Intercede

All Scripture quoted in this lesson is from The Bible by Jesus unless otherwise noted

Genesis 18:16–33 ESV

Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

WHEN GOD TALKED TO ABRAHAM –

1. Every time God appeared to Abraham was a test of his faith.

Because he successfully followed God, Abraham is called the father of faith. But also called, “A friend of God” (; ; ).

James 2:23 ESV

and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

2 Chronicles 20:7 ESV

Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

Isaiah 41:8 ESV

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

2. Abraham was not perfect.

All leaders have problems.

a. Compromised calling Sarah his sister (; ).

b. Ishmael over Isaac.

GOD’S INITIATIVE

1. God came to Abraham. ().

Genesis 18:1 ESV

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.

2. God announced. (). Sarah laughed.

Genesis 18:10 ESV

The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

3. God shared. ().

Genesis 18:17 ESV

The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

4. God sends angels to judge Sodom. ().

Genesis 18:22 ESV

So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.

a. No, predetermined ends.

b. Yes, predetermined means.

6. Why did God listen to Abraham? “I realize he would be an influential leader . . . I know I could do my work through him” ().

ABRAHAM’S RESPONSE

1. The heart of Abraham. ().

Genesis 18:23 ESV

Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

2. Abraham trusted God’s heart. ” ().

Genesis 18:25 ESV

Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

3. Abraham was yielded. ().

Genesis 18:26 ESV

And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

4. Abraham confessed unworthiness. ().

Genesis 18:27 ESV

Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.

5. Abraham’s faith made him bold. “Abraham grew bolder, will you spare the city for 45?” ().

Genesis 18:28 ESV

Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

6. Abraham pleaded God’s mercy. ().

Genesis 18:30 ESV

Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”

7. Abraham quit praying before God quit answering. ().

Genesis 18:32 ESV

Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

8. They departed each other. ().

Genesis 18:33 ESV

And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

LESSONS TO TAKE AWAY

1. A holy God judged the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.

().

Genesis 18:24 ESV

Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?

Who else will God judge?

Who else will God judge?

Dare we expect to not be judged today?

2. A merciful God will hesitate.

Five times God agreed.

This was to display His mercy.

God is a merciful God

I am grateful He witholds the judgement we all deserve.

3. A patient God gives time to repent.

().

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

4. A prayer-answering God will listen.

Paul prayed, ().

Romans 10:1 ESV

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

5. We can make a difference.

().

Jude 23 ESV

save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

6. As a friend of Christ, you are invited to pray. “

7. The prayer of faith takes patient continued asking. “The continuous sincere prayer of a righteous man will accomplish much” ().

8. Know God’s nature and your weakness as you work with Him. “We are workman together with God” (, KJV).

().

9. You can be a friend of God, just like Abraham. “You are My friends . . . because you know what I am doing” ().

John 15:16 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

10. As a friend of Christ, you are invited to pray. “You are My friends . . . now whatever you ask My Father in My name I will gladly give to you” ().

Pray!

1. God will be encountered at unexpected times in your life.

2. God encounters you for a purpose.

3. You usually forget that God knows all about you.

4. You cannot lie to God.

5. You will be God’s friend when you know Him.

6. God will hear your prayer when you encounter Him.

7. You can influence God’s will in an encounter with HimP