DCLM Higher Everyday 7 January 2024 — Abraham Intercedes
Topic: Abraham Intercedes
Text: Genesis 18:23-33
23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
25That 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?
26And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28Peradventure 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.
29And 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.
30And 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.
31And 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.
32And 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.
33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Key Verse: “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)
Message
The fiery Scottish preacher, John Knox once prayed, ‘’Give me Scotland or I die.’’ This is an act and heart of an intercessor which is fading away from our generation. Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. He negotiated with the Almighty so that Sodom could be spared. His request was granted by God by saving Lot and his household, but his wife abused the privilege, like many youths are still doing today by hardening their hearts against the word of God.
Intercession is standing in the gap on behalf of other people, nations, churches, families, and sinners to prevent the wrath of God from coming upon them. Sin attracts the wrath of God to humanity, but intercessors can hold the hand of God just like Abraham and Daniel did in their times and saved lives. To be an intercessor, our lives must be free from all forms of sin. In addition, we need a life of daily studying God’s Word and praying, seeking to know the mind of God.
Quote: His request was granted
Challenge: You can be an intercessor.
Prayer for today: Oh Lord, give me the heart of an intercessor.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
