Intercession: An Invitation to the Banqueting Table
“For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”
Ephesians 2:18
When’s the last time you heard a good “rags to riches” story? The movie “Annie” comes
to mind or the more recent “Slum Dog Millionaire.”
But none can rival the story in God’s word of a man named Mephibosheth (hence forth
known as M). The very meaning of M’s home, Lodebar, meant “not having” or “no
pasture”. It was a town of forgotten people including M, son of David’s best friend
Jonathan. The Scripture records in 2 Samuel 9:4 that M was brought from “far off.”
M’s fortunes changed dramatically on the day he was shown kindness. He was adopted
as one of the king’s sons, given access to the King’s table and feasts, and granted
abundance! All the lands that had been taken from him were restored along with the
resources (35 men put at his disposal) to cultivate and bring in the harvest.
Does M’s story sound familiar? It should because you too have been brought from afar,
shown kindness, given access, and granted abundance. The Bible’s authors are not shy
to speak of the great abundance that is our though Jesus Christ.
- He’s abundant in grace.
o “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love
which is in Christ Jesus. ” 1 Timothy 1:14 - He’s abundant in goodness and truth.
o “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord
God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and
truth,” Exodus 34:6 - He’s abundant in mercy.
o “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3 - He gives an abundance of peace.
o “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the
abundance of peace. ” Psalm 37:11 - In abundant suffering, there’s abundant comfort.
o “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our
comfort is abundant through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:5 - He wants us to overflow or have abundant hope through faith in Him!
o “May the God of all hope fill you with joy and peace in believing so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit! Rom. 15:13
In the devotional, Streams in the Desert, Nina Cowman writes this about the place of
abundance:
“The land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh
water of the rain of heaven; a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of
the Lord are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the
year (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).
All our supply is to come from the Lord. Here are springs that shall never dry;
here are fountains and streams that shall never be cut off. Here anxious one, is
the gracious pledge of the Heavenly Father. If He be the Source of our mercies,
they can never fail us. No heat, no drought can parch that river, “the streams
whereof make glad the city of God.”
Intercession is an invitation to the banqueting table to fellowship and receive
from the Living God His abundance. It could like look saying “Here are my needs,
Lord. I’m coming hungry and thirsty for you.”
God is saying to us: here is my banquet.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you that we are beneficiaries of being brought from
afar, adopted as Your children and thus granted access, shown kindness, and given
abundance. We give You praise that our supply from you will never be cut off! May all
our FICM Staff and CFMAs live in these glorious truths and go forth in courageous faith
to intercede for this ministry crying out for your honor and glory! In Your Magnificent
Name we pray, Amen.