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for the poster of intercession examples.

the fact of the matter is not whether intercession is Biblical. its obvious it is. as a protestant, ive always believed that saved family members who have passed away are thinking about us & praying for us constantly. they no longer face the daily conflict of spiritual battle that we on earth do. knowing this, i believe they do pray for us. just as we pray for the living still here on earth. imho it is no longer necessary to pray for the departed. they are eternally secure.

& this is where we disagree. catholics don’t want to believe this truth. specifically that intercession doesn’t validate the false idea that i can pray to the departed, & if i do that they could actually hear what i say. if you believe they can hear you, then you have attributed to them several attributes of GOD. specifically, omnipresence, omniscience, & a bit of omnipotence. the truth is that no believer has these abilities, whether they are still physically alive on earth or if they have physically died & their souls are present with the LORD in paradise.

we know they cannot hear us, & i know i cannot hear them. i do know that i can & do hear the voice of GOD speaking to my heart & conscience on an almost daily basis. i do know that Scripture tells us that Christ dwells in the hearts of believers through faith in GOD. that believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit, (the ever dwelling living Presence of the Lord Jesus is the Spirit). knowing this. i. we, have all that we need pertaining to life & Godliness. the fount of living waters lives in me through faith. He is there listening, guiding, watching over all who are indwelt. so when i need to talk to Him, He is closer than my own heart.

when i feel the need to discern His will on a matter. i consult/read His Word & ask for help & guidance.

2 Cor 6:16
Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

Eph 3:16
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

2 Cor 13:4
4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? 6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

Gal 2:20
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Matt 11:27
27 “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

John 17:3
3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Hebrews 10:19
19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the *veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

*the temple veil which was rent in twain was/is a symbol of the Messiah’s death & suffering. you cannot enter the Holy of Holies without walking through & touching the veil.

Hebrews 2:14
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

(all quotations are from the NAS)