INTERCESSORY PRAYER

1. Several years ago I heard someone speak of “prayer warriors.”

2. When I first heard that expression, it sounded strange.

3. Within the church we probably don’t hear this expression too often.

4. In the denominational world, this is a fairly common saying.

WHEN PEOPLE REFER TO PRAYER WARRIORS, THEY GENERALLY HAVE IN MIND WHAT WE MIGHT CALL INTERCESSORY PRAYER. THAT IS, PRAYERS ARE BEING OFFERED ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE.

a) The Bible has a lot to say about prayer.

b) One of the important points about prayer is praying for others (intercessory prayer).

c) From the Old Testament to the New, this is a definite point about prayer.

2) One of the earliest Bible characters was Abraham.

3) Abraham was a person who interceded for others.

4) We first see this in Gen. 17.

a) At the time described in Gen. 17, Abraham had a son (Ishmael).

b) This child had come through Hagar, and Abraham made intercession for him.

5) We see this by combining verses 18 and 20 of Gen. 17.

6) Abraham’s plea is recorded in verse 18 and God’s response is in verse 20.

7) READ Gen. 17:18, 20.

8) Abraham interceded for his son and God responded to this intervention.

9) In the very next chapter we find Abraham interceding again.

10) Heaven was preparing to destroy the area of Sodom and Gomorrah.

11) Abraham asked (Gen. 18:23) if God would destroy the righteous with the wicked.

a) Abraham was a man of courage. He did not hesitate to come before God with boldness.

b) He spoke to God with a passionate and good heart.

12) He was also an intercessor.

13) Verse 24 of Gen. 18 has him asking what God would do if 50 righteous people were in Sodom.

14) Verse 28 again has Abraham interceding for the people.

15) God’s servant asked that 45 righteous be enough to spare the city.

16) Then he interceded with a lower number (40), verse 29.

17) Instead of reducing the number by 5’s, he reduced it by 10.

18) He also asked about 30 righteous people (verse 30).

19) Then (verse 32) he asked if God would spare the city if 10 righteous people could be found.

20) Abraham interceded for others and God did respond very, very favorably.

a) Another great Bible character was Moses.

b) This man was also an intercessor.

c) Frogs had come upon the land of Egypt because of a divine plague.

d) Pharaoh begged Moses to get rid of the frogs because they plagued the land.

e) Moses said “okay; you tell me the time when you want the frogs to die.”

f) Ex. 8:12 says Moses “cried unto the Lord” concerning the frogs—he interceded.

g) Verse 13 says “Jehovah did according to the word of Moses” (the intercession was answered).

21) Example after example can be found of intercession.

22) This type of prayer was done by Samuel (1 Sam. 7:5-13).

a) At the time described in 1 Sam. 7, the Philistines were about to make war with Israel.

b) God’s people (1 Sam. 7:7) were terrified of fighting these people.

c) We sing a song that is related to this event. In our song books we have the word “Ebenezer.”

d) Here is one of the places where this word is found.

23) 1 Sam. 7:9-13 – READ.

24) God’s people sought intercession and the intercessor succeeded.

25) Another person to use intercession was Elijah, 1 Kgs. 17.

a) This prophet went to the house of a poor lady.

b) She had almost no food; it was just she and her son.

c) She cooked Elijah a meal and this prophet gave her an “automatic refill” on her groceries.

d) The food items she used to cook with were instantly and consistently replenished by God.

26) Verse 17 of 1 Kgs. 17 says a time came when the widow’s son became ill.

27) He died, and the mother was upset with the prophet.

28) Elijah made intercession for the son and it worked – verses 21-22 – READ.

IF WE LIMITED OUR STUDY TO THESE ACCOUNTS WE MIGHT THINK INTERCESSION WAS LIMITED TO OLD TESTAMENT TIMES.

a) Such a conclusion would be absolutely wrong.

b) Jesus spoke about intercessory prayer in the Sermon on the Mount.

c) WE find this in Mt. 5:44.

d) This verse shows that intercession is still right and it also has a place in the New Testament.

2) Mt. 5:44 – READ.

3) If we pray for our enemies and those who hate us, what are we doing?

4) We are interceding for them. God believes in intercessory prayer.

5) He believes in our using it for our enemies as well as fellow Christians.

a) In other places we are specifically told to intercede for our brethren.

b) Listen to what Paul said at the end of the Ephesian letter, 6:18.

c) He spoke about prayer and he told these Christians who to pray for.

d) Eph. 6:18 – READ.

6) “Supplication for all the saints” is found in God’s word—intercessory prayer.

7) When writing to a preacher (Timothy), Paul spoke about intercessory prayer.

8) 1 Tim. 2:1-2 says, READ.

9) We know that from Jas. 5:16 that we can and are told to “pray one for another.”

10) While the wording is slightly different, the theme is interceding for someone in prayer.

WE CANNOT ARGUE THAT INTERCESSORY IS PART OF BOTH TESTAMENTS, THAT IT IS SOMETHING WHICH COMES FROM GOD, AND THAT IT WORKS.

a) Perhaps our greatest difficulty is stepping forwarding and saying four words: “please pray for me.”

b) In the Bible we have several examples of people who sought intercessory prayer.

i) Certainly Pharaoh was looking for intercessory prayer.

2) We know this because of Ex. 9:28 and 10:17.

3) Pharaoh said to Moses, “entreat Jehovah” (intercede for me in prayer).

4) As I think about these references they both amuse and sadden me.

a) I can think of dozens of non-Christians who have said, “pray for me.”

b) “Talk to God on my behalf—we would like someone to intercede for us.”

c) Just last Friday two non-Christians called the building. Both were women.

d) Both are having difficult circumstances. Both said, “please pray for me.”

e) The number of Christians who have asked for intercessory prayer has not been that high.

f) People from the world will often ask for intercessory prayer before members of the church will.

5) From time to time we need to remind ourselves that God’s people are entitled to intercessory prayer.

6) Num. 21:7 says Moses prayed for the people of Israel.

7) According to 2 Kings 19, King Hezekiah and the nation of Israel were in trouble.

8) This was during the time Isaiah was living, and Hezekiah dispatched a message to this prophet.

9) Hezekiah said, “pray for us.”

10) Isaiah sent word back that said, “things are going to be okay.”

11) Another good text for God’s people seeking intercessory prayer is Acts 12.

12) Peter was in jail. He was chained between two guards. There were other guards keeping him secure.

13) We do not know Peter was thinking regarding prayers from fellow Christians.

14) If I were in jail, I would hope that people would be interceding on my behalf.

15) Luke tells us that Christians were interceding for Peter.

16) Here is how it is stated – Acts 12:5 – READ.

a) Intercessory prayer was offered for this man. Did it work?

b) Yes it did. Peter was freed.

c) If we continue to examine this account, we find that many Christians were praying (verse 12).

d) It is good for one person to intercede, but we also have this example of many interceding.

17) There are not many times when we can turn to the denominational world and say, “they got it right.”

18) When it comes to intercessory prayer, I wonder if members of the church have been poorly taught.

19) So little is said about intercessory prayer by us, but it is a hot topic in many denominations.

20) Interceding for others is right, it works, and it is part of God’s will for the Christian.

21) This kind of prayer helps both us and others.

22) Tonight we close with a simple question:

a) Are we a Christian who intercedes for others? Is that something we do on a regular basis?

b) If not, it is time to begin. We can be like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and so many others.

c) If we have not yet become a Christian, then intercession may still be relevant.

23) Christians often intercede for non-Christians.

24) Requests are put forth to God to preserve the life of a non-Christian.

25) Petitions are sent to God asking that God’s word be allowed to sink into the heart of the unsaved.

26) Many of those intercessory prayers relate to a non-Christian becoming a Christian.

27) If there are those among us tonight who are not Christians, you can be assured that intercessory prayer has been offered for you.

28) You may not know that, but it is true.

29) It is our hope and prayer that our communication with God will be answered with a yes.

30) Tonight or sometime soon, you will obey the Bible steps to become a Christian.

31) Intercessory is the theme for tonight.

32) If we need it in our life, or we know it has been done for us and we now want to make things right, come.