A. Over the years, I have enjoyed reading Readers’ Digest and especially the humor sections.
1. One of the humor sections is called “All in a Day’s Work” where people write in humorous things that happen at work.
2. Here’s a good one someone submitted: Confiding in a co-worker, I told her about a problem in our office and my fear that I would lose my job. I know my co-worker keeps a list of 10 people she believes need her prayers the most, so I asked her if she had room for me on her prayer list.
a. “Oh yes, I have space on my prayer list, because three of the people who I have been praying for have died.” (Kaye Gordon, R. Digest, 6/01 p. 64)
b. When we are looking for someone to intercede for us, we are looking for a prayer intercessor with better results than that, right?!
B. As you know, we are in a sermon series called “Hope – The Anchor of God’s Promises.
1. We have been examining the promises of God that give us great hope.
2. So far we have examined these promises:
a. Death is not the end of life.
b. You are somebody important to God.
c. You have a priceless and limitless spiritual inheritance.
3. Two weeks ago, we explored the promise: You Can Defeat Your Enemy, the Devil.
a. We are following up that promise with several promises that lead to our spiritual victory.
b. Last week we were reminded that we have a Savior who understands us and can help us.
C. Today we are going to explore this amazing and wonderful promise: You Have a Savior Who is Praying for You!
1. Allow that truth and promise sink into your heart and mind.
2. Jesus, our Savior, Lord, and Friend, is in heaven praying for you and for me.
D. So, where does the Bible tell us about that promise and truth?
1. Isaiah 53 is the amazing prophesy about Jesus the suffering servant.
a. Look at Isaiah 53:12: Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.
b. Even before Jesus came to earth, it was determined that His mission would include bearing the sins of the world and being one who intercedes for the rebellious.
2. Look at Romans 8:34b: Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
a. So, where is Jesus? He is at the right hand of God.
b. And what is Jesus doing? He is interceding for us.
3. Look at Hebrews 7:25: Therefore, he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.
a. I am so captivated by that phrase: He always lives to intercede for them.
b. The thing that Jesus loves doing more than anything else is interceding for us.
c. Interceding for us is what He lives for!
4. And so, not only does the Bible predict that Jesus would become an intercessor, and then tell us that after He came and returned to the Father’s right hand He is interceding for us, the Bible also shows us a few examples of Jesus being an intercessor.
E. Allow me to ask this seemingly obvious question: why does Jesus need to intercede for us?
1. The simple and straight-forward answer is because we need it.
2. And why do we need it? Because as we live our lives, we inevitably face the storms of life and are constantly engaged in the spiritual battle.
3. This is one of the spiritual realities that believers have to come to grips with.
4. Many people end up with the mistaken notion that when they decide to become a Christian they will receive a pass on the troubles and tribulations of life.
5. But that false expectation crashes quickly on the rocks of reality.
6. The truth of the matter is this: We live in a spiritual battle zone and life in this world comes with storms.
7. You will remember that Jesus assured us of this fact: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).
8. Storms will come at you and me, just like they came against Jesus’ first disciples.
F. Let’s go to Matthew 14 and take a look at an episode in the lives of those first followers of Jesus.
1. The Bible says: 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them (Matthew 14:22-24).
2. As you know, sometimes the storms of life come about by our own doing.
a. Storms are sometimes the result of drinking too much booze, or borrowing too much money, or hanging out with the wrong crowd.
b. When we are the cause of our own storms, we really can’t blame anyone else, although we might try to.
3. But that of course, was not the case with the disciples in this incident in Matthew 14.
a. They were on the storm-tossed sea because Jesus told them to go there.
b. Notice the text: “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat…and go to the other side.”
c. They weren’t like Jonah trying to run away from God – Jonah’s actions called for a storm.
d. No the disciples in our story were not disobeying God, they were obeying Jesus.
e. They were carrying out Jesus’ direction and calling, and yet they found themselves in the middle of a storm.
4. These disciples’ experience was like that of other missionaries who may follow God’s call and move overseas only to later have their support evaporate.
a. Or of Christian business leaders who might take the high road, only to see their efforts undercut by dishonest competitors.
b. Or of the godly couple who honors God in marriage, but continue to have an empty crib.
c. Or the conscientious student who diligently prepares, only to fall short on the exam.
d. These are just like the disciples who launched a boat as Jesus instructed, only to sail into a storm.
5. And so, this is an important reality we must come to grips with: Storms come to the obedient.
a. And the storms the obedient face do come with a punch.
b. Look again at verse 24: Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.
6. The Sea of Galilee is notorious for its sudden and ferocious storms.
a. Cool air surrounding the mountains east of the sea mixes with the warm tropical air near the water, resulting in turbulent storms.
G. In John’s version of this episode, he tells us that Jesus had dismissed the disciples in the evening.
1. Evening became night, and the night became windy and rainy, and a roller coaster of waves.
2. The five mile trip across the lake that should have only taken a couple of hours, turned into a much longer trip.
3. They were still battling the storm in the fourth watch of the night (which is 3AM to 6 AM).
4. We have to give them a lot of credit – they had been going at it for 6 hours or more.
5. They didn’t turn and go back, they persisted in obedience, and kept digging the oars into the sea.
H. Let’s climb in the boat with them. What do we see?
1. We see exhausted, rain-soaked men.
2. And what do their faces reveal? Do we see fear? Do we see doubt? I would think so.
3. If we could read their minds, the question we might hear is: “Anyone know where Jesus is?”
4. That question is not recorded in the text, but surely it was being asked, maybe not audibly.
5. Isn’t that the question we ask when the tempests of trials and temptation strike in the life of an obedient disciple? Where is Jesus when I need him?
I. It is a great question and one with an answer that might surprise you and me.
1. Where was Jesus that night when His disciples were in the middle of a storm?
2. The Bible tells us: After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone (Matthew 14:23).
3. Where was Jesus? Jesus was praying. Jesus was interceding.
4. The text doesn’t tell us how widespread the storm was, but there is a good chance Jesus was also experiencing the same wind and rain on the mountain that the disciples were experiencing in the boat.
5. But either way, Jesus was praying.
6. He had served all day and He was praying through the night.
7. Perhaps the storm that His disciples were struggling against was a primary purpose and focus of His prayer that night.
J. And here is the marvelously encouraging and empowering promise that should give us hope: whenever you and I find ourselves in a storm, we can know that Jesus is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us.
1. To intercede means to make specific requests or petitions before someone on behalf of someone else; to intervene, or to mediate.
2. Biblically speaking, intercessors bring passionate and specific requests before God on behalf of others.
3. So, if Jesus is in heaven interceding for us, then that means whatever need we are facing, we know that Jesus is interceding for us: He is speaking on our behalf; He is calling out to the heavenly Father for us; He is urging the Holy Spirit to help us; He is advocating for a special blessing to be sent our way.
K. Because He lives to intercede for us, we know that we are not facing our storms alone.
1. How amazing is it to realize that we have the mightiest Prince and the holiest Advocate standing up for us?!
2. When the disciple named Stephen was about to be martyred for his faith in Acts 7, the Bible says that: Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:55-56)
3. At that moment, Jesus wasn’t seated at the right hand of God as the Bible sometimes says He is, no at that moment, Jesus had stood up – He was standing up for Stephen.
4. And we can know that Jesus stands up for us as well.
5. When He intercedes for us, His petitions sound like this:
a. “Grant Mary the strength to face this performance evaluation.”
b. “Issue Tom the wisdom necessary to be a good father.”
c. “Infuse Allison with peace that passes understanding as she gets the results of her biopsy.”
6. Where is Jesus when we need Him? He is in the presence of God and is praying for us.
L. In one of the most powerful moments in Scripture, Jesus had a frank conversation with Peter.
1. The disciples had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
2. Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him, and they argued about who that might be.
3. Peter declared that others might betray Jesus, but he never would, he was ready to go with Jesus to prison or to death.
4. Jesus lowered the boom of reality, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.” (Luke. 22:34)
5. But Jesus knew that this was not the end of the story for Peter, and He revealed this amazing fact: “Satan has asked to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
6. What comfort that must have brought to Peter to know that although he was headed into a battle with Satan, Jesus had prayed for him, and would continue to pray for him.
7. Jesus prayed for Peter and Jesus stood up for Stephen, and He does the same for us.
M. Let me ask you this question: Do you think that the prayers of Jesus get answered? Of course!
1. Well, a person may ask: “If Jesus was praying, why did the storm even happen?”
2. If Jesus stood for Stephen, then why did he die?
3. If Jesus prayed for Peter, then why did Peter still deny Jesus?
4. Wouldn’t an interceding Jesus guarantee a storm-free life? The answer is “yes, if that is what Jesus was praying for, but that’s not what Jesus prays for.”
5. But what we must remember is that a storm-free, temptation free life is not what we are promised; at least not in this world – that is what we will have in the next world.
6. Jesus told us that in this world we will have trouble.
7. We live in a fallen world and in a world where Satan still stirs doubt and fear and distraction.
8. In this world and in this life, we can count on the storms of temptation and trial.
9. But we can also count on the presence and prayers of Jesus in the midst of them.
N. And because Jesus lives to intercede for us, and because He stands up for us, and is a merciful high priest, we know that we will find grace and help in our time of need in the storms we encounter.
1. When Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17:15, He prayed, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
2. When Jesus prays for us, He prays that we will have wisdom and endurance the midst of trials, that we maintain of faith, and get back up and in the game after we have fallen.
3. When Jesus prays for us, He prays that we will allow Him to bring good out of the bad and the difficult things we experience.
O. So many believers could give a testimony similar to the testimony of a man named Chris.
1. Chris experienced a storm when he was 9 years-old – he was diagnosed with mononucleosis.
2. The doctors ordered him to stay indoors for the entire summer – could there be a worse order for a rambunctious, athletic, outgoing kid?
3. To be ordered to remain indoors meant no Little League baseball, no fishing, no bike rides.
4. Chris’s dad, however, was a man of faith and he was resolved to find a way for something good to come from the quarantine.
5. Chris’s dad worked at a drugstore that also sold guitars and decided to buy one for his son.
6. Chris’s dad knew how to play the guitar and each morning he taught his son a new chord or technique and encouraged him to practice it all day, and Chris did.
7. It turns out that Chris had a knack for playing the guitar.
8. By the end of the summer, Chris was playing Willie Nelson tunes and beginning to write some songs of his own, which eventually were worship songs.
9. Within a few decades, Chris was regarded as the “most sung songwriter in the world.”
10. The 9 year-old Chris who had to stay inside all one summer is Chris Tomlin, perhaps you’ve heard of him – he’s a very popular and successful Christian artist and song writer.
11. Do you think Jesus did some praying for Chris over the years?
P. The devil’s best attempts to discourage us fall victim to God’s resolve to shape us, if we let Him.
1. What Satan intends for evil, Jesus will use for good, if we let Him.
2. Satan’s attempts to destroy us and our faith can actually develop our faith and our ministry, if we depend on our Savior who is praying for us.
3. Jesus tells us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).
4. Knowing that Jesus has overcome the world, and knowing that He is praying for us should give us great assurance.
5. In the midst of our storms of trial and temptation, we can experience hope and help because we know that Jesus is interceding for us.
Q. But Jesus not only offers prayer for us, He also offers assistance.
1. Let’s go back to our story from Matthew 14.
2. You remember: we left them straining at the oars in the middle of the night, while Jesus was on the mountain praying.
3. The Bible says: 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.
27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”
29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:25-33).
4. In the midst of their storm, Jesus came walking to them – He turned the water to His walkway.
5. In many respects, Jesus became the answer to His own prayer for them.
6. His disciples were afraid for they never expected to see Jesus riding the waves of the storm.
7. Peter boldly requested to join Jesus on the water and was granted His request.
a. Unfortunately, Peter took His eyes off Jesus and began to sink, his faith quickly turned to fear, as ours often does!
b. Fortunately, Peter knew he could cry out to Jesus for help, and mercifully Jesus answered his cry.
c. Jesus is always willing to offer us mercy and grace in our time of need.
8. Jesus did what He came to do in answer to His own prayer.
9. Jesus helped Peter back into the boat and immediately the storm ceased.
a. Praise God that Jesus is sovereign over the storms of life!
10. The disciples, for the first time in Scripture, worshipped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Mt. 14:33).
R. What Jesus did for those disciples, He does for us – He intercedes and He intervenes.
1. What the disciples did for Jesus, we should do – offer Him our praise and our person.
2. There is no one better for us to worship and to depend on than Jesus. He won’t let us down!
3. Assignment – write this promise where you will see it: “I have a Savior who prays for me!”
4. Jesus our High Priest, our Savior and Lord, is our intercessor and mediate at God’s right hand!
Resources:
Unshakable Hope, Max Lucado, Thomas Nelson, 2018
