A Broken Man with a Dangerous Prayer

Abraham was a person who was broken but mended by God. The narrative of the second half of his life is found in Genesis 12-25. Beyond the Old Testament, Abraham is also one of the most influential figures in the New Testament. Matthew traces Jesus' genealogy back to him (Matt. 1:17). Faithful Jews are called "sons" or "daughters" of Abraham (Luke 13:16, Luke 19:9). Abraham is called the "father of the faithful" (Gal. 3:16-29; Rom. 4:11) and "the friend of God" (Jas. 2:23).

While Hebrews 11:8-19 describes Abraham's faithful obedience to God, his story also includes much evidence of brokenness. He was homeless (led away from his homeland in Mesopotamia). He was family-less, leaving his relatives behind. He was childless, having a barren wife, Sarah. He was faithless, deceiving both Pharaoh (Gen. 12) and Abimelech (Gen. 20) with the lie that Sarah was his sister. Also, he followed his wife's foolish advice to sleep with her Egyptian servant Hagar to produce offspring (Gen. 16).

At times, Abraham was heartbroken, sending away Hagar and his firstborn son Ishmael due to the jealousy of Sarah (Gen. 21) following the birth of Isaac. Eventually, Abraham became a widower when his wife Sarah died at 127 (Gen. 23). He surely missed her.

Have you ever been broken like Abraham? May you've been homeless, separated from family, childless, faithless, or perhaps grief-stricken.

I. Prayer Initiated by the mediation of God 16-19 We must pray in response to Gods word!

II. Prayer intensified by the majesty of God 21-33 We must pray with GOD in Mind!

Abraham was aware of his condition before God and was familiar with God

Brokenness is yielding my self-will to God., just as a horse that is "broken" is finally ready to be led by its master.

Brokenness involves my response of humility and obedience to the prompting of God's Spirit or the revelation of His Word. It allows the sweet fragrance of Christ to be released in my life. Brokenness always begins with an acknowledgment of my need and an agreement with God about my sin. The result is godly sorrow that works repentance.

This will be followed by forgiveness, the freedom to be open, genuine, honest, and transparent, and a greater desire to love others and worship God. Works repentance.

This will be followed by forgiveness, the freedom to be open, authentic, honest, and transparent, and a greater desire to love others and worship God.

There is no brokenness where there is no openness.

We can either fall on the rock Jesus) and be broken, or we will be crushed by the rock (Luke 20:18).

The Lord is near the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18, He heals the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3), and He receives the broken heart as a sacrifice (Psalm 51:17).

When was the last time you were genuinely broken over your sin and felt poor and needy before God?

How did an openness substantiate your brokenness before others concerning your actual state of being?

III. Prayer influenced by the mission of God v20, 21,24 25 WE must pray about Gods mission!

Abraham leverages his face-to-face conversation not to talk about himself but to plead and intercede for Sodom. The outcry was prompting God to action. Homosexuality was the principle and other sexual sins, but egregious acts started God to act. The poor and the marginalized were being taken advantage of as well.

Spare here means to forgive

Do you pray for the worst of the worst in our community and ask God to forgive them?

Is your prayer dominated by your needs or the needs of others?

IV. Prayer informed by the matchless Grace of God v18,19, We must pray with a view of the cross! It’s nothing but Gods Grace!

theological reasoning

V25

The sin of the few but attributed to the many.

Akin

David and the Census

Adam and Eve Sin