Kingdom And Chaos - Intercessory Prayer

Kingdom and Chaos

Intercessory Prayer

April 7, 2019

Even though David was running for his life in the wilderness, he was still serving the people of the region as sort of a volunteer police officer.

Many times, David and his men put their lives at risk to fight off the Philistines, who wanted to plunder and rob from the people.

All David asked in return was for food and water for his men.

When he asked a man named Nabal for some food, David was humiliated and insulted.

Nabal was a fool. David was determined to teach him a costly lesson.

1 Samuel 25:20-25 NIV

As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, "It's been useless — all my watching over this fellow's property in the desert so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!" 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name — his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.

1 Samuel 25:34b-35 NIV

“If you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." 35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request."

Abigail saved her husband and her family, because she was willing to take a huge risk.

She interceded between a broken man and his just punishment.

Her husband was sinful and deserved what David was about to bring.

She intervened and showed us the power of intercessory prayer.

1 Timothy 2:1 NIV

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone…”

Requests – I’m not sure God wants.

Prayers – I know what God wants.

Intercession – I know what God wants and I’ll intervene.

Intercession is the act of bringing two sides together.

• An intercessor is a Mediator or an advocate.

• Jesus is our mediator, our advocate, our intercessor.

Romans 8:34-39 NIV

“Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus intercedes for us so we can intercede for others.

• He brought us and the Father together.

• He took our hand and the Father’s hand and brought them together.

Intercession means we care enough to get involved.

Intercession means we’re willing to step into a divided space.

Abigail came on a donkey to intercede for her family and community.

Jesus came on a donkey to intercede for the world, so that no should be lost.