"He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; and his own righteousness sustained him."
Isaiah 59:16 - Heb. 7:25 - James 5:16
Here is a statement that has probably escaped most of us in our Bible
study. In the declining days of Israel, God looked for intercessors
among His people, such as Abraham and Moses had been in their day; but
there was none. God wondered about this.
Humanly speaking, God must still wonder that there is so little
intercessory prayer. Whom do we include in our prayers? Ourselves and
our immediate family; and whom else? For whom have you really pleaded
with God? How God values intercessory prayer, how He reacts to it, we
learn clearly from the story of Abraham pleading for Lot's family and
for Sodom and Gomorrah. Still God assures us: "The effectual fervent
prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16
This is one of the most serious . . .
"He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; and his own righteousness sustained him."
Isaiah 59:16 - Heb. 7:25 - James 5:16
Here is a statement that has probably escaped most of us in our Bible study. In the declining days of Israel, God looked for intercessors among His people, such as Abraham and Moses had been in their day; but there was none. God wondered about this.
Humanly speaking, God must still wonder that there is so little intercessory prayer. Whom do we include in our prayers? Ourselves and our immediate family; and whom else? For whom have you really pleaded with God? How God values intercessory prayer, how He reacts to it, we learn clearly from the story of Abraham pleading for Lot's family and for Sodom and Gomorrah. Still God assures us: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16
This is one of the most serious sins of omission among believers today, this neglect of intercessory prayer. Pastors should pray more for their people; members should pray more for their ministers and for each other. All of us should pray more diligently and fervently for all Christian workers, for those in the armed forces, those in trial and sorrow, for unconverted souls, and for any others who need our prayers.
Christian friends, Jesus our High Priest, is our Great Intercessor: "He ever liveth to make intercession" Heb. 7:25. This is our comfort and hope. But we must take Him also as our pattern.
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Where prayer focuses, power falls.