Serious Supplications

The Power of Intercessory Prayer: Lessons from Abraham's Plea for Sodom
How serious is our prayer life? If we're truly walking with the Lord, shouldn't we take others that we care about to Him in prayer? When someone tells you they're praying for you, do you truly appreciate the significance of that statement?

There's something powerful about being so close to Jesus that we can hear His heartbeat. The apostle John, described in Scripture as "the one whom Jesus loved," had this kind of intimate relationship with Christ. At the Last Supper, when Jesus announced that one disciple would betray Him, most disciples anxiously asked, "Is it I, Lord?" But John, leaning on Jesus' chest, simply asked, "Lord, who is it?"
 
John's closeness to Jesus gave him a different perspective. He wasn't worried about being the betrayer because he was too close to Jesus for that to be possible. Shouldn't we, as believers, strive for that same closeness?

Abraham's Powerful Example of Intercessory Prayer
In Genesis 18, we find Abraham in conversation with the Lord. After sharing a meal together, the Lord decides to reveal His plans to Abraham. Why? Because God says, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord."

Despite Abraham's past mistakes, God recognized his heart and his commitment to walk in faith. This gave Abraham a special position from which to intercede for others. When God revealed His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness, Abraham began a remarkable conversation with God. He asked if God would spare the cities if fifty righteous people could be found there. When God agreed, Abraham continued to negotiate, lowering the number to forty-five, then forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten.

Abraham drew near to God and persistently pleaded for mercy. He approached God with humility, acknowledging he was "but dust and ashes," yet he boldly advocated for the righteous.

Why Does God Allow Us to Pray This Way?
God already knew there weren't ten righteous people in Sodom. So why did He allow Abraham to continue his plea? Because God honors our perception of Him as we move toward Him in faith.

Our understanding of God is always limited. We don't know Him the way He wants to be known. Yet God allows us to approach Him based on our current understanding, as long as that understanding draws us closer to Him.

Abraham assumed Lot was in Sodom trying to witness for God. While this wasn't entirely accurate, God honored Abraham's heart and allowed him to continue praying. God knew He would ultimately destroy the cities but spare Lot.

God's Plan for Judgment and Our Role in Prayer
Scripture clearly reveals that God is holy and must judge sin. In 2 Peter 3, we're reminded that just as God once destroyed the world with water, He will one day judge it with fire. The elements will melt with fervent heat, and everything will be dissolved.

But there's good news in this sobering reality. Peter writes that God "is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God is patient, giving people time to turn to Him.

What's our role in this? Prayer. Just as Abraham interceded for Sodom, we're called to intercede for those who don't know Christ. Our prayers can make a difference in the lives of others.

What Makes Prayer Effective?
James 5:16 tells us that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." What makes our prayers effective?

1. A passionate walk with Christ - loving Him and staying close to Him
2. A pursuit of holiness - keeping ourselves from sin
3. A persistent altar of prayer - continuing to pray without giving up

Jesus taught His disciples to be persistent in prayer. In Luke 11, He tells the story of a man who keeps knocking on his friend's door at midnight until he gets what he needs. Jesus concludes, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Prayer is the only offensive weapon we have in our spiritual arsenal. Ephesians 6:18 encourages us to pray "always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Life Application
How can we apply these lessons about prayer to our daily lives? Here are some practical steps:

1. Develop a closer relationship with Jesus. Like John, position yourself to hear God's heartbeat. Spend time in His Word and in His presence daily.
2. Identify people in your life who need prayer. Who are the "Sodoms" in your life—people or situations that need God's intervention? Make a list and commit to praying for them regularly.
3. Pray with persistence. Don't give up after praying once or twice. Like Abraham, keep bringing your requests to God, even if you have to adjust your expectations along the way.
4. Let your prayers lead to action. When we truly pray for someone, we won't just sit and watch them make destructive choices. We'll be moved to reach out, to share God's love, and to point them toward Christ.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I close enough to Jesus to hear His heartbeat?
• Who am I consistently interceding for in prayer?
• Do my prayers lead me to action in sharing the gospel?
• Am I persistent in prayer, or do I give up easily?

Remember, prayer moves the heart that moves the hand that moves the world. Your prayers matter more than you know. Don't stop asking, seeking, and knocking. God is listening, and He's working, even when you can't see it yet.