Editor’s Note
You hear the words “faith” and “believe” casually used these days. In the news and general conversation we hear terms like “people of faith” and admonitions to “keep the faith.” Even among Christians, the expression “have faith” may mean anything from “be well” to “good luck.” Yet to God faith, our faith, is absolutely essential. We are told clearly in His Word that “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” and “Whatever is not of faith is sin.”
This issue of The Intercessor focuses on faith–not as an ethereal concept, but faith in action. It is by faith that, as Norman Grubb says in the lead article, “God works His mighty works in the commonest of human clay…as in me.” Written at age 95, “Intercession in Action” is Norman’s “ultimate summing up of the Grace of God in manifesting the self-for-others nature of our Lord Jesus Christ in His body-members.” Using as illustrations Norman’s own five bodily intercessions, the article is a concise and complete “outline [of] the wonderful operations of the Holy Spirit by which He was Himself in action in his [Norman’s] human form.” As always, Norman shares his personal experiences as a jumping off point to illustrate spirit truths available to us now–including such key concepts as finding the will of God and speaking the authoritative word of faith in specific circumstances.
“Interpreting the Crisis, Part 2” continues Norman’s discussion of how God expanded His Self-revelation in three crisis experiences that required a personal act of faith: 1) placing his faith in Christ for his salvation; 2) affirming by faith his spirit-union with Christ (Norman as the human vessel or agent joined to and expressing Christ, the doer); and 3) recognizing Christ as all in all. This installment probes deeply into the paradigm shift that accompanies a move from affirming Christ in me to Christ as me–being freed to live normal human life as “He thinking, speaking, acting by us.” Read on to learn how our human frustrations and hurts can be transformed into life-giving adventures as we affirm ourselves as active agents of God’s redemption, rather than simply passive recipients of His grace.
Focusing on Mark 11:23, “Bible Bedrock” delves into the power available when we place our faith in God’s unseen truths, rather than appearances or emotions. Can we really move a mountain (or do anything) simply by saying, “Move,” and believing that it has already been accomplished? And what about all the doubts that are bound to arise from the seeming impossibility of my particular “mountain”? Be encouraged by Norman’s treatment of this “bedrock” operative spiritual principle. And be sure to check out “Faith Notes” for added reminders of God’s reliability.
If you enjoyed Part 1 of Page Prewitt’s booklet, “Life: The What, The Who, The Why,” you’re in for a treat. This issue includes not only the next installment, but also a review of the entire booklet. Whether you start with the helpful overview provided in “A Look at a Book” or go straight to Part 2, you are sure to enjoy and benefit from the continued unfolding of God’s glorious design in creating us to contain and express His divine nature. But looking at the world today, where did things go wrong? Or to put it biblically, what was the “original sin” that has infested every human being at the Fall and down through the ages?
In Part 2, Page takes us back to Genesis to give a unique biblical perspective on how it is that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Using familiar scriptures, she explores cutting-edge truth–that we are not self-operated but “until we are born-again, we are Satan-bossed and sin for us is a way of life.” Page’s circle drawings clearly illustrate the little-known truth of our human makeup and the complete and permanent exchange of spirits that occurs when one is born-again through faith in Christ–from Satan-operated to Christ-operated, but never self-operated. Following your reading, you might enjoy a review in crossword form by turning to “Life: The What, The Who, The Why – Puzzle 2.”
Included in this issue is an unexpected find–a poem written by C.T. Studd while on the mission field. As in all his writings, “Now Then Do It” is a call to action for all Christians to put their faith on the line. Each stanza reverberates with the call of Christ to boldly move out in faith-action to evangelize the world, and as “wise men shall bid us go forward…to come and join the fray.”
“Faith Illustrations” presents Noah and the Flood, a refreshing review of that ionic event with illustrations that keep it light, understandable, and especially adaptable to share with young children. One idea: After reading the story to the children, see if they can re-tell it themselves just by looking at the drawings.
In his response to a discouraged believer, “A Letter from Norman” reveals a rich dose of truth lovingly delivered to counteract Satan’s lies. In his personal, direct style, Norman pinpoints the source of Phyllis’s discouragement, agreeing that “You are right, dear; this ‘trying’ life is way off because it is really Satan’s independent “try-try” spirit expressed by us as if us.” Then, interweaving personal admonitions with Scripture, Norman pours out spirit-truth to direct her to the obedience of faith. A letter from Norman is one power-packed page!
Our final feature offers an apt demonstration that, as Norman stated on Page 1, “God works His mighty works in the commonest of human clay and with total unexpectedness.” Relax and enjoy God’s faithful and powerful works in Jim Langley’s “My Journey of Faith.” Beginning with his childhood in war-torn England, Jim identifies for us his spiritual milestones (aka crises of faith) along the way. We read of God’s unique and surprising initial means of revealing Himself to Jim and the spiritual impact when Jim responds to the challenge to “Be changed by the renewing of your mind.” Jim’s story is sure to resonate with all who gratefully recognize in their own life the evidence of God’s unrelenting passion to present “every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28).
As just referenced above, Colossians 1:28 is at the heart of our publication. The Intercessor is committed to “our full restoration…to see ourselves as Christ in this world and to labor and travail to see Christ formed in others according to the mighty working of the Spirit.” We hope that this issue will be an encouragement to you as you are “rooted and built up, established in the faith…” (Col. 2:7).
