SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER
- Introduction
- Prayer is significant because of Jesus' example
- personal prayer, Mark 1:35; Luke 3:21; 6:12; 9:29; 22:31-46
- cleansing of the Temple, Matt. 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46
- Model Prayer, Matt. 6:5-13; Luke 11:2-4
- Prayer is putting into tangible action our belief in a personal, caring God who is present,
willing, and able to act on our behalf and others, through our prayers.
- God has personally limited Himself to act on the prayers of His children in many areas (cf. James 4:2)
- The major purpose of prayer is our fellowship and time with the Triune God.
- The scope of prayer is anything or anyone that concerns believers. We may pray once, believing, or
over and over again as the thought or concern returns.
- Prayer can involve several elements
- praise and adoration of the Triune God
- thanksgiving to God for His presence, fellowship, and provisions
- confession of our sinfulness, both past and present
- petition of our sensed needs or desires
- intercession where we hold the needs of others before the Father
- Intercessory prayer is a mystery. God loves those for whom we pray much more than we do,
yet our prayers often effect a change, response, or need, not only in ourselves, but in them.
- Biblical Material
- Old Testament
- Some examples of intercessory prayer:
- Abraham pleading for Sodom, Gen. 18:22ff
- Moses' prayers for Israel
(1) Exodus 5:22-23
(2) Exodus 32:9-14,31-35
(3) Exodus 33:12-16
(4) Exodus 34:9
(5) Deuteronomy 9:18,25-29
- Samuel prays for Israel
(1) 1 Samuel 7:5-6,8-9
(2) 1 Samuel 12:16-23
(3) 1 Samuel 15:11
- David for his child, 2 Samuel 12:16-18
- God is looking for intercessors, Isaiah 59:16
- Known, unconfessed sin or an unrepentant attitude affects our prayers
- Psalm 66:18
- Proverbs 28:9
- Isaiah 59:1-2; 64:7
- New Testament
- The Son and Spirit's intercessory ministry
- Jesus
(1) Romans 8:34
(2) Hebrews 7:25
(3) 1 John 2:1
- Holy Spirit, Romans 8:26-27
- Paul's intercessory ministry
- Prays for the Jews
(1) Romans 9:1ff
(2) Romans 10:1
- Prays for the churches
(1) Romans 1:9
(2) Ephesians 1:16
(3) Philippians 1:3-4,9
(4) Colossians 1:3,9
(5) 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
(6) 2 Thessalonians 1:11
(7) 2 Timothy 1:3
(8) Philemon, v. 4
- Paul asked the churches to pray for him
(1) Romans 15:30
(2) 2 Corinthians 1:11
(3) Ephesians 6:19
(4) Colossians 4:3
(5) 1 Thessalonians 5:25
(6) 2 Thessalonians 3:1
- The church's intercessory ministry
- Pray for one another
(1) Ephesians 6:18
(2) 1 Timothy 2:1
(3) James 5:16
- Prayer requested for special groups
(1) our enemies, Matt. 5:44
(2) Christian workers, Hebrews 13:18
(3) rulers, 1 Timothy 2:2
(4) the sick, James 5:13-16
(5) backsliders, 1 John 5:16
- Conditions for answered prayer
- Our relationship to Christ and the Spirit
- Abide in Him, John 15:7
- In His name, John 14:13,14; 15:16; 16:23-24
- In the Spirit, Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20
- According to God's will, Matthew 6:10; 1 John 3:22; 5:14-15
- Motives
- Not wavering, Matthew 21:22; James 1:6-7
- Humility and repentance, Luke 18:9-14
- Asking amiss, James 4:3
- Selfishness, James 4:2-3
- Other aspects
- Perseverance
- Luke 18:1-8
- b. Colossians 4:2
- Kept on asking
- Matthew 7:7-8
- Luke 11:5-13
- James 1:5
- Discord at home, 1 Peter 3:7
- Free from known sin
- Psalm 66:18
- Proverbs 28:9
- Isaiah 59:1-2
- Isaiah 64:7
- Theological Conclusion
- What a privilege. What an opportunity. What a duty and responsibility
- Jesus is our example. The Spirit is our guide. The Father is eagerly waiting.
- It could change you, your family, your friends, and the world.
Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International