Life Out of Death
by Norman Grubb

"Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." –2 Corinthians 4:12

This is the way of the intercessor. Jesus "made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12). Because of that act of death-intercession, God poured His resurrection life both into the Savior’s dead body and through Him into all who receive Him. The fruit of His intercession was the life-giving Spirit sent into the world, saving to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him. And every life of fruitful service has this at its roots: the corn of the wheat must die, if the world is to feed on its fruit. We say, "That person must change; that situation must alter." God says, "You change first, the other will follow." As one has said, "I don’t like you; what’s the matter with me?" The first death in a human situation in which I am involved is in me, in my natural reactions o resentment, condemnation, unbelief.

Only when I am consciously "through" to resurrection ground, experienced in my heart by peace and praise and love, can divine life through me touch the situation. As this is true in every daily detail of life, in every domestic business or church trial, so is it true in the mainstream of our life’s ministry. All the great intercessors of the Bible were living sacrifices for the people for whom they interceded; they lived and died vicariously. Not that there is merit or power in the outpoured life of a human intercessor, but it is the Interceding Spirit in him which takes him this death way.

–The Deep Things of God