Abraham Learns to Pray FOR People Like It Mattered
I. Introduction and Background
A. Abraham and Sarah Have Had a Long Wait
- Waiting on the promises of God to happen
- In Genesis chapter 11, Abraham and Sarah are called by God to follow His will, and leave home and family and trust God to take them to a Promised Land, called Canaan, and inherit all that land
- And God made one other promise - children! Children and grandchildren and great grandchildren!
B. 24 Years Had Passed, and Nothing Had Happened!
- No children
- No property that was theirs - just nomads, travelling around, almost in limbo
C. You Might Know How That Feels
- Can’t find a house you can afford
- Haven’t met Mr or Mrs Right yet
- No children of your own
- Long time looking for a job
- Waiting on God to change your husband, or your wife
- Or to bring back a wayward son or daughter
- Years and years of waiting!
- Trusting God and trusting the promises of God, and nothing happening!
- That’s how the Bible was written - REAL!
D. Abraham and Sarah Were Greatly Encouraged
- In Genesis chapters 17 and 18, God personally came to their home
- And spoke directly to both of them and reminded them of His promises
- And His presence in that home made all the difference in the world to them!
- There were three men that came and visited that day - one was Jehovah God in the form of a man, and two were angels
- God wanted to have a talk with Abraham that would change his prayer life
II. God Ponders Out-loud (Genesis 18:16-19)
“And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 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.” - Genesis 18:16-19
- Just before the two men leave, God ponders some things out loud
A. Shall I Hide from Abraham What I Am About to Do Next?
B. I Know Abraham
- He will become a great and a mighty nation - not just nations plural, but one in particular - speaking of the tiny nation of Israel
- God reveals that Abraham’s future people (Israel) will affect the whole world
- Israel will be a light in the dark world
- Israel will cause nations throughout history to tremble (Zechariah 12:2)
- Israel is blessed IN Abraham, because they are a special people unto the Lord!
C. I Trust Abraham
- To command his children - that’s how God talks to us, speaks with authority
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” - Matthew 7:28,29
“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” - Titus 2:15
- God says He knows Abraham will get people that he can influence to follow and obey the way of the Lord, instead of the way of the world
- To be just, to be righteous, and to seek justice
D. I Am Going to Bless Abraham
- God promises to bless Abraham and his descendants with the fulfilment of ALL of His promises, including the one about land
- To honour them above all other nations
III. God Announces His Intentions (Genesis 18:20,21)
“And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 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.” - Genesis 18:20,21
A. God Says He Has to Act
- Because of the cry of the people - there’s no joy in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, even though they were living the life and doing whatever they felt like doing
- The sounds of violence, and sorrow, and weeping in the homes and streets - God could hear it
- Because of the sin of those people - He sees everything, even every thought
- God is showing He has good reasons to act like He does - He is not an angry God just waiting to shoot lightnings at people for fun!
B. I Will Go Down Now
- God is everywhere already, but speaks in a way that we can appreciate His interest
- God says these same things in Genesis 11:4-9 at the Tower of Babel
- Throughout the rest of the Bible, it is called the time of visitation
“Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.” - Jeremiah 8:12
- God will show up in our lives, knock on our doors and let us know that He’s there - exposing us!
C. I Will Know and See Everything Personally
- He already knows it, but He wants Abraham and all people to know that God wants to come down to our level and see it with His own eyes
- Like a thorough Judge, God is going to come and examine the people of Sodom and Gomorrah right where they’re at
“And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” - Leviticus 26:12
- You cannot hide anything from God
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” - Genesis 3:8
“Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.” - Psalm 90:8
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” - Jeremiah 17:9,10
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” - Hebrews 4:13
- It is at that moment that the two angels headed off to Sodom to condemn it
“And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.” - Genesis 18:22
IV. Abraham Drew Near to God (Genesis 18:23)
A. Abraham Knows What’s About to Happen
- He sees those two angels walking down to where his nephew lives, in Sodom
- He knows judgement was coming
- He knows God is the Judge of the entire earth
- He knows exactly how wicked Sodom is
- He knows God is right, to bring judgement on those cities
- He does not disagree with God’s judgement at all
B. But Abraham Has One Small Problem Pulling at His Heart - Lot
- Abraham has risked everything and gone to war to save Lot before
- And he physically delivered him from captivity and possible death
- And now he must do it again, but this time, he’s facing the righteous wrath of God
- Lot was NOT a good man, even though he was a righteous man - he was forgiven of his sin by faith like Abraham and Sarah were, but he was living in the midst of a people that were going to be judged by God
“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)” - 2 Peter 2:6-8
C. God’s Judgement Is Serious
- God kicked Lucifer out of heaven for one sin - pride
- God judged Adam and Eve and kicked them out of the garden of Eden
- He judged the entire world in Noah’s day for how evil they had become
- He judged the world at the Tower of Babel for their rebellion
- Right after death comes Judgment (Hebrews 9:27)
- In the end, God judged Jesus, the Son of God - because if God didn’t, then He would have to judge you and me
- The wages of our sin is death - eternal dying! Eternal separation from God under the wrath of God for ever and ever in a lake of fire
D. Motivated by Fear, Abraham Reacts in Faith - Believing in Prayer!
“And Abraham drew near…” - Genesis 18:23
V. Began Interceding (Genesis 18:23-26)
“And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 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? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” - Genesis 18:23-26
A. Abraham Begins to Pray FOR Lot Like It Mattered
B. Abraham Reasons with God by Prayer
- He asks if God is going to literally DESTROY all the wicked AND righteous
- He starts at 50 - what if there are 50 righteous out of all those thousands?
- Notice that Abraham interceded NOT ONLY for Lot and his family, but for Sodom! He was asking that the entire area be spared
“Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?” - Genesis 18:24
- Notice the power of a few godly people that can protect cities and nations and families from judgment
“And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.” - 1 Corinthians 7:13,14
- One godly person can sanctify and protect a family from the judgement of God
C. Abraham Declares That God Is Just and Right and Good
“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?” - Genesis 18:25
- You have to believe that God is going to do the right thing, or you’ll go insane
D. God Responds
- If there are 50 righteous, He will spare Sodom for the sake of those fifty
VI. Continuing to Intercede (Genesis 18:27-33)
Intercession is not a one-time moment of prayer…
A. What If There’s Only 45?
“And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: 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.” - Genesis 18:27,28
B. And Down and Down in Numbers Abraham Goes
- Down to 40 - “I’m sorry for being persistent, but what if there’s only 40?”
“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.” - Genesis 18:29
- Think about it - God had declared He was going to judge Sodom, and yet Abraham caused God TO YIELD and NOT judge them based on Abraham’s request!
- What if there’s only 30 righteous?
“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.” - Genesis 18:30
- What if there’s only 20?
“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.” - Genesis 18:31
- What if there’s only 10?
“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.” - Genesis 18:32
- Each time, God gives in to Abraham’s request!
C. Then at 10, God Stops the Interview and Walks Away
“And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.” - Genesis 18:33
- Because God knows there are far fewer than 10 in Sodom
- There was none righteous, no one seeking God, no one that even wanted God
D. God Left Abraham a Better Man!
- Abraham had reasoned with God respectfully
- Had wrestled with God persistently
- Had yielded to God’s will and judgement
- Abraham acted on behalf of someone unworthy of protection, other than the fact Lot had a Covenant relationship with God
VII. Let’s Talk About Intercession
A. A Commandment for Christians - Not a Suggestion!
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” - 1 Timothy 2:1,2
- Pray like their soul depends upon it!
- Pray for your king, your leaders, the judge who you may face one day
B. Moses Is a Great Example
- The great Law-Giver had to face the reality of the people of Israel - they were a mess
- He had to learn to be more than a law-giver and more than a judge - he had to become an intercessor
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them… Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the LORD his God… Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants… And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” - Exodus 32:7-14
C. Jesus Lives Right Now to Intercede for Us
- That’s how He keeps us from losing our salvation
- That is how He is able to save the worst of us!
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” - Luke 23:34
“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” - Romans 8:34
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” - Luke 22:31,32
D. WE Are to Intercede
- God left us here after we got saved to win the lost before judgement comes
- Before we ever do that we must care about their soul
- We need to intercede for people!
- We are to plead for and intercede for those who are guilty, ungodly, lost
- We have to up our game and start praying FOR people!
E. Use Your Brain as Much as Your Heart
- God is true - He can handle the hard questions
- First century Christians turned the world upside down with absolute TRUTH and used REASON!
“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.” - Acts 17:2
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” - Acts 18:4
“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled.” - Acts 24:25
F. What Is the Difference Between Normal Prayer and Intercessory Prayer?
- Prayer is the core - we are asking God for help
- Supplication means asking for yourself, for your needs and the needs of others
- Intercession is praying away the judgement of God - like a soul depends on it
- Being thankful for everything
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:20
- These are three outgrowths of prayer: supplication, intercession, and being thankful for all things
VIII. A Step-by-Step Guide to Intercessory Prayer
- Remove distractions - Create a quiet environment so you can talk to someone who sees you in secret
- Choose someone to pray for - Tell God about what they need. He already knows who they are, but it reminds you of the deepest needs of your friend or family member
- Name their need - Speak honestly about what they need. Maybe it’s physical or emotional healing, comfort, strength, guidance, or provision. Be as specific as possible. You don’t need the perfect words - just share from your heart
- Pause and listen - Sometimes He’ll prompt you to action. If you’re asking God to meet a need, He might challenge you to be the person who lends a helping hand. God may call YOU to go and bring the Gospel to people who are facing the wrath of God
- Write down the request and the date - You will be able to see the faithfulness of God when He responds, sometimes in ways you never could have imagined
- Repeat this for other people that need God’s grace too!
IX. Conclusion
- Start praying like a soul depends on it!