Genesis 18:16-33 // Lessons about Prayer

“And the Lord appeared to him…”

The bible describes it as God in verse 1 (Yahweh)

Abraham understood it was God

“Lord teach us how to pray”

Approach seems to be a desire to teach Abraham a valuable leadership lesson.

“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do…”

Intercessory Prayer

Driven from COMPASSION FOR OTHERS.

Your conversation with God is about some else’s needs.

He was safe from the problems coming for Sodom.

You approach God ABOUT SOMETHING others would not.

“…Their (Sodom) sin is very grave.” (verse 20)

The extreme sexual immorality was engrained into the fabric of the community.

“Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”

You approach God IN A WAY others would not.

“Then Abraham drew near and said…” (verse 23)

Abraham showed proper honor and respect.

Evidence shows that Lot and his family at least accepted that lifestyle. (they were not going to pray about it)

Pray with BOLDNESS.

“Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (verse 23)

Boldness is not disrespectful.

Lean on God’s GRACE.

Abraham never argued that Sodom “wasn’t so bad.”

Lean on God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS.

“Far be it frim you to do such a thing…” (v 25)

There is a benefit to knowing God is holy and HE never changes.

Lean on that knowledge in your prayers.

BE PERSISTENT in your prayers.

Abraham kept asking for more grace.

Luke 18:1-8 Jesus teaches about persistence in prayer.

Luke 18:1–8 ESV

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”