August 30, 2009
Sermon #799
The Prayer of Intercession
Luke 11:5-13 (NKJV) 5And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
9“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 18:1-14 (NKJV) 1Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
6Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” 9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Introduction:
Both these parables reordered by Luke have to do with prayer. It is interesting that it is Luke who is interested in Jesus’ prayer life.
Luke is the only writer who tells us that Jesus was praying when the Holy Spirit descended on Him.
Luke 3:21-22 (NKJV) 21When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
It is Luke that tells us that Jesus prayed all night before choosing the disciples.
Luke 6:12-13 (NKJV) 12Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
Only Luke tells us that the confession at Caesarea Philippi was accompanied with prayer.
Luke 9:18-20 (NKJV) 18And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.” 20He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”
Only Luke tells us that Jesus was praying on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Luke 9:28-30 (NKJV) 28Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah…
Now it is Luke that records the two parables concerning prayer!
Two kinds of prayer – Prayer for self and prayer for others (intercession)
Prayer for self
Matthew 21:21-22 (NKJV) 21So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Mark 11:22-24 (NKJV) 22So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Learn to pray scripture
ILL: Early in my call when food was scarce, I reminded God that His word said that the seed of a righteous man would not beg bread. I have never faced that scarcity again.
On my workout machine I have printed: Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV)
“Heavenly Father, I rejoice in You always. You are an awesome, incredible God. I pray that my gentleness, which comes from the power of your Holy Spirit, would be evident to all, Lord I know that you are near. For that reason I will not be anxious about anything. You are on the throne and I will trust in you. Lord I ask that your peace will guard my heart this day and my mind from the cares and anxieties. I pray that in the strong name of your son Jesus. Amen.” As I begin my workout I pray this prayer from God’s own Word.
I tell God:
Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV) 1Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper…
“Father make me that man! In Jesus name.”
Intercession
The parable of the friend at midnight
Luke 11:5-6 (NKJV) 5And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’…
The man is asking for his friend - not for himself
It was a responsibility - he could not take care of himself
ILL: A traveler showed up at midnight and the host had no food. The shops were closed so there was no place to purchase the food. He went to another friend. The house was a one story building with a mud floor. The man of the house and his wife and children were in the loft the animals were on the first floor. The neighbor did not want to get up and upset everything. But the man in need kept banging on the door.
Intercessory prayer is a responsibility
Luke 18:1 (NKJV) 1Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…
In both parables, there was an urgent need. The neighbor needed the food and the widow needed justice.
There are requirements of prayer
Prayer must be direct. (The friend went directly to the neighbor, the widow went directly to the judge.
ILL: People come to me and say “Pastor, pray for me.” I want to answer them “If you’re a Christian and in fellowship with Jesus, pray for yourself! What did Jesus say?”
Matthew 7:7-12 (NKJV) 7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
What about healing?
James 5:14-15 (NKJV) 14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
The requirements:
You call the Elders
The Elders (two) pray
The Elders anoint with oil
Call on the name of the Lord
Pray in faith (Yours and the Elders)
Personal
Matthew 6:6-8 (NKJV) 6But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Direct and Specific
Luke 11:5-6 (NKJV) 5And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’
ILL: Some people pray like the man my friend Chub Sewell told me about. It seems that the men had been “coon” hunting. Well the coon went up a tree and every time one of the men tried to get a shot the animal went onto the other side of the tree. Grandpa came out there and his hands were shaking. But he shot the coon. The grandson pulled on Grandpa’s paint leg and said, “No wonder ye hit him Grandpa you aimed over the whole tree.” Some people pray like aiming “over the whole tree.”
Prayer must be sincere
Job 16:20-21 (TMSG) 20My Champion, my Friend, while I’m weeping my eyes out before God. 21I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor.
ILL: Traveling in prayer does not mean acting like, why would I give my son something if I knew it made no difference weather I gave it to him or not? You are not about to wring a gift from a unwilling God!
Luke 18:1-8 (NKJV) 1Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” 6Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
The Judge in the story was not a Jew - no Jewish judge could handle a case by himself
The Judge is not a type of God – God is not unjust
If an unjust judge will give justice, how much more will God give justice
Intercede for leaders
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NKJV) 1Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior…
ILL: Do you realize that Church members are required to pray for government leaders and for their pastor?
You cannot pray in pride
Luke 18:9-14 (NKJV) 9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Conclusion:
We deserve nothing! Every answer God gives is by His grace. And to learn that truth is the greatest thing you can learn about prayer!
