Acts 12v1-19, "Relationships: Intercession", Stefan Wolmarans, Watford church of Christ

Acts 12v1-19 – Relationships: Intercession

Have you ever felt helpless?

Faced with a daunting obstacle?

In a situation where you just wished someone could help you to bridge the gap?

Well, as we will see today, that’s what friends are for!

intercede

To intervene on behalf of another e.g. "I prayed that she would intercede for us"; "several nations offered to intercede on the captives' behalf"

synonyms:

mediate, act as an intermediary, intermediate, negotiate, arbitrate, moderate, conciliate, act as honest broker, intervene, interpose, step in, become/get involved, act, take action, take measures, take a hand; plead, petition, entreat, supplicate

Etymology:

late 16th century: from French intercéder or Latin intercedere ‘intervene’,

from inter- ‘between’ + cedere ‘go’.

 

Great Intercessors

•Moses for Israel -Exo 32:30-32&Num 14:13-20&Deut 9:25-29

•Moses for Miriam -Num 12:9-15

•Samuel for Israel –1 Sam 7:5-6

•The nameless Man of God for Jeroboam –1 Kings 13:6

•David for Israel1 Chr 21:17

•Daniel for Jerusalem– Daniel 9:1-9

•Esther asked for herself- Esther 4:16

 

Take some time to read through the context and these situations and see what you can learn about intercession from these inspiring examples.

 

Let’s look at one specific example to learn more about how we can intercede:

Genesis 18:16-33

Genesis 18:16-33

 

By Faith Abraham Intercedes

A plea bargain, but a timely one, not until it’s too late!

Spiritual Intercession

Spiritual intercession is more about interceding with God in prayer for someone else so that God will intercede in events.

By Faith Abraham Intercedes

What can we learn from Abraham in the way he interceded?

Though we can sometimes practically and physically intervene and intercede for someone ourselves,

 

How did Abraham intercede? He interceded with:

•Boldness(v23)

Then Abraham approached Him and said: ‘Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

•Pleading(v24)

What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?

•Reasoning(v25)

Far be it from you to do such a thing – to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?’

•Humility(v27)

Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, thoughI am nothing but dust and ashes

•Perseverance(v32)

May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more.What if only ten can be found there?

 

Application for myself:

When I intercede in prayer, do I display these same qualities?

•Do I just ask, or do I plead with God?

•Do I reason with God, appealing to his promises, covenant, perfect character, love?

•Do I demand or approach God with humility and in submission?

•Does God see how serious I am by my perseverance?

 

Express Your Need

 

How About Me?

•Do I have the humility to make my needs known?

•Am I astonished when God intervenes because of intercessory prayer?

•Who am I interceding for?

•Which areas of intercessory prayer do I need to grow in?

•Boldness?

•Pleading?

•Reasoning?

•Humility?

•Perseverance?

 

1 Timothy 2:1

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people

 

The Greatest Intercessor

And then after the Old Testament, there is of course the greatest intercessor!

Can you think of examples where Jesus interceded?

•The adulterous woman: “Who will pick up the first stone?”

•My prayer is for them … (John 17)

•Blind man, paralytic, wine at Cana, etc

•Father, forgive them they know not … on the cross

But his intercession did not end when he left this earth!

Hebrews 7:25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

 

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org. 

 

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Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

 

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