Sermon Deliver On ECWA USA DCC Week Of Prayer

By Rev. Innocent Nwaobasi THEME: Intercessory Prayer TEXT: Genesis 18:17-33 (image: YouTube)

INTRODUCTION: When I was a teenager and unsaved I used to curse out my mother, disobeyed her in all aspect. I had no regard to my very mother who carried me for nine and deliver me during child birth. But I discover one secret she had for me, daily she always pray for me in her closet mentioning my name before the God of grace. She curse back or did she deny me my meal and anything due to me. As I began to grow up physically I would ask her why she always go into her room to mention my name to someone I cannot see lovely she told me I will understand when I grow up as a man. I can hear her praying to God for me to serve God as a minister of the gospel. It took her a long time without giving up on me. Her persistence, patience and prayer resulted in me been a change person, saved by the blood of Jesus and a minister of the gospel by the grace of God. To God be the glory great things He has done Amen.

In Genesis 18 we see the instance of intercession for unrighteous nation. God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of grievous sins including homosexuality. God confided His plan to His friend Abraham. But Abraham has a nephew called Lot who was living in that city. Abraham immediately started to intercede. Look at what he ask God, ”Will you also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” (Gen. 18:23). In the process Abraham knew that God would spare Sodom and Gomorrah if only 10 righteous were found see verse 32. Unfortunately, Abraham was tried and stopped interceding after God had assured him that He will not destroy the land for the sake of righteous people. In Genesis 18:33; we read this words, “The Lord went His way as soon as He had left talking with Abraham; and Abraham return to his place”. What do you think would have happened to that city if Abraham had interceded for the sake of six righteous people? I believe the city would have spared because of his nephew Lot, his wife, his two daughters and two sons in law. We must not hang up interceding until we exhaust all possibility and opportunity. My Mother did not hang up on me!! Are you hanging up on someone you or a need you are praying for?

WHAT IS INTERCESSION?

The word was first used in the Scriptures in Isaiah 53:12b, “—because He has poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors, He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.   When God saw that every intercession before the ministry of Christ was ineffective and temporary, He decided to send His son to make a perfect intercession for our sins. Also we read in Isaiah 59:16, “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him.

Intercession is a fervent prayer made on the behalf of another. This is an art. The person interceding acts as an advocate and a mediator between God and man. It is like in a major road intercession, there are traffic lights to stop cars from colliding. It is also fighting on behalf of another. The intercessor stands in the gap (like the traffic lights) between;

  1. God and man pleading for forgiveness
  2. Light and darkness shining the light and conversion t of the gospel
  3. Salvation and Sinners praying for their conviction.
  4. Living and the dead stopping the wrath of God Numbers 16:42-48.

QUALIFICATION OF AN INTERCESSOR

Every child of God is qualified to be an intercessor. The major problem we have as believers is that many do not understand that this is part of their ministry. That is why we believe in the priesthood of every believer. In (1 Peter 2: 9; Rev. 5:10)  the major duty of the high priest in the Old Testament times was two fold; 1. Intercession. 2. To offer sacrifices. The official garments of the priest are a testimony of their intercessory role. (See Exodus 28:12,19). Jesus Christ being our High Priest of the New Testament had these two major roles while on earth.. To offer sacrifice and to make intercession. Our Lord Jesus finished the work of sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. The Bible said that Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for ever (Read Hebrew 10:12). But Our Lord ministry of intercession is not yet done, we read the following, “seeing He ever live to make intercession for them Hebrews 7:25. The Holy Spirit of God carries out this all important ministry of intercession according to Romans 8:27. God want you as a believer to join Jesus and The Holy Spirit in making intercession. Would you like to be part of this ministry today?

QUALITIES OF AN INTERCESSOR.

Intercession is a high calling from God. This is a ministry for those who have been delivered from self. As you intercede for others your personal  problems diminish as you focus on your calling. The intercessor should have the following qualities. 1. He should know how to present his case before the thrown of grace. Examples are Moses and the Syrophonecian woman See Numbers 14:13-16, Matt. 15:22-28. 2. An intercessor should have the passion of Christ(Agape love) Numbers 12:13, Exodus 32:3 because of this love Christ gave all for you and died on the cross. 3. An intercessor should be patience. He does not give up until he gets an answer. Isaiah 62:6-7, Gen. 18:33, Matt. 15 22-28. Apostle Paul never gave up until he had this words, “My grace is sufficient for you—.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.  Finally an intercessor has to identify himself with the Lord as His personal savior and equip himself with the whole armor of God Ehp.6:10; John 1:12. If not the intercessor may hear this words from the evil spirits Acts 19:15, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you.” May the Lord forbid that you hear such a word.

WHOM DO WE INTERCEDE FOR?

We need to make intercession for people, either as individuals or as groups and for any conditions and situations.

  1. We  need to intercede for sick relations and all sick people Matt. 15:22-28
  2. We need to intercede for our unsaved relations to come to Christ.
  3. We must intercede for the church and the Pastors, missionaries (EMS), Elders and our leaders in authorities Romans 13; Eph. 6:18-20.

Finally, God is looking for men and women who will join Our Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be a serious intercessor on behalf of the Land, Church, Unsaved Persons, our leaders (Government) for the sick and for all men will you answer that call today. In Ezekiel 22;23, the Bible said; “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me and the land, that I should not destroy it——–“ The man God is looking for is the person who has a stake in the kingdom of God and if you a Christian you are that stake holder in the kingdom of God. Join us every second Sunday on ECWA US Teleprayer.


Rev. Innocent Nwaobasi, Evangelical All Winning All, 2004 Oak terrace Dr., Atlanta, GA 30316