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Abraham the Mighty Intercessor

 ( The Father of all who Believe)

11-13-24

Hebrews 11:8,17        James 2:21,23

 

 

                                                                         

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

 Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

 Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

 Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

  • I wanted to look at the life of Abraham for our first example of prayer.

  • A year are so ago we looked briefly at Abraham life of prayer

  • Without us going into his life to deeply ,we want to take a brief look just at his prayer life.

                                    By: Andrew Murray.

Abraham is a fascinating individual in the O.T.

Abraham laid the framework of how to live a life surrendered to God.

  • Abraham was truly a man of persistence   (His prayers were never superficial)

  • Abraham was always pushing and pressing God to the next level.

  • Sometimes he got his way         sometimes he did not !

                              KNOWN FACTS ABOUT ABRAHAM

  1. Abraham’s Prayers were specific and intentional.       

  2. Abraham prayed for those he did not agree with.  Genesis 20:17,18

  • Abimelech is prayed for, even though he did not agree with Abimelech

  • Ge 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

  • God revealed truth to Abimelech, God told him to go to Abraham

  • Abraham prayed  that Abimelech & wife would be healed

  • Abraham prayed for their health and family

We all have people who have hurt us & disagreed with us or dislikes us !

  • Abraham prayed to God to show mercy on them.

Our Example- Luke 23:34

Lu 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

  1. Abraham prayed for the whole Nation.           ( 2 Chronicles  7:14 )

{ the news outlets did not say one thing about the prayers of God’s people}

  • We will not discuss Sodom  this week.

  • We must pray for our leaders of our country !

  1. Prayer begins with knowing God !

  1. Knowing God through the scriptures is only the beginning !

  2. Knowing God through prayer.-   (develop a relationship with Him)

  1. Prayer begins with knowing the person of God

-prayer is more than a prayer list

-practice His presence daily (friend to a friend)(1)

       II.         Prayer proceeds according to the purposes of God      Genesis 18:19

                    For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after

                     him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment;

                     that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

  1.  God revealed His plan to Abraham   (cry of them- the oppressed & brutalized)  

Romans 8:28- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

  1. God had prompted Abraham to engage in this Spirit of Prayer!

           (Prayer begins with a relationship with God and proceeds according to His purposes.)

      III.       Prayer remains persistent with God           Col.4:2

                 Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

                 Lu 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray,

                               and not to faint;   (unjust Judge)

                1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

                     18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

  1. Abraham appealed to God by God’s Nature

“The longer you stay in the presence of God, you get a proper perspective on the

world and all that’s in it!”

  1.  Abraham appeals to God on His just Justise.   (God is Righteous )

       IV.     Prayer trust in the Will of God          

                1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing

                               according to his will, he heareth us:

                          15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the

                               petitions that we desired of him.

 1Jo 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. (boldness)

 

 1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

                                   (  Abraham is called the Father of the Faithful)

Ga 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

           

 

                                                                                                                                                          (2)

                                                                         

                                                                     

For I know Him​

12-4-24

​

Genesis 18:19-33 

 

Ge 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

 20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

 22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

 26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

 27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

 28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

 29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

 30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

 31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.

 32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

 33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

                                                  ( THE PRIVILEGES OF THE GODLY MAN)

  • God is getting ready to bring wrath down on Sodom & Gomorrah

  • Before He does this He speaks to Abraham about His Plans

  • We see a snap shot of their relationship  made possible for a Godly Man’s living.

Ps 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

Ps 32:6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

  • What are the privileges of a Godly Man ?

  • ​

  1. THE PRIVILEGE OF AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FATHER.

Ge 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

A. Involves Divine Discernment - (v. 19 - “I know him...”) God knows us

B. Involves Divine Dialogue - (v. 17-18; 20-33)

 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the e Ge 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. earth shall be blessed in him?                                                                                                              

C. Involves Divine Decrees - (v. 18)  

Ps 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

 

 II. THE PRIVILEGE OF AN INVOLVEMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FAMILY

A. We Are Involved Through Our Counsel - (v. 19) The word “command” (“issuing orders”.)

     (We have a great privilege to share with others His words)   (passing along truth)                                  

B. We Are Involved Through Our Character - (v. 19) The little phrase “after Him”, has the idea of  

C. We Are Involved Through Our Continuation - (v. 19) “and they shall keep the way of the Lord”.

 

III. THE PRIVILEGE OF AN INVESTMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FUTURE

  • Abraham doesn’t know it yet, He made investment to generations to come

A. Guaranteed By God’s Promises - “that which He hath spoken of him   

B. Guaranteed By God’s Presence - “LORD” - God refers to Himself by the name of LORD.

                                                                  (Self Existent One)                                                     

C. Guaranteed By God’s Power - “may bring upon Abraham” -  

(Note: In other words, your future is safe in the hands of the Lord! )

                                                      The Intercessions of Abraham

Genesis 18:20-23                                                              

Ge 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

 22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

  • The Lord does not hide from Abraham what is getting ready to happen.

  • So the Angels of God warn Abraham what is getting ready to take place

  • Here we see Abraham interceding with God for Sodom & Lot his nephew.

  • Abraham reasons with God if there are 10 righteous, He would not destroy Sodom.

  • Lot is saved but looses children & a wife

  • I thought how interceding prayer grow ?

 

   What a mystery of glory there is in prayer! On the one hand we see God in His holiness, love. And power waiting and longing to bless man. On the other hand there is sinful man, a worm of the dust, bringing down from God by prayer the very life and love of heaven to dwell in his heart.

   But the glory of intercession is so much greater: when a man is bold and asks from God what he desires for others. He seeks to bring down on one soul, or it may be on hundreds and thousands, the power of the eternal life with all its blessings.

   Intercession’s !  Would one not say that this is very holiest exercise of our boldness as God’s children? It is the highest privilege and enjoyment connected to our communion with God. It is power of being used by God as instruments for His great work of making men His habitation and showing forth His glory.

   Would one not think that the church would count intercession as one of the chief means of grace? The church would seek above everything to cultivate in God’s children the power of an unceasing prayerfulness on behalf of the perishing world.

   One would expect believers, who have to some extent been brought into the secret, to feel what strength there is in unity and what assurance there is that God will certainly avenge His own elect who cry day and night to Him  It is when Christians cease for looking for help in external union and aim at all being bound together to the throne of God by an  unceasing devotion to Jesus Christ, and an unceasing continuance in supplication for the power of God’s Spirit, that the church will put on her beautiful garments and put on her strength, too, and overcome the world.                    { Andrew Murray}

                                                   

                                                              PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER

                                                                           James 5:16                                                            ( 1)

1 .Grow in friendship with God – When we allow God into our lives and develop relationship with Him, we grow in our understanding of what He is actually like. This helps us know His heart so we can pray in alignment with His will. Prayer originates in the heart of God.

 

2. Growing in your knowledge the Word of God – We can read the Bible to see what the will of God is for people and the situations we may be in. The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), so when we pray in agreement with it things can change. Pray a specific Psalm over a person or a nation, inserting actual names where possible.

 

3. Grow in Your ability to be still and listen – One aspect of prayer is discerning what God wants to do and then asking Him to do it. As we learn to still our hearts before Him and open our ears to what He is saying, we can pray for the things He wants to do. It is totally normal to have moments of silence when we pray. Before sitting in silence, pray, asking God to show you a picture or give you a scripture to reveal the desire of His heart.

 

4. Take your eyes off yourself and fix them on Jesus – It doesn’t matter what we sound like or how we come across to others when we pray. What matters is that we are engaging the Spirit of God. Perhaps praying aloud in a group setting is very stretching for you. A way to focus on Jesus rather than yourself would be to take the risk and agree with others aloud in prayer (Matthew 18:19-20)

Mt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

 

5. Worship – A great way to enter in to intercession is to begin with a time of worship. When we worship Him and let go of our own ideas and agendas, we open up ourselves to connecting with what is on His heart and partnering with Him in what he wants to do. If you typically worship by listening to music, try reading a Psalm aloud; Psalm 27, 33 or 46 would be a great place to start. As you declare each verse of the Psalm, picture what it describes and see God as the Bible declares Him to be.

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

 Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                               (2)

                                                                  The Prayer of Agreement

MATTHEW 18:19,20                                                                                                                    

Mt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

  • Ps 65:2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

  • 1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

  •  15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Jesus clearly  taught us to guarantee answers to our prayers

                                                   Here’s what Jesus said.

1. Find someone to agree with you in prayer.Customize this sermon

Matthew 18:19  "Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together,) about whatever [anything] they shall ask, it will be done for them by My Father which is in heaven."

  • Naturally anything in His will for us.

Prayer partners are those who can agree and share the burden for the things for which you are praying.

The Greek word "agree", is "sumphoneo", the word from which is derived the English, "symphony."

-One of the powerful aspects of a symphony orchestra is the way such a large number of instrumentalists work together to bring out the composer’s work.

 

Jesus is teaching us to likewise work together and harmonize with other Christ followers in our prayer lives. This gives our prayers great power. Together we achieve the work of our heavenly composer.

 

Christ also taught us to enter our prayer closets and pray alone. (Matthew 6:6) But there are times when we should seek out others who agree with our prayer requests and pray with them.

 

There is a humbling aspect to asking others to pray with you. There is also a unifying aspect. God wants you to be a part of the family. This is one of the ways we practice the community God intended for us to enjoy.

 

Praying with others fine tunes our prayers just like rehearsing together perfects the work of the symphony.    (more together the greater power)                                                                                                                                                       2. Pray in the future tense.

Mark 11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

 Ps 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

  • Never boast what you are going to do or have !

  • We are counting on God doing what is needed not what we can do !

Prayer is counting on what God can do, and it is believing !    1 John 5:14,15 

3. Manage your motives in prayer.

John 14:13-14  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

                                                                        1

  • Remember in whose name you are praying in !

God’s name is very powerful to be sure, but what Christ had in mind here was the motivation of our prayers.

 

When David approached the Philistine champion Goliath he said,  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. (1 Samuel 17:45)

  • David was God’s ambassador, going in God’s name. He didn’t step on to the battlefield because he was looking for a name for himself.

When you pray, are your motives right?

James 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon

                    your lusts.

4. Hold your ground in prayer.

John 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Matthew 7:7 ,8   Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

  • The Bible says we are to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking !

  • It will be given you.

  • Mt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

5. We have many illustrations we could use !     (Prayer Partners)                                                                                                                                                                     Charles Finney, Abel Clary. Second Great Awakening.                                                                                               D. L. Moody, Marianne Adland. 1872 English Revival.                                                                                              Billy Graham, J. Edwin Orr. 1949 Los Angeles Crusade.                                                                        Jerry Falwell, Bro. Worley. 1970 Thomas Road Baptist Church.

6. Why the power of two ?

Strength. A bundle of sticks cannot be broken,“A threefold cord cannot Ecc.4:12

Encouragement Ecc.4:10- (one falls, the other picks them up)

Success-Ecc.4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

 Defense- Ecc. 4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm

                                alone?

Faith added to faith- Matt.18:19-If two of you agree.  Rom.1:17- From faith to faith

                                 Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh

                                              to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them

                                              that diligently seek him.

7. Asking for a Prayer Partner- 1 Thess. 5:25- Brethren, pray for us.

                                                     Rom.15:30- Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus

                                                     Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive

                                                      together with me in your prayers to God for me;

8. Agree on the major-  (you agree with another on the purpose for which you pray)

    Agree on the destination, but not the road to get there

    Agree on the victory, but not how the battle is fought.

    Agree on glorifying God, but you can do it differently

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