said but what does it mean to be a child of God. He said it doesn't mean to be the member of the Church of England. Or any other church. That doesn't make you a child of God. It doesn't mean to be baptized. That doesn't make you a child of God. He said it doesn't mean to be faithful to the church. And come every Sunday. Or to support the church. He said you have to be born again. He said you must repent of your sins. Oh I said thank you Lord. Thank you. Quietly within my heart I was just rejoicing. Oh Lord help me. He was giving a regular Billy Graham message. He preached the gospel there like everything. And I said thank you Lord. Thank heaven Lord help him. Bless him use him. Lord bless him. I was so absorbed in it. I hardly realized when I could hear him singing the closing hymn. The benediction. And here came the royal party to the door of the church you know. Fifty feet in front of me where I was sitting. Oh thank you Lord. So I stood up right away to my camera. But I was still praising. Oh Lord don't let any of those people miss the message. Lord use it to all those Hindus and Mohammedans and the secret police. Lord bless. Oh use it. Praise your name. Praise your name. And I thought my she's getting big. And did you find her yet? I looked up. She had come and was standing right in front of me. And I was so absorbed praying that I hadn't realized what was happening. She said are you a missionary? I said yes. She said what society are you with? I told her. She said what is it your ministry? I told her I'm the principal of a theological school training Indian Christian young people to be pastors of Indian Christian churches. So what? Your majesty. I said. It just suddenly dawned on me what I was supposed to have said your majesty. She smiled with that little dimple which is in her cheek and you may not know it's there. It doesn't show up on the pictures. And then they were gone. I got them as they left. And as soon as the royal party was out the churchyard. Just like that. But in the meantime everybody had entered from the church and they were all standing there watching her talk to me. And as soon as she was gone the Britishers came from all over. I said I don't know why she talked to me. I wasn't expecting her to speak to me. But maybe I know why she talked to me. To tell you. Did you hear what I said? You don't speak to royalty. Until royalty speaks to you. And you don't ask anything from royalty. You only answer royalty. But did you know. That the sovereign of this universe the king of kings and lord of lords. Said. And I preached on it yesterday. Ask. And it would be given to you. Seek. And you will find. Knock. And the door will be opened to you. Do you realize. That you and I as children of the lord. Are the most privileged creatures on this earth. Any time day or night. We don't have to wait for a word or anything. We can talk direct to God. Are we making use of the privileges that God has given us. To commune with God. To intercede with God. I'm going to speak to you this morning on reigning with Christ. Or. Another title in other words would be the trinity of intercession. Now. You and I all understand the trinity of the godhead. God the father. God the son. And God the holy spirit. But do you understand the trinity of intercession. God the father. Never intercedes. He is the God who hears all the prayer. Who constitute the trinity of intercession. First of all. Is God the son. Jesus Christ. The son of God. Our great high priest. Do you remember in the passage. It said that Jesus has been raised to heaven. And seated at the right hand of God the father. Did you know that that is repeated over and over and over. In God's word. When Jesus was on trial just before the cross. Pilate tried to get him to talk. Herod tried to get him to talk. The high priest tried to get Jesus to talk. And Jesus stood there in silence. And finally in exasperation. The high priest. Used the legal form for court oaths. And he said to Jesus. I quote from the King James Version. I adjure you by the living God. That you tell us. Whether you be the son of God. Or no. Could Jesus remain silent then. No. On the most solemn. Moment. Of his life. For an official answer to the whole Jewish nation. Through their high priest. In Sanhedrin. Who were all seated there. He was put on legal oath. He must tell. Whether or not he was the son of God. And Jesus responded. Instantly. I am. He didn't say. I am the son of God. Did you hear what he said? I am. Do you remember when Moses. Met God at the burning bush. And God commissioned him. Well he said. How will the people believe me? Who shall I tell him has sent me? And God said. I am. He is my name. Forever. And the high priest. Was aghast. This person standing before me. Dares. To claim to be Jehovah. I am. And there on oath. Jesus. Legally. Swore. To three things. His deity. I am the son of God. His sovereignty. You. Mr. High Priest. You. Members of the Sanhedrin. You. People in Tauranga. You. People who are sitting here today. You. Will all. See me. Seated. At the right hand. Of God. The Father. He. Will be the sovereign of the ages. And the third thing. And you will see me. Coming. On the clouds. Of heaven. He. On oath. Swore. Legally. I am the son of God. You will see me in my sovereign role. And you will see me coming on the clouds of heaven. Yes. Every eye. Will see him. Did Jesus. Go to the right hand. And the father. Did he take his seat. Oh yes. Luke. 22. 69. Jesus said. From now. The son of man. Will be seated. That means. Until 1995. From now on. The son of man. Will be seated. At the right hand. Of the mighty God. Mark says it this way. He was taken. Up to heaven. And he sat down. At the right hand. Of God. Are you noticing what I am repeating? These are the words of scripture. Sat down. Right hand. God. The throne of God. The majesty. Some similar word there. Hebrews 1. 3. After he provided. Purification. From sins. He. Sat down. At the right hand. Of the majesty. In heaven. Hebrews 12. 2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. The author and perfecter of our faith. Who for the joy set before him. Endured the cross. Scorning and shame. And. Sat down. At the right hand. Of the throne of God. Why. Does the Bible. Repeat. Thirteen times. All those. Identical words. Jesus. Sat down. At the right hand. Of the majesty. Or the God. The father. Or the throne. Some such word there. Something God doesn't want us to overlook. Something God wants us to be firmly convinced of. Something God wants us to understand. Thirteen times. In Hebrews 8. 1. The writer of Hebrews says. The point of what we are saying is this. If you haven't called us for it. The point of what we are saying is this. We do have such a high priest. Who sat down. At the right hand. Of the throne of the majesty in heaven. What is the point? The point is this. That Jesus. Is seated. First of all. Do you know who sits in a throne room? Only. The emperor. The king. You know what? There is no other seat. In a throne room. In ancient empires. The chief minister. Or maybe one other minister. Or two. Could be summoned into the king's presence. And when they came. They stood. Only the emperor. Sat. To be seated. In the throne room. Was to be seated. On the throne. Was to be. The sovereign. Yourself. So Jesus. Is told to us. Thirteen times. That he is seated. And that he is seated. On the throne. In which throne? The throne. Beside God the father. On the right hand. The right hand. Is the place of honor. Of God the father. In heaven. So this is something. Very, very important. What is he doing? Sitting on the throne. Very obvious. He is reigning. But how is he reigning? Did you notice? The point of what we are saying is this. We do have such a high priest. He is seated. As in a dual capacity. As high priest. And as sovereign. Only one. In history. Sovereign high priest. High priest. Sovereign. What is Jesus priority today? Is it greeting saints? When they reach heaven? No. Oh yes. Jesus stood up when. Stephen the martyr. Came to heaven. Oh yes. I am sure Jesus greets everyone. Of his children. When they arrive in heaven. But that is not his. He is glad to do that. But that is not his priority. That is not his main concern. What is he doing? Enjoying heavenly concerts. And the music of the angels. Oh I am sure. He enjoys that. But that is not his priority. What does the bible say? He. Ever. Lives. To. Do what? Intercede. What does that mean? That doesn't mean. He is not trying to tell us that he is always alive. That is said elsewhere. Of course he is alive. He is the way. The truth. And the life. He cannot but be alive forevermore. He is life itself. But the point is not that. The point is. He lives to intercede. Now if you hear said about. Your pastor. That he lives. For his church. You know what that means. You know. That his big concern. He is always thinking about you his congregation. You know. That he is loving you. You know. Every time he prays. He is praying for you. You know. His whole concern is. He is living for you. When you hear that a mother lives for her family. You know what that means. Oh of course she has to iron. She has to cook. But she is living for her family. That is her priority. That is her delight. That is her joy. That is her thrill. She is living for her family. You have heard that said. So and so lives for their music. But Jesus lives to intercede. The great delight of the son of God today. Is to be our high priest. To intercede. He is living to intercede. You know what does the high priest do? The human. The Hebrew high priest. Were all typical. Pointing to the real high priest. Jesus Christ. The high priest did two things. He offered sacrifices. And he made intercession. Now. At the cross. Jesus offered the sacrifice. That ended all sacrifice. He offered the sacrifice. Of himself on the cross. That every sacrifice. From the garden of Eden on. Had pointed forward to. And on the cross Jesus said. It. Is. Finished. And it is finished. Do you know any place in the world. Where a Jew offers sacrifices today? It is finished. No need of any further sacrifices. Oh we talk about spiritually. We talk about the sacrifice of joy. And the sacrifice of thanksgiving. And like that. But real sacrifice. In the biblical. Primary initial meaning of the term. Was culminated. And accomplished. Once and for all. We have a finished work of Christ. But there is an unfinished. Work of Christ. And what is that? Intercession. He is our high priest. Do you remember in the high priest. In the Old Testament. He had to always wear his. Official garb. And he didn't have a committee. Designed that garb. God prescribed exactly. How the high priest. Was to be officially. Garbed. God told him. That white long robe. And over it. Something like a vest. And on the front of that. God said. There is to be. Four. Rows. Of three jewels each. On every jewel. The name of one of the tribes of Israel. And that. Piece of cloth. Nine inches wide. Eighteen inches long. And then fold it up. And on the front. And so the high priest. Was always to have on his heart. The people. The names of the people. Symbolizing. He in love. Serves them as their high priest. God so loved. The world. And to make it very clear. God told Moses exactly. How it was to be fastened. He said. Fasten it with gold chains. Around his body. So that it not swing out. The Bible clearly says that. Never is there to be one inch. Between the breastplate. As it was called. With the names of the people. Never one inch. Separating that. From the heart. The high priest. Was always to have. Close to his heart. The people for whom. He was officially. The high priest. Oh what a beautiful picture. That was but a simple point to Jesus. Jesus has you. And me. On his heart. He is the high priest. On the right hand of God. The father today. And he has us. On his heart. Praise God. That wasn't all. On this shoulder. There was to be a flat stone. Sewn into the cloth. And on that flat stone. The names of six of the tribes. Of Israel. And on this shoulder. Another onyx stone. With six names. Engraved. Not only was he to keep us. On his heart. But he showed. The responsibility. For his people. And Jesus. Takes the responsibility. For your life and mine. As our high priest. He is living to intercede. For all of our needs. Realize it. Rejoice in the fact. He is our great. High priest. Praise God. So the unfinished work. Of Christ. Is his work. As high priest. And he lives. To intercede. And he has entered. Heaven and self. Now to appear. In the presence of God. For us. And he is. The great. Amen. That is one of his names. In the Bible. You find in the book of Revelation. What does that mean? That means. That every time. You pray a prayer. According to the will of God. Jesus. Says. Amen. Look at that again. Just a moment or two. So. The number one. Intercessor. Of the universe. Is. Jesus Christ. The son of God. Well who is number two? If there is a trinity of intercession. Who is number two? Praise God. That is the Holy Spirit. We read all about it. In. Romans. Chapter eight. Have you often said. I wish I knew how to pray about this. I just don't know. Quite what to ask. Now God knew we were going to be there. And the Bible acknowledges the fact. In fact. Let me read to you. Romans eight. Twenty six. The spirit. Helps us. In our weakness. We are weak. What in? We do not know what we ought to pray for. So that's why. The Holy Spirit. Is our counselor. And our guide. You remember Jesus said. I will send you another. The Greek word. Is. Paracletos. In the King James Version. It is translated. Comforter. In some versions. It is translated. Helper. In other versions. Like the New International. It's translated. Counselor. You see. The Greek word. Paracletos. Is so rich. In meaning. So full of being. You can't. Describe it all. In any one. English word. So you have to choose. Which word. Shall we use. To express. What's here. Of course. He comforts us. Of course. He helps us. Of course. He strengthens us. Of course. He counsels us. But I remember that. In the Old Testament. When it was prophesied. About the coming of Jesus. And his name. Shall be. What. Wonderful counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. So Jesus. Is our. Wonderful counselor. Jesus was leading. To go back to heaven. And he said. I will give you another. Yes. I have been your. Paracletos. I've been your comforter. I've been your helper. I've been your counselor. But now. I'm going to give you. Another one. And he will abide with you forever. Even the spirit of truth. So. The Holy Spirit. Is our. Counselor. In residence. In our heart. To guide us. And to help us. And when we don't know. How we ought to pray. The Holy Spirit. Is with us. To help us. And to guide us. In our praying. Back to the time of. Let God. Guide you. Daily. He wants to guide you. In your praying. As you pray. For your family. As you pray. For your pastor. As you pray. For your church. As you pray. For your nation. As you pray. For your neighborhood. He wants to guide you. Did he remind you. Already this morning. Of someone or something. To pray about. That's his. That's his work. He does that. If you are sensitive. To the voice of the Holy Spirit. Now praise God. I'll read that again. The Spirit. Helps us. In our weakness. We do not know. What we ought to pray for. You know. James and John. Didn't know. When Jesus was coming. Through Samaria. On his way to Jerusalem. And the Samaritan people. This day. Wouldn't leave him alone. To stay overnight. Get up. Get up. Get up. You can't stay here. In our village. James and John. Became so angry. They said. Lord. Shall we call down fire. Out of heaven. Lord. Elijah. Burn him up. Jesus said. You don't know. What kind of spirit you have. Jesus didn't come. To burn people up. He came. To save people. James and John. Didn't know. How they ought to pray. Even Paul. Didn't always know. How they ought to pray. Remember. Paul. Had a thorn. In his flesh. Something very painful. There is speculation. What that thorn. Was. We can't. Guarantee. We know. But we. Come pretty close to. Knowing. We know. That there was. Serious. Oriental eye. Diseases. Rampant. At that time. We know. What Paul said. We know. That he. He did not write. His own letters. A secretary. Wrote his letters. But he signed them. You remember. He said. On one occasion. You see. What large letters. I am using. As I sign. So. He had to write. The big letters. I guess. That's the best. He could do. So. He could see. What he was doing. You know. What another place. He said to the Galatians. He said. I bear you record. You treat me. Like an angel of God. If you could. You would have plucked. Your eyes out. And given them. To me. Yes. He had a painful. Eye problem. He had. Very poor eyesight. And so. Paul said. Three times. I asked. The Lord. To take away. That thorn. In my flesh. But what did God say. My grace. Is sufficient. Even Paul. Didn't know. What was best. So. It's not surprising. If you and I. Don't always know. But praise the Lord. Holy Spirit. Always knows. Not only. Does he guide us. What to pray. But let me complete. The verse. The Bible says. We do not know. What we ought. To pray for. But the spirit. Himself. Intercedes for us. So. There's the second. Intercessor. The Holy Spirit. Himself. Intercedes. For us. Now. How does he. Intercede. Now. Lord. Here's. Brother. Smith. Gonna. Have a. Busy week. This week. Helping. With his work. Helping. With the family. May. Have a. Good weekend. Here's. Little. Nancy. In the. Third. Grade. At school. She's. Gonna. Have a. Rhythmic. Test. With the. Rhythmic. Test. This week. And. There's. Sister. Jones. You know. Our hand. Is. Full. With her. Family. All the. Washing. She's. Got. To do. In the. Work. Lord. Help. Sister. Jones. Is. Not. Holy. Spirit. Prays. The. Bible. Tells. Us. How. He. Prays. For. Us. I. Didn't. Finish. The. Verse. The. Spirit. Himself. Intercedes. For. Us. With. Growns. That. Words. Cannot. Express. A. Lot. Of. People. Think. That. The. Holy. Spirit. Is. Going. To. Cause. Us. To. Groan. What. The. Bible. Says. Is. He. Is. Praying. Growns. For. Us. Now. When. He. Burdens. Us. For. Things. Sometimes. We. Will. Groan. In. Our. Hearts. And. We. May. Even. Groan. Verbally. As. We. Are. Praying. For. Us. Groans. His. Heart. Yearns. Infinitely. That. No. Human. Words. Would. Be. Adequate. To. Express. Oh. Father. Blessed. Pastor. This. Week. Helped. Him. With. Those. Lovely. People. Church. Oh. Father. Give. Him. Wisdom. Father. Anoint. Him. In. Everything. He. Does. This. Week. Oh. Father. Blessed. Little. Nancy. She. Loves. You. Oh. Blessed. Little. Nancy. Helped. Her. To. Be. A. Light. For. You. In. Her. School. Situation. Oh. Father. Blessed. Brother. Tom. Blessed. And. He. Is. Praying. With. Groans. For. You. And. The. Great. Second. Intercessor. Of. The. Trinity. He. Is. Praying. For. You. And. Me. With. Groans. And. That. Isn't. All. I've. Got. More. Good. News. What. Is. The. Verse. The. Spirit. Intercedes. For. The. Saints. In. Accordance. With. God's. Will. So. He. Is. Praying. The. Highest. And. Best. Thing. That. Could. Ever. Be. Prayed. For. He. Knows. Will. God. And. He. Is. Praying. That. You. Will. Find. The. Will. Of. God. Praise. The. Lord. What. Does. That. Mean. What. Does. That. Mean. You. Next. Verse. Says. A. Lot. Of. People. Read. The. Next. Verse. And. They. Don't. See. That. This. Is. One. Package. We. Do. Not. Know. In. Accordance. God. In. The. Next. Verse. We. Know. Romans. Eight. Twenty. Eight. You. Can. Quote. The. Reference. Even. To. That. Place. How. Many. Chapters. Ago. Praise. God. Praise. God. Praise. God. Praise. God. Praise. God. Praise. God. Praise. Praise. God. God. God. That. The. Trinity. Of. Intercession. Would. Be. Incomplete. Until. You. Join. In. Prayer. Why. We. Need. Us. He. Didn't. But. He. Chose. Us. And. He. Chose. Us. For. this room. Do you remember what 1st Peter tells us? For you are a chosen generation, a what? Royal priesthood. Well what do we need priests for today? Not to offer sacrifices. To intercede. You are to be God's special royal priest. How much of a priest have you been this week? Revelation chapter 1, he has washed us from our sins with his blood and made us to be, what does it say? Kings and priests to God. Have you acted like a king this week? Have you acted like a priest this week? Have you acted like a royal priest? You see, now we think, oh God is so good, he has raised us from our sins. Of course he has. The Bible is clear. We can be crucified with Christ. We can be buried with Christ. We can be raised with Christ. Do you remember the verse I read? Back to verse 6. And he has raised us together with Christ and seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms. Wait a minute. I thought I told you that no one sat in the throne room except the sovereign. How can you sit with Jesus unless you're sitting in the throne room of heaven? The Bible says that's where Jesus is seated. Thirteen times it goes over and over. And here we are told he has seated us, he has raised us for this purpose, to seat us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ. So you see, you are to be reigning with Jesus. By what? By doing what Jesus is doing. And what is Jesus doing? He's interceding. Jesus is not reigning today by his scepter. That day is coming. The day is coming when he will be ruling with power. There'll be no more temptation. There'll be no more sin. Satan will be cast out of this universe. That day is coming. But this is not that day. This is the dispensation of intercession. This is the dispensation when Jesus is high priest. We don't know his roles throughout eternity, but this dispensation, until he comes on the clouds of heaven, he will be seated at the right hand of God the Father to intercede. He is reigning by prayer, intercession. You remember before the cross, Jesus said to Peter, Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. And then he added, but I have prayed for you. Incidentally, that you is in the plural. Peter, which is so representative of the other disciples, and of you and me. That's the church. We are, Satan wants to sift you and me today. But Jesus is only prayed for us. Why doesn't Jesus just grab the devil and throw him away? No, not yet. That day is coming. But now he is defeating Satan. By what? Intercession. It was prophesied way back in the book of Psalms. The first of the Messianic Psalms. The Psalms about Messiah. Psalm 2. Talks about how the kings of the earth gather together against God and their anger and all. And he who sits in heaven, God the Father, laughs. He said, I've set my king upon my holy hill. And then Messiah speaks. And he says, I will declare the decree of the Lord. He, God the Father, said to me, God the Son, to me, Messiah. What? You are my son. Today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations. So how is Jesus going to get New Zealand? By a mighty demonstration of his power. He's going to do it by asking. How is Jesus going to stop communism? By the sword? By intercession. He is reigning by intercession. How will the Muslim world ever yield to Jesus Christ? By a crusade? No. By intercession. This is the dispensation of intercession. The dispensation of power is coming, thank God. But this is a dispensation. What is the most important work you could ever do for Christ today? Is it to go up and down every street in Tauranga and knock on every door and witness to every family about Jesus? That might be wonderful. That might be God's will for you. I don't know. The greatest thing you will ever do for Jesus will be what? To intercede. I have been praying, you have been praying already for Billy Graham crusade this week. What is the greatest thing that Billy Graham will ever do? This week, when for the first time in human history, one man will preach to maybe as many as two billion people? But let's not degreeze it. The greatest thing Billy Graham will ever do is to intercede. To reign with Jesus. God gives us our various assignments, but we are all given the priority assignment to be seated with Jesus on the throne of heaven. What is the most Christ-like thing you could ever do? To do the very thing that Christ is doing. And what's he doing? Interceding. My brothers and sisters, this is serious Christian business. This is serious Christian responsibility. Why is the world so little responsive to Christ today? Because we are not fulfilling God's priority role for us, as we ought to be. And the more the church takes unto itself the role of intercession, the more glory comes of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the more miracles of grace and power are manifested. And the church has forgotten. We glory in our praise of God. Beautiful. We glory in our worship of God. Beautiful. We're going to do that throughout eternity. We're not the only ones praising God. All creation, all nature praises God. The seraphim, the cherubim, the archangels and angels. But do you know there is no proof in the Bible that one heavenly angel ever has or ever will intercede. Who intercedes? The trinity of intercession. God the Father, God the Son, and God's children. That's your role in life. I want to ask you, how much reading have you already done this week? How much reading did you do before you came to church this morning? Do you plan to take some time today to reign with Jesus? That's not praying for yourself. That's not reigning with Jesus. If you're sitting on the throne, you don't be absorbing yourself in your own private interests. On the throne, you are therefore the kingdom. What is Jesus' priority prayer? Jesus' patterned prayer for you and me? Teach us. Before we ever say, give us today our daily bread, we are to say, your will be done, your kingdom come. We are to in normal praying. Now there can be emergencies when you go straight to, oh Lord, help now. But in normal praying, before we pray for ourselves, we are to pray for others, for God's word. Your will be done, your kingdom. After this man according to this way. This is the way you should pray, said Jesus. Hallowed be your name, your kingdom, your will. Then give us and make our needs. May God teach us to reign as kings and priests. I am deeply distressed in America. I feel here so few pastors ever pray by name for President Clinton. I have heard it much more in Britain, in the British churches, when they pray for their queen. What does the Bible say? What did God say through Paul? I will first of all that prayers, intercessions, and the giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all those in authority. What right do we have to criticize our government if we haven't been praying for the leaders and for the government? We are to be priests. We are to sit on the throne. We are to reign with Jesus. How many times this past week did you pray for Jim Bolger? I didn't. I didn't know who was Prime Minister, in fact. I didn't. But I was praying for President Clinton. I was praying for Vice President Gore. I was praying for the nine justices of our Supreme Court by name. I was praying for our state senators, both of them. I was praying for our district representative. I was praying for our mayor. Why? Because that's what the Bible tells me. I'm to reign with Jesus. I'm to take part of His government of the world. Oh, may God help us as a people of God. The unsaved are not going to do it. The non-European Christians who don't have the real vitality, they're not going to do it. You and I who know the power of the prayer, you and I who know the power, we're the ones who are to reign with Jesus. We're the ones who are to push back the darkness. We're the ones to uphold those in authority. And if we think they're not saved, let's pray for the Lord to save them. I pray for the Lord to save President Clinton every day. And if you think your Prime Minister is saved, I don't know anything about him. Then thank God and pray God to give him wisdom and guidance, what to say and what decisions to make and what appointments to make. Pray for your leaders. You are to govern. When I was in Haiti three years ago, and you know the trouble there is in Haiti, but maybe you're not aware on this side of the world as much about this as we are on the other side. I was holding a prayer conference to several thousand Haitian Christians, believers. And I said to them, in whose hands is the future of Haiti? I said, not in the hands of President Aristide, not in the hands of the army, the military. I said, the future of Haiti is in the hands of you who are sitting before me this morning, the church. According to your intercession will be the future of Haiti. If you reign with Christ, one thing can happen. If you fail to reign, don't expect God's will to be done. The Bible is very clear. We are to reign with Jesus. Others don't do it. When I was in Korea last fall, I was speaking to over 2,200 pastors. I said, in whose hands is the future of Korea? It's not in the hands of North Korea. It's not in the hands of your military. I said, the future of Korea is in your hands, pastors, in the hands of your congregations. If you teach them to intercede, if you teach them to reign with Christ, the future of any nation is in the hands of the body of Christ. But the body of Christ is sitting with muted lips. They forget God's calling. Oh, God, help us to begin to reign with Jesus. The Bible is so clear. If you forget everything else I say and that I have written, remember this. You are to reign with Jesus. And if you don't, I'm not saying you don't get to heaven, you'll get to heaven. But the reward you're going to have at the judgment throne of Christ will be less if you had fulfilled the role for which Christ redeemed you. Why are we created in the image of God? That we would have a very special role. Why are we the bride of Christ? That we should serve Christ today in a very special way. And that throughout eternity we should be the closest to God. The closest to the bridegroom. Closer than the seraphim and seraphim. Closer than the archangels and the angels. We are to be the closest of all. And we, today, have the heaviest responsibility of all. God, open our lips. God, open our eyes. God, help us to proclaim the priesthood of the people of God. We are to make a difference in our world. You are to make a difference in time of ungood. You are to make a difference in New Zealand. You are to make a difference in Russia, in India, in China. We are the intercessors with Christ. If I would ever say to you that God and I are co-workers, you'd say, what's that supposed to mean? Except the Bible says we are labors together with God. How much are you laboring with God? So we bow our heads. Lord, give us ears to hear. Give us eyes to see the world as you see it. Give us a heart that hears your tongue. And feels your tongue and hears your voice and your call. Teach us how to pray. Teach us to pray. Teach us to reign with Jesus. Lord, you've not only raised us with Christ, but you've raised us to see us with Christ in the heavenlies. And we have sat so casually. We have sat with so little concern. We have sat without tears in our hearts or in our eyes. We have sat as though the world were not going to hell. The world that you so loved that you sent your only son. Oh Lord, give us that love. Give us that Christ-like love. And give us to join Jesus Christ our Savior and the blessed Holy Spirit. In a ministry of worldwide intercession. Of nation changing. Of church changing. Of city changing intercession. That we may reign with Jesus. Lord, don't let us forget it. Don't let us be careless. Lord, teach us to redeem moments. More moments. More moments. For prayer. The kind of prayer that makes a difference in our world. We ask it all through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen.