GENESIS 18 BLESSING AND PRIVILEGES I saw there in the high plain of Mamre where those great trees provided shelter and shade, Abraham watching three men come toward him through the shimmering heat of midday. This is the first time a Theophanes is seen in this historic journey of mankind. A divine visitation from God was not misunderstood by Abraham for he bowed himself before the Lord. When a personal visitation and manifestation comes from God, everything else comes to a halt and this time supersedes every activity, every plan, every thought - for God is here!
When there is a call from God, no other issue can interfere with that. There is absolutely no reason to have any confidence in the flesh when God comes to abide with us. It is one of the highest peaks in one's life when one is able to minister to the Lord. What an acme of all experiences it is to be able to prepare for, and set something before the Supreme Person of the universe. As I looked on this scene, I saw the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who created everything by the word of His power - taking from the hand of His servant Abraham the proof of his hospitality. Standing by as a waiting servant, Abraham waits for his Lord to speak.
I began to think of my blessings and privileges as well. The Judge of all the earth has allowed me to speak to people in His name. He has allowed me to give from the bounty He gives me, and reckons it as a service from my hand. For His own reasons and purposes, He has placed in my area of responsibility the promotion and carrying out of eternal things. When I pray, He hears. When I preach, He listens to every word. When I give or take advice, He takes note of my response. How holy! How fearful in a good sense it is to be allowed into the presence of God!
As I listen through the scriptures to the divine communication from God to His friend, I am made aware that a divine visitation leads to service in divine things. Service for God leads to God revealing His plans, His mind and His will. Abraham heard God reaffirm His promise and was assured of its fulfillment even though Sarah laughed in her unbelief. I learned that even though I might assent to what God says, inward belief, or unbelief for that matter, is known by the Lord. When I am sure of the mind and will of God, He knows that.
Then in that afternoon conversation, Abraham hears a divine prophecy as the Lord tells His friend that judgment is coming on Sodom. They looked toward Sodom and Abraham heard from the Lord Himself what Sodom was like in the eyes of God. Then they turned and went toward Sodom and Abraham stepped out before the Lord as an intercessor. He learned that God knows and judges the moral conditions of men. He also knew that God listens to our appeals on behalf of other people. Then he learned too, that the Lord will bring blessing on many because of a few. Human prayer can never outreach the divine provision God has for those who repent and/or are committed to righteousness.
From that scene on the high plain, I learned that intercession on behalf of others is really heard by God Himself. When an intercessor is confident in spirit and definite in his plea, God does take that into His consideration. When there is recognition of the Lord as being the Sovereign Judge of all the earth, it is s very humbling thing when we are aware that He knows my heart and motives as well as those for whom I am making intercession. Humility is not something that can be faked. Humble in tone of voice reflects genuine humility of spirit. When one's heart is moved to persevere in prayer and in spirit, there is no attempt to say one thing and mean another. Intercession involves confidence in God and nearness to God.
I learned perhaps better than before, how important it is to draw near in full assurance of faith after having faced my own need of cleansing and my own condition of soul before God. I in my spirit, watched the Lord go on to do His sovereign work, and it seemed like Abraham may have taken a few steps and looked over his shoulder for a moment or two before going to his place. No doubt in his heart there were thoughts of Lot and his family. He would wonder what their real standing was. I know God alone knows that for sure, but often the standing and the state are very different. At that time, it is hard to differentiate between a believer and an unbeliever.
I pray that these will be evident in me - even me!
What should one pray for when making intercession? Is it right to speak to God of our real expectation? Should we articulate our wishes, our real heart's desire? Knowing God Himself has motives that compared to ours are much higher?
I know my prayers do not manipulate God's mind. The prayers I make on behalf of others more often changes mine. There is no question at all concerning the decisions God makes. He knows the final results of every action He chooses to take.
There is a certain fellowship we have with God when we pray, That we can't get in any other activity or in any other way. In prayer we are placing ourselves in a position to know God's will. And the results of intercessory prayer may be continuing still.
Not every prayer of intercession is answered right away. The answer may come down the road a way or in a future day. Names of people that have been on our heart may come up at the judgment seat. It could be there where some for whom we prayed, we will finally greet.
Prayer has a way of changing me to help me understand The will of God and His way of working, enabling me to see His plan. My plans for an answer only come from my personal frame of reference; God's answer may be an act of forgiveness or of the passing of a sentence.
He is the Judge of all the earth, He knows exactly what is needed. He is a God of mercy and grace, but when neither of these is heeded He must punish sin, of that there is no doubt for sin left alone brings death. The mercy of God is very notable as to its height and length and breadth.
God's fairness is unquestionable, even if there's only a few who commit to righteousness. Because of those few He often waits, and through them continues to bless Even those whose only reason to be alive is because of the few righteous ones. But when repentance is not forthcoming, then judgment is bound to come.
"Father God, in this community there are those who have prayed as intercessors night after night before the Gospel meetings. Hear their prayers, O Lord God, and for their sake and the glory of Thy Son, please bring some of those mentioned to Thee in prayer, to real repentance and real faith in Christ, In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."