Click here to download in pdf format.
Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (18-2-1996 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
This story shows Abraham as the man of prayer and a man
of concern. It opens with him entertaining three strangers with typical Eastern
hospitality and courtesy. Some have been tempted to see this as a reference to
the Trinity, but the passage differentiates between the Lord and His two
companions (Genesis 18:22; 19:1). So more likely this is a pre-incarnate
appearance of the Son of God, i.e. a manifestation of the Son of God before His
incarnation at Bethlehem. (Other pre-incarnate appearances – the man who
wrestled with Jacob in Genesis 32:24ff, and the fourth man in the fiery furnace
of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:25.)
In this manifestation of God in
human form, He is accompanied by two angels. What an honour for Abraham to
entertain God – the God of heaven, a guest of His servant Abraham. As usual
God demonstrates that He is no man’s debtor, c.f. when Jesus borrowed
Peter’s fishing boat to preach from, and gave it back full of fish (Luke
5:1-11), and when He was a guest at a wedding, and provided the best wine of all
(John 2:1-11). So here, Abraham is no loser by his hospitality, because the
promise of his coming son in repeated. And further assurance is given about the
power of God when Sarah laughs in disbelief because of her old age. Abraham is
challenged, Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14).
This is a glorious truth about
God which we can cling to as we do battle with sin, face an impossible
situation, or pray for someone who is “too hard” and unresponsive to the
Gospel. All things are possible with God Mark 10:27). Everything is
possible for him who believes (Mark 9:23).
Then a darker scene appears in the story as Abraham sends the men on their way, going to Sodom. Divine judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah is imminent, and because Abraham is God’s friend, and it is to friends that secrets are revealed (John 15:15), Abraham hears of God’s purposes. This leads to a picture of Abraham as a man of prayer, the first of many mighty intercessors depicted in the Bible.
Earlier we had a glimpse of Sodom and Gomorrah. The very
names of these cities have become a by-word for appalling corruption and vice.
They may have looked still and peaceful, but to God there was a cry, the cry of
the oppressed, downtrodden, abused victims of violence and lust. The cry reached
the ears of God. These cities were rotten to the core, and because of the
righteousness and holiness of God, destruction was inevitable.
But God is slow to anger. I
will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has
reached me (Genesis 18:21). God makes His own personal investigation,
careful and detailed. He searches all the facts. He is unwilling that any should
perish. Judgement is His “strange work”. And when judgement fell, it made a
deep impression on subsequent generations. In 20 passages from Genesis to
Revelation this judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah is referred to as the most
conspicuous instance of divine vengeance on human sin.
Because of this impending
judgement, God reveals His purposes to Abraham beforehand. Abraham is God’s
friend (James 2:23), and on intimate terms. God’s friends know His secrets
because they are His friends. It was also right for Abraham to know because he
was to be the means of blessing to all nations and therefore it was necessary
for him to know why Sodom and Gomorrah had to be destroyed and not blessed
Also God had chosen Abraham that
he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the
Lord by doing what is right and just (Genesis 18:19). He needed to be warned
by seeing the first fruits of unrighteousness, when people do not keep the way
of the Lord. He needed to see that the wages of sin is death.
At once, Abraham is anxious
about Lot. They had parted company 20 years ago, but Abraham still had tender
affection for his nephew. Lot was the son of his dead brother, Haran, and
Abraham had cared for Lot from early days. Abraham was concerned for others too.
Would the destruction of the cities cause Lot and other innocent people to be
destroyed? That would make God appear to be unjust and unrighteous to
surrounding nations. So his concern, not just for Lot but also for the character
and reputation of God, caused him to intercede with God about the situation.
Intercession is prayer for others, and it is a very important aspect of private and public prayer. The words of Samuel to Israel: Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you (1 Samuel 12:23). It was a prominent part of church life in the New Testament. By our intercession we show our spiritual concern for others. It is important intercessory prayer stays a part of the church worship. In some churches, worship concentrates on man-centred emotions and experiences, and there is no longer confession of sin, the reading and expounding of the word, and intercessory prayer. The world and its needs are passed by. The needs of the congregation are the sole concern. Let us make sure we do not fail in this.
What do we learn about intercessory prayer from Abraham
here? Firstly, it sprang from his warm relationship with God. He was the friend
of God, in a covenant with God, had the grace of God in his life, he heard and
responded to God’s call, was used to speaking with God. God was never at a
distance, nor did contact become infrequent. They were in regular communion.
Abraham was also concerned with
God’s glory and the honour of His name. Passionately concerned for God’s
reputation. He prayed for others because they did not know this fellowship with
God. He realized what they were missing, even if they did not. He felt for them.
Often we fail to pray for others because we lack close fellowship with God and
do not sympathize with others.
A minister once received a
letter from someone in his congregation. The letter said that it was no help
being repeatedly told that they must pray more. The congregation had heard that
so often, and were getting discouraged. What they needed to hear was that they
must see they are in a right relationship with Christ. They needed to be
reminded that they must live their lives in His presence, and resting on Him.
Then prayer would follow. Abraham’s prayer followed from his attitude of life
and his relationship with God.
Abraham’s prayer was a lonely
prayer. He stood before the Lord, alone in His presence. Jesus also sought a
lonely place to pray to His Father (Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 5:16). Intense
devotion is only possible when we are on our own with God, no audience present. When
you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your
Father who is in secret (Matthew 6:6). Sometimes we need to be inventive to
find a solitary place in our homes – D.L.Moody went to the coal shed to pray!
Abraham’s prayer was also a
humble prayer. I am nothing but dust and ashes… May the Lord not be angry,
but let me speak just once more (Genesis 18:27, 32). The nearer we get to
God, the more unworthy we realize we are (Isaiah 6:2). Before Him the angels
veil their faces, and the heavens are not clean in His sight (Job 15:15). Our
sin is discouraging. Yet when we confess it, we have a strong claim on God. God
looks to the man who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word
(Isaiah 66:2). I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is
contrite and lowly in spirit (Isaiah 57:15). God opposes the proud but
gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).
Abraham’s prayer was earnest
and persevering. Six times he intercedes for the cities. God is drawing him on,
and as each petition is granted, he asks for more. Faith and courage grow. This
is what Jesus referred to when He spoke about the friend who called at midnight,
Because of his persistence, or boldness, he will get up and give him
as much as he needs (Luke 11:8).
Hanley Moule described a Sunday
School teacher he knew, who was greatly used by God. When she died, her diary
was found. She had three things she resolved to do for her Sunday School
children. (1) To pray for each scholar by name. (2) To wrestle in prayer for
each scholar by name. (3) To wrestle in prayer for each scholar by name, and
expect an answer.
Dr Talmage [writing unclear], in his biography speaks of
his mother making a pact with three neighbours who were also mothers. They
prayed together once a week for the salvation of their children until all were
converted. Only after his mother’s death did one of the neighbours reveal this
to him. Throughout her life, she had not revealed why she kept going over to the
neighbour’s house. And indeed these women prayed until every child was
converted.
Abraham was the first great intercessor, followed by Moses, who pleaded with God to forgive Israel’s sin (Exodus 32:32). Esther interceded for the Jews (Esther 8:3), and Daniel for his people (Daniel 9:11). Paul prayed for the recipients of his letters. Above all, the “servant of the Lord” made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12), Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).
Abraham had the joy and satisfaction of seeing God answer
his prayers. He kept on asking, seeking and knocking, and the door was opened to
him. Six times he pled for the wicked cities, and six times God responded to His
servant’s prayer. After each petition was a definite answer. In the end, the
answer comes with the actual escape of Lot. So as Abraham had earlier saved his
nephew by the sword, here he saves him by his intercession. Lot and his family
escape the destruction.
Intercession also brought
blessing to Abraham himself. He had perfect trust in the absolute justice and
righteousness of God, and therefore he was able to pour out his heart and tell
God all of his difficulties. Here is the true spirit of the believer who is face
to face with the mysteries of life. He takes all to God in prayer. He rests his
heart in divine righteousness, therefore is able to wait patiently for God.
Commit your way to the Lord.
Trust also in Him (Psalm 37:5). Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for
Him. It is important to do this when we are face to face with problems and
mysteries and difficulties in life. Commit every single matter to the Lord. No
one who goes to God on behalf of others can fail to get blessing for himself.
Intercessory prayer is a powerful means of grace to the praying man himself.
In H.Martyn’s journal he wrote
of being in inward spiritual dryness and depression, and being revived by
praying for others. It gave him renewed insight into his own position in Christ
as his rest and power.
Finally, how do we gain as much faith as Abraham had to engage in powerful intercessory prayer? It is something begotten and maintained by the grace of God. Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, not in the abstract, but in personal experience in the soul. Faith is the gift of God. We must yield our whole selves to Him, and turn our eyes ever towards the Lord. Study the promises of His Word, consider the nature of God. Get rid of anything which grieves the Spirit. This will certainly cause faith to be begotten in us, faith which can remove mountains and laugh at impossibilities.
