Opening Prayer
Lord, open our hearts to understand what true intercession means. Teach us to pray with compassion, as Abraham did. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Genesis 18:16–33 – Abraham intercedes for Sodom.
“The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off. Then the LORD said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham? Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. This is how the LORD will fulfill to Abraham what he promised him.” Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious. I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to me. If not, I will find out.” The men turned from there and went toward Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the LORD. Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people who are in it? You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just? ” The LORD said, 'If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Then Abraham answered, “Since I have ventured to speak to my lord — even though I am dust and ashes — suppose the fifty righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for the lack of five? ” He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Then he spoke to him again, “Suppose forty are found there? ” He answered, “I will not do it on account of forty.” Then he said, “Let my lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose thirty are found there? ” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” Then he said, “Since I have ventured to speak to my lord, suppose twenty are found there? ” He replied, “I will not destroy it on account of twenty.” Then he said, “Let my lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. Suppose ten are found there? ” He answered, “I will not destroy it on account of ten.” When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he departed, and Abraham returned to his place.” Genesis 18:16-33 (CSB)
Teaching Points
1. Prayer is Fellowship Before it is Request
Before we ask anything from God, prayer is first and foremost fellowship, a sacred conversation between Creator and creature, Father and child, Shepherd and sheep. It’s not just about presenting needs; it’s about drawing near.
Abraham’s example is striking. In Genesis 18, Abraham didn’t approach God with a shopping list. He stood before the Lord and spoke with Him as a friend. He reasoned, listened, and interceded not from entitlement, but from relationship.
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25) That wasn’t arrogance; it was intimacy. Abraham knew God’s heart, and God welcomed his voice.
God desires partnership, not just petitions. Prayer is where we align our hearts with His. It’s where we pause, listen, and say, “Lord, what are You doing and how can I walk with You in it?” Jesus modeled this in John 15:15:
“I no longer call you servants… I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
So before we ask, we abide. Before we plead, we pause. Before we seek answers, we seek Him.
This truth is powerful for former Adventists and seekers alike. Many have been taught to pray out of duty or fear. But here, we remind them: prayer is not a transaction, it’s a relationship. And in that relationship, God doesn’t just hear us, He walks with us.
2. Prayer Aligns Our Heart with God’s Justice and Mercy
Prayer is not just about expressing our desires; it’s about allowing our hearts to be shaped by God's own character. When we pray, we don’t just speak to God; we begin to think with God. We enter into His heart where justice and mercy meet.
Abraham’s intercession for Sodom is a powerful example. In Genesis 18, Abraham didn’t plead for personal gain. He stood before the Lord and asked, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23). His concern wasn’t just for Lot; it was for justice, for mercy, for the possibility that even a few righteous lives might spare a city.
But notice: Abraham didn’t argue against God’s holiness. He aligned himself with it. He didn’t demand mercy at the expense of justice; he appealed to both.
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25)
This is the heart of true prayer. It’s not manipulation, it’s participation. God invites us to wrestle, to reason, to intercede. And in doing so, our hearts begin to reflect His own:
A heart that grieves over sin
A heart that longs for redemption
A heart that hopes for mercy even in judgment
Prayer is where we learn to care about what God cares about. It’s where we stop asking, “Lord, bless my plans,” and start praying, “Lord, align me with Yours.” It’s where we stop seeing people as enemies and start seeing them as souls God longs to redeem.
Many former Adventists carry wounds, some from harsh judgment, others from theological confusion. But here, you can remind them: prayer is not just a lifeline, it’s a heart-shaping grace. It teaches us to love what God loves, to plead for mercy without compromising truth, and to walk humbly with the Judge who is also our Redeemer.
3. Persistent Intercession Reveals Compassion
True prayer is not just about asking once and walking away; it’s about staying, pleading, and caring deeply. When we intercede persistently, we reflect the heart of God Himself: patient, merciful, and unwilling to give up on people.
Abraham’s example in Genesis 18 is striking. He didn’t stop at one request. He kept returning:
“What if there are fifty righteous? Forty-five? Forty? Thirty? Twenty? Ten?” Each appeal was not a negotiation; it was compassion in action. Abraham wasn’t trying to change God’s mind; he was revealing a heart aligned with God’s mercy. He cared enough to keep praying.
This is the mark of a true disciple. Real disciples don’t just pray for convenience; they intercede because they love. They stand in the gap for others, even when the situation looks hopeless.
Moses pleaded for Israel after the golden calf (Exodus 32:11–14)
Paul said he had “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” for his fellow Israelites (Romans 9:2–3)
Jesus wept over Jerusalem and prayed even for His enemies (Luke 19:41; Luke 23:34)
Persistent prayer is not weakness; it’s love refusing to quit. It’s the kind of prayer that says, “Lord, I know You are just, but I also know You are merciful. And I will keep asking not because I doubt You, but because I trust Your heart.”
This truth is powerful for those who feel weary or unheard. You can remind them: God is not annoyed by repeated prayers; He is moved by them. And when we persist in intercession, we are not just praying for others, we are learning to love them as God does.
Discussion
How does Abraham’s example show the balance between God’s holiness and mercy?
Who should we intercede for today?
Summary & Closing Prayer
Prayer is about sharing God’s heart. Lord, make us intercessors who carry Your compassion for
the world. Amen.
Former Adventists Philippines
“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”
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