Intercession
Standing Before the Lord
Pastor Steve Abney
March 27, 2022

Genesis 18:22 says:
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

GREAT OF INTERCESSION

There were many examples of intercessory prayer from people of faith. Here are a few examples:


Genesis 18:23-33 says:
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That 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? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure 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. And 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. And 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. And 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. 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. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Two things we find in Abraham’s example:
1.

… ask, plead, shine light
2. … we are not worthy in our wisdom and understanding, but just dust before our Holy and All-knowing God

Exodus 20:19-21 says:
And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

The OT priest was to “make an atonement” for the people always. He was to never “be the atonement” but to bring the sacrifice/prayer before God on behalf of the people.


1. grieved in prayer to God over Saul’s rejection as king of Israel.
2. interceded on behalf of the life of the baby that was born unto him and Bathsheba.
3. Once after David took a number (census) of the people without God’s direction, he asked for himself to be punished and not the people.
4. dedicated the Temple of the LORD by asking God to hear the prayers of all sinners who enter in and to forgive them.
5. prayed that the child of the Shulamite woman that died would be restored to life again by the power of God.
6. The prayed intercessory prayers almost daily for the people of God. Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Micah and the others prayed consistently. Lamentations is almost an entire book of intercessory prayers.
7. persistently prayed for the believers as he wrote the words that would help them.

, OUR GREATEST EXAMPLE

Most intercession was done through words spoken, but Jesus’ intercession was one where He literally stepped in between the judgment of a Holy God and the depraved sinner who was deserving of hell. He reached across the span with His outstretched arms of Grace, and brought us unto the Father! Cleansed, whole, new, redeemed!

GOD’S OF INTERCESSION

Intercession was not always effective. By effective, I mean that God hears but does not always answer in the way of the intercessor. While we pray and shine light upon the situation or people, we must remember that God sees and He knows. Let’s look at two examples:

THE PRAYER OF

Jeremiah 7:16 says:
Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.

THE PRAYER OF

GOD’S OF INTERCESSION

Genesis 18:22 says:
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

I would like for us to answer this question today, “Who will stand before the Lord?” Where are those people of God who will shine the light upon the situation of others? Not in a way of condemnation, but a plead for their souls and righteousness.

WE SHOULD FEEL

FOR NOT BEING AN INTERCESSOR
Ezekiel 22:30 says:
And I sought for a man among them, that should , and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Jeremiah 5:1 says:
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof,

a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

Isaiah 63:5 says:
And I looked, and there was

; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

WE SHOULD FEEL

TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR ALL PEOPLE
1 Timothy 2:1-4 says:
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

WE SHOULD FEEL

THAT HE MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US

The Holy Spirit makes intercession for you:

Romans 8:26-27 says:
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Son of God makes intercession for you:

Hebrews 7:24-25 says:
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.