Editor’s Note
by Editor(s)

The Christmas season brings the reminder that the birth of Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of God’s eternal desire and purpose to prepare a race of sons through whom He could rule the universe. From start to finish this issue of The Intercessor provides refreshment for the soul thirsting for the meaning of Christmas—and of life.

Brett Burrowes’ study in Romans (Part 2) explores the revelation of humanity’s desperate need for a savior. Moving through the first three chapters, we are presented with a thorough description of our total depravity and inability to do anything to save ourselves from God’s just verdict of “guilty“ and the frightening prospect of hell.

For those wishing to move further into the entire book of Romans, we offer a rich study in a five-tape series taught by Norman Grubb. This month’s Tape Talk gives a taste of this sweeping study of the book of Romans recorded during series of lectures in 1976.

But the riches of God’s purpose and ultimate plan for us as Christ-ones is not restricted to the Romans epistle. Scott Prewitt’s survey of four of Paul’s letters—Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians—explores this “mystery…hid from ages and generations, but now made manifest to His saints,” pointing out Paul’s clear and consistent teaching of God’s purpose for us as containers and expressers of Jesus Christ—He in us and we in Him. Scott points out in rich detail Paul’s repeated message that Jesus Christ is “not separated from mankind by space and time… [but] both formed and 4 THE INTERCESSOR VOL. 20, NO. 3 revealed in us” and how we are to be “fulfilled with abundant life…Jesus, Himself, living in us”—the ultimate purpose for which we were created and redeemed.

Continuing from last issue, our lead article, Norman Grubb‘s “No Independent Self,” reminds us that “we are ‘driven’ people, driven by His self-for-others Deity nature.“ This segment describes Satan’s lie that we are independently-operated rather than spirit-operated and illustrates how he seeks to lead us back into temporary bondage by tempting us to confuse our vacillating feelings and thoughts (soul) with the truth that we are forever in a spirit-union with Jesus Christ—“not I but Christ“ operating us. This topic is echoed in “Letters from Norman” in which Norman explains God’s purpose for the trials and sufferings that come into our lives and how to persist in believing God’s truth about ourselves and thereby “labor to enter into that rest.”

“God’s Obsession” describes Paul’s obsession—and ours—to fulfill our two-fold commission—to bring men to Christ and to bring them into the total truth—-bringing “His human family into existence, made of the stuff of His own being, so that they can contain Him, The Person, in their persons.” Norman Grubb reminds us that we are not “becomers” but “containers“ by revealing the origin of the lie of independence and unfolding God’s ultimate purpose to redeem the human race by His spirit-indwelt “army of intercessors.“ In C.T. Studd’s passage, “Christ’s Nobodies,” we have in his passion an example and an exhortation to Christians to share God’s obsession to save the lost in his He calls for to on a worldwide level this vast difference between being from birth a Satanexpresser in his self-for-self nature and now being a fixed Christ-expresser, who lays down his life for others.“ Finally, Marian Kinahan’s “Look at a Book” reviews Norman Grubb’s short booklet Intercession in Action in which he describes God’s highest calling in his life—the five gained intercession— in his desire to “enlighten us so that we may walk in the same path.” But intercession also demands that a cost be paid—and this issue’s excerpt from “The Intercession of Rees Howells” describes the opportunity he was given—to follow in the footsteps of Abraham, Hannah, and God Himself—to give up his own son so that 10,000 souls might be saved. It is our hope that this issue will provide light and inspiration to our readers as we move into the challenges of the new year. Christians to share “the real holiness of God…a masculine holiness, one of daring faith and works for Jesus Christ.”

Since God’s obsession is to have a family of sons and co-saviors through whom to manifest Himself, how does our choice play into His plan? Brett Burrowes’ article, “Choice,” provides refreshing light on the question of our free-will versus God’s autonomy–an issue that has challenged Christians throughout history. Page Prewitt’s transcribed talk, “God Always Gets His Way” provides a complement to Brett’s article. Using familiar biblical and personal examples, Page explains how choice fits into God’s ultimate plan for humanity.

“A Message from Norman Grubb” is Norman’s brief summation of God’s plan that we be Christ-expressers. This article encapsulates the foundations of our total truth so that “our sole absorbing drive is to share with all whom we have contact with or can launch out on to on a worldwide level this vast difference between being from birth a Satanexpresser in his self-for-self nature and now being a fixed Christ-expresser, who lays down his life for others.“

Finally, Marian Kinahan’s “Look at a Book” reviews Norman Grubb’s short booklet Intercession in Action in which he describes God’s highest calling in his life—the five gained intercession— in his desire to “enlighten us so that we may walk in the same path.” But intercession also demands that a cost be paid—and this issue’s excerpt from “The Intercession of Rees Howells” describes the opportunity he was given—to follow in the footsteps of Abraham, Hannah, and God Himself—to give up his own son so that 10,000 souls might be saved.

It is our hope that this issue will provide light and inspiration to our readers as we move into the challenges of the new year.