Intercession:Â Where is everybody?
"He saw that there was no man, and wondered, that there was no intercessor." - Isaiah 59:16
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Review From Last Week What are some hindrances to prayer? Faith vs. Reasonable Doubt Half-heartedness vs. Whole Suffering vs. Misery Covetousness vs. Kingdom Minded Selfishness vs. Altruistic Discord vs. Submission Pride & False humility vs. Humility
How do we get rid of hindrances in our prayers? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.� - 1 John 1:9
(See the Nehemiah series on Restoration on the website.)
Knowing that God does whatever He wants with (despite) our prayers, how should we pray? "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." - Matthew 6:13 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Intercession: Where is everybody? "He saw that there was no man, and wondered, that there was no intercessor." - Isaiah 59:16 For each other To open their eyes For redemption Christ as Intercessor As watchmen on the wall In the name of Jesus As the Holy Spirit leads For the Kingdom For Laborers For Missionaries For Individuals For Ministers Joined together
James 5:16, Ephesians 6:18 2 Kings 6:17 - 20 Psalm 65:2, Isaiah 53:12 Hebrews 5:7, 7:25 Isaiah 62:6, Colossians 4:2 John 16:24-26 Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 3:14 2 Chronicles 6:35 Matthew 9:37-38 Acts 13:3 Isaiah 27:12 Ephesians 6:19, Colossians 4:3 Acts 1:14, Ephesians 4:4 2008. Murray, Andrew. Standing in the Gap Christian Art Publishers,
As Watchmen on the Wall
"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. Â You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves." - Isaiah 62:6 "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;" - Colossians 4:2
Joined Together
"These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." - Acts 1:14 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;" Ephesians 4:4
Christ as Intercessor
"While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honored God, God answered him. Though he was God's Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. Then, having arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him." - Hebrews 5:7-10 "Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced. But Jesus' priesthood is permanent. He's there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them."Â - Hebrews 7:25
As the Holy Spirit Leads
"Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" - Galatians 4:6 "When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 3:14 "Pray in the Spirit at all times ... "Â - Ephesians 6:18
In the Name of Jesus
"You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf..." - John 16:24-26
For the Kingdom
“When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause." - 2 Chronicles 6:34-35
For Each Other
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." - James 5:16 "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all all of God’s holy people." Ephesians 6:18
For Laborers "He said to his disciples, 'The harvest is great, but the workers are few. Â So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.'" - Matthew 9:37-38
For Missionaries
"So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way." -Â Acts 13:3
For Ministers
"And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike." - Ephesians 6:19 "Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains." - Colossians 4:3
For Individuals
"At that time God will thresh from the River Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt, And you, people of Israel, will be selected grain by grain. At that same time a great trumpet will be blown, calling home the exiles from Assyria, Welcoming home the refugees from Egypt to come and worship God on the holy mountain, Jerusalem." - Isaiah 27:12-13
To Open Their Eyes
"As the Arameans came down to get him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, 'Please strike these people with blindness.' The Lord struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. Elisha told them, 'This isn’t the way! This isn’t the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you’re looking for.' So he led them into Samaria. When they came into Samaria, Elisha said, 'Lord, open the eyes of these men, and let them see.' The Lord opened their eyes and let them see that they were in the middle of Samaria." - 2 Kings 6:17 - 20
For redemption
"You who hear prayer, to You all men come."Â - Psalm 65:2 "Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. Â For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Â - Isaiah 53:12