Access Amplified
September 29th, 2007 by Ken
Isaiah 65: 24
It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
This outstanding indicator of unlimited access to God in prayer is part of the description of future millennial glory of which God declares that He will create “new heavens and a new earth.” This renovation will be a work of gladness to such a degree that there will no longer be heard in Jerusalem “the voice of weeping and the sound of crying.” The time described is not yet the time when death itself will be abolished (I Corinthians 15:26, Revelation 20: 14), but a blessing of extreme longevity seems to anticipate the abolishment of death (Isaiah 65: 20, part of v. 22):
No longer will there in it an infant who lives but a few days,
Or an old man who does not live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of one hundred
And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred
Will be thought accursed.
For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people …
It is interesting to me that the millennial proclamation of God’s willingness to hear and answer prayer promptly is not dissimilar to His dealings with Christians of the present age.
Shortly after the fall of Adam and Eve, God emphatically denied access to the tree of life with “cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life” in Genesis 3: 24. About 2,500 years later God illustrated His presence with Israel coupled with His separation from Israel (due to mankind’s persistent, fallen condition) in the details of the construction of the tabernacle and the approach to God described by the law. A system of continual attention to burnt sacrifices, other offerings, and strict requirements involving every aspect of personal and communal life was established. The tabernacle’s structure included the “holy of holies” with cherubim sewn into the veil and over the ark of the covenant; the area over the lid of the ark was thought of as God’s throne (II Samuel 6:2). Access to this holy of holies was severely limited; the high priest could enter once a year (on the day of atonement) to offer blood for himself and for the sins of the people (Hebrews 9:7) Essentially this same pattern was carried through in Solomon’s temple and subsequent reconstructions of it.
At Jesus’ death, the veil in Herod’s Temple (a fairly recent construction in Jesus’ time), “was torn in two from top to bottom” according to Mark 15: 38. The symbolic significance of this in terms of access to God (as accomplished by Jesus) is clarified in Hebrews and Ephesians. Indeed the whole of New Covenant writings are infused with spiritual realities involved in Jesus’ having acquired an open, bold entrance of approach to God on behalf of those who believe Messiah’s gracious work and lovingly obey him.
Hebrews 10: 19- 21
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is His flesh …
Both Hebrews and Ephesians charge believers solemnly not to take Jesus’ sacrifice lightly, but to respond with a commitment of continuous holy living; both of these letters also proclaim floodgates of access to God being opened.
Ephesians 3:12
In whom we have boldness (freedom to speak candidly) and confident access through faith in Him.
One might be reminded of Jesus’ bold promises to those who would remain united to him through faithful, loving obedience, as seen in John 15: 7:
If You abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Jesus had previously taught quite audaciously about God’s overwhelming willingness to answer prayers and supply needs in Matthew 6, stating “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (v. 8 ) and “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (v. 32.) Such statements (along with prayer promises to faithful ones in John 14, 15, & 16 and the epistle of I John) are certainly concordant with the millennial description of prayer in Isaiah 65: 24: “It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are speaking, I will hear.”
Having “the spirit” presently poured out freely in our lives is certainly integral to understanding how God has given access that was previously (before Christ’s accomplishments) denied or severely limited.
Ephesians 2: 18
For through Him we both (Jews/ Gentiles: from the context) have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
To be able to approach the Creator as our heavenly Father with the open, confident frankness with which Jesus himself (Mark 14: 36) approached God on intimate terms is a breathtaking reality! (Note, this means not having to participate in the painstaking requirements of animal sacrifices and all the laws of Moses as prerequisite to expecting to be heard by God in prayer.) The basis of such access is the grace offered in Jesus’ redeeming work, including the giving of holy spirit to obedient ones (Acts 5: 32.)
Galatians 4: 6:
Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
It’s as if the power of the future millennial prayer promise (Isaiah 65:24) is projected back in time to us who presently, while awaiting the coming kingdom, have access to God through the Messiah by the power of freely given holy spirit. (This statement is meant to be analogous, not a “doctrine” per se.) I believe it behooves Christians to explore what such wide open access to God means in humble, prayerful, spirit- enabled, obedient living. In light of such consistent testimony about amplified access to the heavenly Father, it would hardly make sense for Christians to theologically downplay the workings of holy spirit and the reality of miraculous, powerful answers to prayer. There is much still to learn from this loving God who is limitless in ability to perform mightily for those who ask with genuine faith.