Your Kingdom Come 'Prayer Series' - Abraham's Prayer for Intercession

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as Conversation with God

Prayer is simply a conversation between a person and God, not limited by ritual or cultural expectations.
Genesis 18:22-33 (ESV):
So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Reflection: When you pray, do you feel free to speak honestly with God, or do you hold back because of tradition or habit? What would it look like to approach God in prayer as a real conversation today? [16:24]

Day 2: God’s Graciousness in Listening to Imperfect Prayers

God graciously listens and responds to our prayers, even when our motives are mixed or imperfect.
Genesis 18:32-33 (ESV):
Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Reflection: Can you identify a recent prayer where your motives may have been mixed? How might you bring that honestly before God, trusting in His grace? [25:14]

Day 3: Interceding for Others Like Jesus

Jesus models perfect intercession by praying for others, even those who wronged Him, showing us the depth of true forgiveness.
Luke 23:34 (ESV):
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Reflection: Who is someone in your life who has hurt you or whom you find difficult to forgive? Can you pray for them today, asking God to bless and forgive them as Jesus did? [27:17]

Day 4: God Knows Best—Trusting His Outcomes

God knows best and may answer our prayers differently than we expect, always acting out of His loving and gracious character.
Romans 8:26-28 (ESV):
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Reflection: Is there a prayer you feel God has not answered in the way you hoped? How can you trust Him today to work out what is truly best, even if it looks different from your desires? [33:30]

Day 5: Examining and Surrendering Our Motives in Prayer

We are encouraged to check our motivations in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal and purify them, while trusting in God’s patience and readiness to listen.
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV):
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Reflection: Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden motives in your prayers. What is one area where you sense your motives need to be surrendered to God today? [34:11]

Sermon Summary

Prayer is a deeply personal journey, shaped by our upbringing, church experiences, and even the broader culture around us. Many of our habits—like closing our eyes when we pray—are not biblical mandates but cultural practices that help us focus. Yet, it’s important to recognize that our personal “prayer culture” is often a blend of what we’ve seen, learned, and absorbed from others. Sometimes, we may find ourselves challenged when confronted with different ways of praying, whether that’s praying in tongues or engaging in unfamiliar prayer workshops. These challenges can be healthy, prompting us to examine our openness to the Holy Spirit and to growth in our prayer lives.

Turning to Scripture, Abraham’s conversation with God about Sodom and Gomorrah is a powerful example of intercessory prayer. Though it reads like a negotiation, it is, at its heart, a dialogue with God—a prayer. Abraham’s motives are complex; perhaps he’s driven by concern for his nephew Lot, or maybe by a desire to protect a political ally, or even by a hope that the righteous might save the wicked. The text doesn’t resolve these questions for us, and that ambiguity mirrors our own mixed motives in prayer. We often pray for others with a blend of self-interest and genuine concern, and it’s humbling to realize how rarely our motives are pure.

Yet, God’s response to Abraham is marked by patience and grace. God listens, engages, and even adjusts the terms of the conversation, showing a willingness to meet Abraham where he is. This graciousness is echoed in the ultimate act of intercession: Jesus, on the cross, prays, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Unlike Abraham, Jesus’s motives are perfectly pure. He intercedes for those who are actively causing his suffering, embodying the deepest form of forgiveness and love.

We are called to follow these examples—to intercede for others, even when our motives are mixed. God’s grace is such that he listens to our prayers, not because we have perfect intentions, but because he is perfectly loving and wise. He takes our prayers, filters them through his wisdom, and responds in ways that are ultimately for our good and his glory. As we pray for others, let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal our true motivations, trusting that God is patient, gracious, and always ready to listen.

Key Takeaways

1. Our prayer habits are shaped by culture The way we pray—whether closing our eyes or using certain words—often comes from cultural traditions rather than direct biblical instruction. Recognizing this helps us remain open to new ways of engaging with God and prevents us from judging others’ prayer practices. It also invites us to examine which habits truly help us focus on God and which are simply inherited customs. [11:39]
2. God welcomes our imperfect motives Abraham’s intercession for Sodom was likely driven by a mix of self-interest and genuine concern. Similarly, our prayers are rarely free from mixed motives. Yet, God listens graciously, responding not just to the purity of our intentions but to the sincerity of our hearts. This should encourage us to pray boldly, even as we ask the Holy Spirit to purify our desires. [24:32]
3. Intercession is a call to selfless love Both Abraham and Jesus model intercessory prayer—speaking to God on behalf of others, even those who may not “deserve” it. Jesus’s prayer from the cross is the ultimate example, showing that true intercession is rooted in sacrificial love. We are invited to pray for others, trusting that God’s grace covers both their needs and our imperfect motivations. [27:58]
4. God’s answers surpass our understanding Abraham’s negotiation ended with a specific number, but God’s response went beyond the agreed terms, saving Lot’s family even when the “deal” wasn’t met. This reminds us that God’s wisdom and mercy exceed our requests. We may not always understand his answers, but we can trust that he knows best and acts out of love. [33:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:39] - How We Learn to Pray
[10:17] - The Influence of Prayer Culture
[11:00] - Closing Eyes and Prayer Traditions
[12:15] - Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer
[12:52] - Openness to Different Prayer Styles
[14:16] - Embracing Challenge in Prayer
[15:41] - Abraham’s Conversation with God
[16:24] - Defining Prayer as Conversation
[17:01] - God’s Revelation Shapes Our Prayers
[18:16] - Abraham’s Negotiation with God
[20:23] - The Motives Behind Intercession
[24:32] - Mixed Motives in Our Prayers
[25:53] - Jesus’ Prayer from the Cross
[27:58] - Intercession: Abraham and Jesus
[32:16] - God’s Gracious Response
[34:11] - Encouragement to Intercede for Others
[35:24] - Linger in Scripture and Prayer
[36:08] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 18:16–33 (ESV) — > Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? ...”
> (Read the full passage: Genesis 18:16–33)

Luke 23:32–34 (ESV) — > Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Observation Questions

In Genesis 18, what is the nature of the conversation between Abraham and God? How does Abraham approach God, and how does God respond?
According to the sermon, what are some cultural habits or traditions around prayer that are not found in the Bible?
In Luke 23, what does Jesus pray for while on the cross, and who is he praying for?
What are some possible motives behind Abraham’s intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah, as discussed in the sermon?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon suggests that Abraham’s motives in prayer were “multi-layered and at times messy.” Why might God still choose to listen to prayers with mixed motives?
How does Jesus’s prayer from the cross differ from Abraham’s prayer in terms of motive and selflessness? What does this reveal about the nature of true intercession?
The sermon points out that God’s response to Abraham went beyond the “deal” they made. What does this teach about God’s wisdom and mercy in answering prayer?
The preacher mentions that our personal prayer culture is shaped by upbringing, church, and wider culture. How might this affect our openness to new ways of praying or to the Holy Spirit’s leading?

Application Questions

Think about your own habits in prayer (like closing your eyes, using certain words, or praying in a particular way). Which of these are rooted in culture or tradition rather than the Bible? How do these habits help or hinder your focus on God?
Have you ever felt uncomfortable or challenged by someone else’s way of praying (for example, praying in tongues or participating in a different style of prayer)? How did you respond, and what might God be teaching you through that experience?
When you pray for others, can you identify any mixed motives—such as self-interest, fear, or personal benefit—alongside genuine concern? How does it feel to admit that your motives aren’t always pure?
The sermon encourages us to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal our true motivations in prayer. What would it look like for you to do this regularly? Is there a specific area where you sense your motives need refining?
Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those who were actively hurting him. Is there someone in your life who has wronged you, whom you find it difficult to pray for? What might it look like to intercede for them as Jesus did?
Abraham’s prayer didn’t “work out” exactly as he asked, but God still acted with mercy. Have you experienced a time when God answered your prayer differently than you expected? How did you respond, and what did you learn about God’s character?
The sermon invites us to linger in Scripture and prayer, especially in passages that challenge us. Is there a particular story or prayer in the Bible you want to spend more time with this week? How might this help you grow in your prayer life?

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What motivates effective prayer and intercession?

How does biblical prayer challenge cultural prayer practices?

What does the story of Abraham reveal about God's character?

Your Kingdom Come 'Prayer Series' - Abraham's Prayer for Intercession - Sunday 23 February 2025