Tag Archives: advocacy

Seeing Jesus from the Face of Abel (by C .H. Spurgeon)

When Abel mirrored Jesus

Seeing Jesus from the face of Abel

 

“Abel was a keeper of sheep.” Genesis 4:2

As a shepherd Abel sanctified his work to the glory of God, and offered a sacrifice of blood upon his altar, and the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering. This early type of our Lord is exceedingly clear and distinct. Like the first streak of light which tinges the east at sunrise, it does not reveal everything, but it clearly manifests the great fact that the sun is coming. As we see Abel, a shepherd and yet a priest, offering a sacrifice of sweet smell unto God, we discern our Lord, who brings before his Father a sacrifice to which Jehovah ever hath respect. Abel was hated by his brother–hated without a cause; and even so was the Saviour: the natural and carnal man hated the accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his blood had been shed. Abel fell, and sprinkled his altar and sacrifice with his own blood, and therein sets forth the Lord Jesus slain by the enmity of man while serving as a priest before the Lord. “The good Shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.” Let us weep over him as we view him slain by the hatred of mankind, staining the horns of his altar with his own blood. Abel’s blood speaketh. “The Lord said unto Cain, The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.'” The blood of Jesus hath a mighty tongue, and the import of its prevailing cry is not vengeance but mercy. It is precious beyond all preciousness to stand at the altar of our good Shepherd! to see him bleeding there as the slaughtered priest, and then to hear his blood speaking peace to all his flock, peace in our conscience, peace between Jew and Gentile, peace between man and his offended Maker, peace all down the ages of eternity for blood-washed men. Abel is the first shepherd in order of time, but our hearts shall ever place Jesus first in order of excellence. Thou great Keeper of the sheep, we the people of thy pasture bless thee with our whole hearts when we see thee slain for us.

No Recess in His Intercession

jesus interceding

 

Luke 22:32

I have prayed for thee.

 C.H. Spurgeon

How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer’s never-ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, He pleads for us; and then we are not praying, He is advocating our cause, and by His supplications shielding us from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter-“Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but”-what? “But go and pray for yourself.” That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither does he say, “But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be preserved.” That were a great blessing. No, it is, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” We little know what we owe to our Saviour’s prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath led us, how we shall praise Him who, before the eternal throne, undid the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth. How shall we thank Him because He never held His peace, but day and night pointed to the wounds upon His hands, and carried our names upon His breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice. Mark, He does not say, “Satan hath desired to have you.” He checks Satan even in his very desire, and nips it in the bud. He does not say, “But I have desired to pray for you.” No, but “I have prayed for you: I have done it already; I have gone to court and entered a counterplea even before an accusation is made.” O Jesus, what a comfort it is that thou hast pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their ambushes. Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.

I Rest My Case With You

I Rest my Case with You

justice

 I rest my case with You

O Faithful and True

You’re able to do

More than I can think

More than I can dream

More than I can expect

I rest my case with You

O Faithful and True.

 

I rest my case with You

O Faithful and True.

You know more than I do

In You I am secure

I know my future is sure.

Your promises are sure.

I rest my case with You

O Faithful and True.

 CGF7

I rest my case with You

O Faithful and True.

I know you know my end

Even from my beginning.

All Your ways are just

For those you have made just.

I rest my case with You

O Faithful and True.

 

 

I rest my case with You

O Faithful and True.

I know You are there

And know that You care

You will not lose my case

As I look to Your Face.

I rest my case with You

O Faithful and True.

 

1 John 2:

1     My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

24   But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

25   Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Heb7:25

26   Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27   Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28        And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Rm8:26-28

©Fenny West2012

https://inspiration4generations.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/olympic-series-the-race-of-grace-1-preparation/