Transformative Power of Prayer and Divine Intercession

 

Summary

In Revelation 5:6-8, we are presented with a profound vision of worship in heaven, where a Lamb, symbolizing Christ, stands at the center, surrounded by heavenly beings and elders. This imagery is rich with symbolism, particularly the golden vials full of odors, which represent the prayers of the saints. These prayers, like incense, are sweet to God, not because of their inherent worth, but because they are sanctified by Christ's intercession. Our prayers, though flawed and imperfect, are made acceptable through the merit of Jesus, who refines and presents them to the Father.

The essence of prayer is not in its formality or ritualistic repetition, but in the sincerity and purity of heart. True prayer is a heartfelt communication with God, transcending mere words and rituals. It is the spirit of the prayer, filled with faith, love, and humility, that ascends to God like incense. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role, acting as the divine apothecary, blending our prayers with the necessary graces to make them pleasing to God.

Moreover, the collective prayers of the saints hold a unique power. When believers unite in prayer, their diverse expressions of faith create a harmonious symphony that delights God. This unity in prayer is not only pleasing to God but also powerful in its effect, capable of bringing about divine intervention and transformation in the world.

Prayer is a profound act of worship, acknowledging God's existence, power, and sovereignty. It is a declaration of our dependence on Him and a testament to our faith in His promises. As we pray, we honor God by recognizing His attributes and expressing our trust in His divine will.

Ultimately, prayer is a reflection of our relationship with God, much like a child communicating with a loving parent. God delights in our prayers, not because He is unaware of our needs, but because He cherishes the communion and the expression of our trust and dependence on Him. Therefore, let us be fervent and persistent in prayer, knowing that it is both a privilege and a powerful means of engaging with the divine.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Sweetness of Prayer: Our prayers, though imperfect, are made sweet and acceptable to God through the intercession of Christ. This highlights the importance of approaching God with humility, recognizing that it is not our merit but Christ's that makes our prayers pleasing to God. [08:48]

2. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit acts as the divine apothecary, blending our prayers with the necessary graces such as faith, love, and humility. This ensures that our prayers are not just words but are infused with the spiritual essence that makes them effective and pleasing to God. [23:11]

3. Unity in Prayer: The collective prayers of the saints create a harmonious symphony that is uniquely pleasing to God. This unity in prayer is powerful, capable of bringing about divine intervention and transformation in the world. [35:07]

4. Prayer as Worship: Prayer is an act of worship that acknowledges God's existence, power, and sovereignty. It is a declaration of our dependence on Him and a testament to our faith in His promises, honoring God by recognizing His attributes. [30:24]

5. The Father-Child Relationship: God delights in our prayers as a loving parent delights in the communication of their child. This relationship emphasizes the personal and intimate nature of prayer, where God cherishes our expressions of trust and dependence on Him. [33:47]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - The Vision of the Lamb
- [01:03] - The Duty of Intercession
- [02:21] - The Assembly of Heaven
- [03:20] - Prayers of Saints as Incense
- [05:28] - Golden Vials Explained
- [06:19] - Sweetness of Prayer
- [08:48] - Christ's Intercession
- [11:06] - True Intercession
- [13:59] - Heartfelt Prayer
- [17:17] - Character in Prayer
- [20:01] - Graces in Prayer
- [23:11] - The Holy Spirit's Role
- [26:47] - The Fire of Prayer
- [35:07] - Power of United Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Revelation 5:6-8

#### Observation Questions
1. What is the significance of the Lamb standing at the center in Revelation 5:6-8, and how does this imagery relate to the theme of worship in heaven? [00:12]
2. How are the prayers of the saints described in Revelation 5:8, and what do the golden vials full of odors symbolize? [00:25]
3. According to the sermon, what role does the Holy Spirit play in making our prayers acceptable to God? [23:11]
4. How does the sermon describe the collective power of united prayer among believers? [35:07]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the intercession of Christ transform our imperfect prayers into something sweet and acceptable to God? [08:48]
2. In what ways does the Holy Spirit act as a "divine apothecary" in the process of prayer, and why is this important for believers? [23:11]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the impact of unity in prayer on divine intervention and transformation in the world? [35:07]
4. How does the concept of prayer as an act of worship reflect our relationship with God, and what does it reveal about our dependence on Him? [30:24]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent prayer you offered. How can you approach God with greater humility, recognizing that it is Christ's merit that makes your prayers pleasing to God? [08:48]
2. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your prayer life. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to blend your prayers with faith, love, and humility this week? [23:11]
3. Think about a time when you joined others in prayer. How did that experience impact your faith, and how can you seek more opportunities for united prayer in your community? [35:07]
4. In what ways can you make prayer a more profound act of worship in your daily life, acknowledging God's power and sovereignty? [30:24]
5. How can you cultivate a more intimate and personal relationship with God through prayer, similar to a child communicating with a loving parent? [33:47]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to express greater trust and dependence on God through prayer. What steps can you take to address this? [34:51]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to be fervent and persistent in prayer, recognizing its power and privilege? [46:14]

Devotional

Day 1: The Sweetness of Prayer
Our prayers, though imperfect, are made sweet and acceptable to God through the intercession of Christ. This highlights the importance of approaching God with humility, recognizing that it is not our merit but Christ's that makes our prayers pleasing to God. The imagery of golden vials full of odors in Revelation 5:6-8 symbolizes the prayers of the saints, which are sweet to God because they are sanctified by Christ's intercession. Our prayers, though flawed, are refined and presented to the Father by Jesus, making them acceptable. This understanding encourages believers to approach God with a humble heart, knowing that it is through Christ's merit that our prayers are heard and cherished. [08:48]

Revelation 8:3-4 (ESV): "And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a heart of humility in your prayer life, acknowledging that it is Christ's intercession that makes your prayers sweet to God?


Day 2: The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit acts as the divine apothecary, blending our prayers with the necessary graces such as faith, love, and humility. This ensures that our prayers are not just words but are infused with the spiritual essence that makes them effective and pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in transforming our prayers from mere words into a heartfelt communication with God. By infusing our prayers with faith, love, and humility, the Holy Spirit ensures that they ascend to God like incense, pleasing and effective. This divine assistance highlights the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit in our prayer life, trusting that He will provide the necessary graces to make our prayers meaningful. [23:11]

Romans 8:26-27 (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."

Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide and transform your prayers today, ensuring they are filled with faith, love, and humility?


Day 3: Unity in Prayer
The collective prayers of the saints create a harmonious symphony that is uniquely pleasing to God. This unity in prayer is powerful, capable of bringing about divine intervention and transformation in the world. When believers unite in prayer, their diverse expressions of faith come together to form a powerful and harmonious symphony that delights God. This unity is not only pleasing to God but also has the potential to bring about significant change and divine intervention in the world. The power of united prayer emphasizes the importance of coming together as a community of believers, joining our hearts and voices in prayer for the world around us. [35:07]

Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV): "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

Reflection: Think of a specific situation or need in your community or the world. How can you join with others in prayer to seek God's intervention and transformation in that area?


Day 4: Prayer as Worship
Prayer is an act of worship that acknowledges God's existence, power, and sovereignty. It is a declaration of our dependence on Him and a testament to our faith in His promises, honoring God by recognizing His attributes. Through prayer, believers express their trust in God's divine will and acknowledge His sovereignty over all things. This act of worship is a powerful declaration of faith, as it recognizes God's attributes and His promises. By engaging in prayer, believers honor God and demonstrate their dependence on Him, trusting in His power and wisdom to guide their lives. [30:24]

Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV): "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."

Reflection: In what ways can you incorporate prayer as an act of worship in your daily routine, acknowledging God's sovereignty and expressing your dependence on Him?


Day 5: The Father-Child Relationship
God delights in our prayers as a loving parent delights in the communication of their child. This relationship emphasizes the personal and intimate nature of prayer, where God cherishes our expressions of trust and dependence on Him. Just as a parent cherishes the communication with their child, God delights in our prayers, valuing the communion and expression of trust we offer. This intimate relationship highlights the personal nature of prayer, where believers can approach God with confidence, knowing that He cherishes their expressions of faith and dependence. Understanding this dynamic encourages believers to be fervent and persistent in prayer, embracing the privilege of engaging with the divine. [33:47]

1 John 3:1 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with God through prayer, approaching Him with the confidence and trust of a child communicating with a loving parent?

Quotes


The prayers of God's people are as sweet to him as incense. This is not due to any natural Excellence or Merit which they possess in themselves and by themselves far from it in the best prayer that was ever offered by the holiest man that ever lived there was enough of sin to render it a polluted thing if the Lord had looked upon it by itself. [00:06:37]

Our consolation lies in this that our beloved intercessor who stands before God for us even Christ Jesus possesses such an abundance of Precious merit that he puts fragrance into our supplications and imparts a delicious odor to our prayers he makes our intercession to be through his Merit what they could not have been without it acceptable before the Majesty of Heaven. [00:08:36]

The Holy Ghost is the Believers apothecary. Here it is who knows the proper quantity of each ingredient in prayer how much of Faith how much of love how much of repentance how much of humility there ought to be in every supplication. He helps each believer's infirmities and makes for us a mixture of all Choice Graces so that when we pray our pleadings are accepted as sweet incense. [00:23:11]

The prayers of the churches will never be accepted before God until they go straight up to him only having respect to him who is invisible. Now the question returns why are the prayers of saints so sweet to God? We reply partly because they are the work of the spirit of God there is no acceptable prayer in the world but that which the spirit of God is inspired. [00:28:16]

The prayers of his Saints are acceptable with him also because they are the pleadings of his son. The Saints are members of Christ's body and as they plead Christ pleads in them. The very strength of their pleading lies in this that they urge his merits and the Lord Delights to be reminded of his son's excellences it is a theme that his soul delighteth in. [00:29:01]

The prayers of the Saints are sweet to God because they honor himself and this they do in many ways and first they assert his existence. In prayer the people of God declare better than they could by any other means their sure belief that God is for should we pray to one who has no existence. [00:30:15]

The prayers of saints the prayers of a saint are sweet but the prayers of saints are sweeter. I had many points here but I think I misneeds forego them all this morning for the sake of one United prayers possess the power of Harmony. In music there is Melody in any one distinct note but we have all recognized A peculiar charm in harmony. [00:35:07]

Now the prayers of one Saint are to God Melody but the intercessions of many are Harmony and to God there is much that is pleasing in the harmony of his people's prayers. Let us turn this subject over a minute no two children of God pray exactly alike there is a difference of tone if taught of God each one will pray graciously. [00:35:42]

The prayers of men on the verge of Heaven are to us as angels to lead us also up to the gates of pearl but it is very pleasant to hear the prayers of young people also even the very young for as they taught before the Lord there is a Charming Simplicity and frankness too little found in others. [00:41:18]

The prayers of men in middle life full of experimental trouble or on the other hand overflowing with experienced Joy these have their peculiar Aroma and I believe God loves to see them all mixed in the golden bowls and what if I add he would have his people with their various peculiarities put their prayers together. [00:41:48]

The prayers of different nationalities are being put into the Golden Bowl our French Brethren always charm me when they pray there is a tender filial love, an affectionate gentleness which is most delicious our American friends so bold and sanguine also Delight us with their confidence in God. [00:42:30]

We have but to pray, all things are possible to us. Pray Brethren you have the key in the door of Heaven keep it there and turn it till the gate shall open. Pray brethren for prayer holds the chain which binds the old dragon. Prayer can hold fast and restrain even Satan himself. [00:49:09]

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Transcript
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