Bible Study Guides – Intercessory Prayer

October 14, 2012 – October 20, 2012

Key Text

“Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?” Jeremiah 13:20.

Study Help: Patriarchs and Prophets, 315–330; Testimonies, vol. 1, 397–405.

Introduction

“Are you watching for souls as they that must give an account, or are you yourselves drowsy, ease-loving, and lukewarm?” The Signs of the Times, October 4, 1883.

1 ABRAHAM’S INTERCESSION

  • What should we learn from the attitude of Abraham toward the Sodomites? Genesis 18:20–33; Galatians 6:1.

Note: “There was no self-confidence, no boasting of his [Abraham’s] own righteousness. He did not claim favor on the ground of his obedience, or of the sacrifices he had made in doing God’s will. Himself a sinner, he pleaded in the sinner’s behalf. Such a spirit all who approach God should possess. Yet Abraham manifested the confidence of a child pleading with a loved father. He came close to the heavenly Messenger, and fervently urged his petition. …

“Love for perishing souls inspired Abraham’s prayer. While he loathed the sins of that corrupt city, he desired that the sinners might be saved. His deep interest for Sodom shows the anxiety that we should feel for the impenitent. We should cherish hatred of sin, but pity and love for the sinner. All around us are souls going down to ruin as hopeless, as terrible, as that which befell Sodom. Every day the probation of some is closing. Every hour some are passing beyond the reach of mercy. And where are the voices of warning and entreaty to bid the sinner flee from this fearful doom? Where are the hands stretched out to draw him back from death? Where are those who with humility and persevering faith are pleading with God for him?

“The spirit of Abraham was the spirit of Christ. The Son of God is Himself the great Intercessor in the sinner’s behalf. He who has paid the price for its redemption knows the worth of the human soul.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 139, 140.

2 MOSES’ STRENGTH AND TENDERNESS

  • Why did God spare Israel after the gross idolatry at the foot of Mount Sinai? Exodus 32:7–14, 30–32.

Note: “Moses realized how dreadful would be the fate of the sinner; yet if the people of Israel were to be rejected by the Lord, he desired his name to be blotted out with theirs; he could not endure to see the judgments of God fall upon those who had been so graciously delivered. The intercession of Moses in behalf of Israel illustrates the mediation of Christ for sinful men. But the Lord did not permit Moses to bear, as did Christ, the guilt of the transgressor.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 326.

  • Name two more examples of the power of Moses’ intercessory prayers. Numbers 11:2; 21:7.
  • Who had helped to mold the character of Moses in such a way for him to manifest such intense fervor in intercessory prayer? Exodus 2:1–10; Hebrews 11:23–25.

Note: “Jochebed was a woman and a slave. Her lot in life was humble, her burden heavy. But through no other woman, save Mary of Nazareth, has the world received greater blessing. Knowing that her child must soon pass beyond her care, to the guardianship of those who knew not God, she the more earnestly endeavored to link his soul with heaven. She sought to implant in his heart love and loyalty to God. And faithfully was the work accomplished. Those principles of truth that were the burden of his mother’s teaching and the lesson of her life, no after influence could induce Moses to renounce.” Education, 61.

“The mother should feel her need of the Holy Spirit’s guidance, that she herself may have a genuine experience in submission to the way and will of God. Then, through the grace of Christ, she can be a wise, gentle, loving teacher. To do her work as it should be done requires talent and skill and patient, thoughtful care. It calls for self distrust and earnest prayer. Let every mother strive by persevering effort to fulfill her obligations. Let her bring her little ones to Jesus in the arms of faith, telling Him her great need, and asking for wisdom and grace.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 128.

3 PRAYING FOR OUR CHILDREN

  • What can parents learn from Job’s example? Job 1:1–5.

Note: “Parents should meet their grave responsibilities with fear and trembling. Fervent prayers should be offered for divine strength and guidance in this task.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 200.

  • Why is prayer especially important at times when wayward children need to be corrected? Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21.

Note: “Some parents correct their children severely in a spirit of impatience, and often in passion. Such corrections produce no good result. In seeking to correct one evil, they create two. Continual censuring and whipping hardens children and weans them from their parents. Parents should first learn to control themselves, then they can more successfully control their children. Every time they lose self-control, and speak and act impatiently, they sin against God. They should first reason with their children, clearly point out their wrongs, show them their sin, and impress upon them that they have not only sinned against their parents, but against God. With your own heart subdued and full of pity and sorrow for your erring children, pray with them before correcting them. Then your correction will not cause your children to hate you. They will love you. They will see that you do not punish them because they have put you to inconvenience, or because you wish to vent your displeasure upon them; but from a sense of duty, for their good, that they may not be left to grow up in sin.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 398.

  • What prayer was in the heart of Hannah as she would prepare coats for her son, Samuel? I Samuel 2:18, 19.

Note: “Every fiber of the little garment had been woven with a prayer that he [Samuel] might be pure, noble, and true. She did not ask for her son worldly greatness, but she earnestly pleaded that he might attain that greatness which Heaven values—that he might honor God and bless his fellow men.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 572.

4 IN OUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

  • Explain some key elements in winning our associates to Christ. I Timothy 4:16.

Note: “If believers associate with unbelievers for the purpose of winning them to Christ, they will be witnesses for Christ, and having fulfilled their mission, will withdraw themselves in order to breathe in a pure and holy atmosphere. They will draw near to God, and send up earnest petitions to Christ in behalf of their friends and associates.” Our High Calling, 300.

  • How did Sister White respond when told that Vermont was “a hard field” for the gospel? Jeremiah 13:20. Describe her early experience with unbelieving friends.

Note: “We know there is earnest work to be done, requiring patience, perseverance, and untiring effort. Let the work be done by unselfish, humble men; let them work and pray, and pray and work. Labor by the fireside, brethren. Come close to hearts. Let unbelievers see that you care for their souls; search the Scriptures with them; weep and pray with them. In your earnest efforts, represent the love of Christ. Oh! this love, if we have it, is too much inclosed in our hearts, and does not appear in words or deeds as it should. How will you meet your relatives, your friends, and your neighbors in the Judgment, if you have not labored in every way possible to bring them to the truth? My prayer is that the Lord may so impress the minds of men and women in Vermont that they cannot rest until they commence in earnest to labor for souls. When they do this it will no longer be said, Vermont is a hard field.” The Review and Herald, November 20, 1883.

“I arranged meetings with my young friends, some of whom were considerably older than myself, and a few were married persons. A number of them were vain and thoughtless; my experience sounded to them like an idle tale, and they did not heed my entreaties. But I determined that my efforts should never cease till these dear souls, for whom I had so great an interest, yielded to God. …

“At every one of our little meetings I continued to exhort and pray for each one separately, until every one had yielded to Jesus, acknowledging the merits of His pardoning love. Every one was converted to God.” Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 41, 42.

5 CHRISTLIKE INTERCESSION

  • How are we encouraged to imitate the greatest Example of intercessory prayer? Luke 22:31, 32; John 17:20.

Note: “The Son of God is Himself the great Intercessor in the sinner’s behalf. He who has paid the price for its redemption knows the worth of the human soul. With an antagonism to evil such as can exist only in a nature spotlessly pure, Christ manifested toward the sinner a love which infinite goodness alone could conceive. In the agonies of the crucifixion, Himself burdened with the awful weight of the sins of the whole world, He prayed for His revilers and murderers, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ [Luke 23:34].” Patriarchs and Prophets, 140.

  • Why must we redouble our efforts in praying for others? Romans 13:10, 11; I Corinthians 15:34.

Note: “We must be much in prayer if we would make progress in the divine life. When the message of truth was first proclaimed, how much we prayed. How often was the voice of intercession heard in the chamber, in the barn, in the orchard, or the grove. Frequently we spent hours in earnest prayer, two or three together claiming the promise; often the sound of weeping was heard and then the voice of thanksgiving and the song of praise. Now the day of God is nearer than when we first believed, and we should be more earnest, more zealous, and fervent than in those early days. Our perils are greater now than then. Souls are more hardened. We need now to be imbued with the spirit of Christ, and we should not rest until we receive it.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 161, 162.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Why did Abraham plead so fervently for the Sodomites?

2 What factors motivated the prayers of Moses?

3 How can parents improve their relationship with their children?

4 How can we be more effective witnesses in our communities?

5 Why is prayer so important in the divine life?

© 2003 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.