The Power Of Intercessory Prayer

“The Power Of Intercessory Prayer”

TEXT: John 4:46-54

Introduction:

At first glance this may seem like a strange text to use with the subject of “Intercessory Prayer,” but I think that there arefew scriptures that do a better job illustrating all the elements involved in intercessory prayer.

Let us define the word Intercessor, intercessory

Websters: “To interpose in behalf of someone, as by pleading or

Petitioning.” “A prayer to God on behalf of another”

[A] Intercessory Pray is a powerful thing.

(1) God can use each of us as intercessors;

For our families

Our neighbors

Our church

Our community

Our Country

[B] The Scriptures admonish us to pray for one another.

James 5:16 (KJV)

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Gal 6:2 (KJV)

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

[C] Concerning Our Text:

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This is the second miracle of Jesus that we read about being performed in Cana of Galilee.

(1) His first miracle there was the “The turning of water into wine” at

the wedding.

(2) There have been some other miracles that have taken place in

other places between these two events.

(3) Galilee was prepared to welcome Jesus because they had been so

impressed by the account of what some of their members had seen

when they had been up in Jerusalem at the recent Passover.

When Jesus turned the tables over in the temple of the Lord

and declared God’s house to be a house of prayer.

[C] There are several people who are effected by this miracle:

(1) The Anxious Father

(2) The dying son

(3) The by standers

(4) The nobleman’s household

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I. The Anxious Father

[A] He was a nobleman, a royal officer who served under King

Herod.

(1) But when we meet him, we don’t see an important man, we

are not introduced to his power or his ego.

(2) Instead we see a broken man, a man of desperation, an anxious

father.

[B] All the externals such as social power now meant nothing to him.

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(1) All this man could think of was the fact that his son appeared to

be dying.

(2) When he heard that Jesus was in Cana, he did not hesitate, he

cut out on a 20 to 25 mile journey in an effort to find help for his

boy.

(3) Thank God this man knew where to turn in the time of need.

(4) He wanted to meet Jesus in person and beg Jesus to heal his son.

[C] He knew that somebody had to do something! He couldn’t just set

Back and watch his beloved son die without trying to help him live.

(1) He was willing to do what he could.

(2) The only thing we read of him doing was going before Jesus on

behalf of his sick boy.

II. The Dying Son

[A] We don’t really know what type of sickness it was that afflicted

this nobleman’s son, but we do know that it was something that

those around him considered to be life threatening.

(1) There must have been some characteristics of his sickness that

were present upon other sick people to whom they had

witnesses their deaths.

(2) For twice our text emphasizes the fact that the son was “at the

point of death” in verse 47

And “dying” in verse 49

[B] A TRUE EMERGENCY existed.

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III. The Bystanders

[A] There were many people that day that witnessed the exchange

between Jesus and the anxious father.

(1) However their motivation for following Jesus was much different

than that of the desperate father.

(2) This father had come to Jesus believing that if he could get Jesus

To go back home with him, that Jesus COULD HEAL his son.

[B] This crowd was not following Jesus to hear what he had to say, or

Because they believed upon Him and his Messiah-ship.

(1) They just wanted to see Him do something big.

(2) They wanted a headline.

[C] As the father was pleading for help they perked their eyes and ears

To see how Jesus would respond.

(1) Reckon He will make the long 20 mile journey down the

mountain?

(2) Do you think he can help this man and his son?

(3) Oh I want to see how this is going to turn out!

[D] Jesus rebuked them;

John 4:48 (KJV)

48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

[E] The Nobleman’s response;

John 4:49 (KJV)

49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

(1) All the crowd was concerned about was seeing signs and