Real Intercession/ OMBS7

Real Intercession

And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. - Isaiah 59:16

When someone hurts us, our natural human reaction is to strike back...to ask God to clobber them. But that’s not God’s way. I realized that one time when some relatives of mine got robbed. I was praying about the situation and puzzling over it. “Lord,” I began to ask, “why did You let that happen? Why didn’t You just knock that thief over the head when he tried to do that?” Suddenly, God enabled me to back up from that situation and look at it with spiritual, instead of just purely natural, eyes. When I did that, I knew the answer to my question almost as quickly as I had asked it. It was because of His mercy. God has great, great mercy. Not just for me and my family but for others too. Think about that next time someone does you wrong. Instead of asking God to knock that person in the head, like I did, consider the fact that—as ornery as he may be—he may well have a grandmother somewhere who’s praying for him to be saved. Stop and remember that God loved him enough to die for him, that He’s longing to pardon—not punish him. Then you can begin to pray for him instead of against him, uniting yourself with his grandmother (or anyone else who happens to be praying for him). You can go to the Lord for mercy for him and you can go up against the devil on his behalf. That’s real intercession and it throws the forces of darkness into total confusion. They have absolutely no defense against it. The Lord is looking for people who are bold enough, committed enough to do that. Dare to be one of them. When you’re tempted to clobber someone, dare to change his life instead. This Is The Finger Of God Pharaoh promised to let Israel go free if Moses took away the frogs. Moses cried out to God because of the frogs, and God immediately killed the frogs in the houses, villages and fields. They piled them up until the whole land stank. But Pharaoh reneged, so God sent another plague by Moses - FLIES! Pharaoh's magicians tried to copy the miracle to appease Pharaoh, but could not. Ultimately, NOBODY will ever beat God at His game. Exodus 8:19 - "Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God." That Nation Will I Judge When God visited Abraham during the horror of great darkness, Israel's deliverance from Egypt was prophesied. "They shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance." Moses executed ten plagues on Egypt, and the Children of Israel walked out with their jewels. Exodus 9:14 - "For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth." Intreat The Lord God sent ten horrifying plagues upon Egypt. Waters turned to blood. Frogs. Lice. Flies. Diseased livestock. Boils on men and beasts. Hail mixed with fire. Locusts. Black darkness. Death of all firstborn. Little by little, Pharaoh seemed to be humbling. He begged Moses to pray for him. But every time, Pharaoh double-crossed Moses. Do you nullify the force of your prayers by returning to sin? Exodus 9:28 - "Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer." Phony Promises What do you call a person who promises to do good as long as there is an impending threat of severe punishment, but as soon as they think they can get by with mischief, they quickly break their promises and return to their old tricks? A con-man? A politician? Pharaoh was more. He was a cold-blooded rebel against God. Sounds like many in our generation. Exodus 9:34 - "And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants."

Plan of Salvation read acts 2:38