The righteous intercedes

STUDY: # 924 – CHURCH IN THE HOUSES PASTOR: EDITH CRUZ FROM: DECEMBER 27, 2016 @ JANUARY 2, 2017 TOPIC: “The righteous intercedes” Genesis 18:22-33 Those who intercede speak in favor of another person. Understand that only the RIGHTEOUS, a person of mercy, can pray to God for others. Pious men and women are devoted to holy things. One is pious when you give yourself to Him. Piety is that fervor, that love that you feel towards God. A RIGHTEOUS man acts driven by love, and compassion towards human beings. Abraham was born to be righteous, to be pious (Genesis 11:26). He let himself be guided by God. (Genesis 12:4 "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him ..." (Genesis 15:6 "And he believed (Abraham) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness." Abraham knew that he was born for God. He proved that he was a godly man. No one chilled his fervor towards God. His enthusiasm, dedication, and respect for God were always like an intense heat in his entire being. Abraham knew how to conduct his life. He did not lack anything because he was obedient. In order to intercede, and be able to have God near, we must know how to live piously for God. The land is filled with religious phonies, and those are the ones who speak the most. (Genesis 22: 2, 10-12) As Abraham was filled with great promises regarding Isaac, his only son, God asked him for a sacrifice. If Isaac died, there would be no promises. Sarah and Abraham, in their old age, would have no more hopes of having another child. No one would understand such a thing. And now what? Apparently, it was all over for Abraham's offspring. Abraham who had walked and fought so hard. But Abraham believed in God completely. (Hebrews 11:17-19) "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back."). (Genesis 14:18-20) We also read that Abraham gave tithes of all things to Melchizedek. This is more evidence of his piety. We can see his braveness because he went to a priest or official mediator between God and himself. Abraham gave the tenth part of the spoils of war to the priest Melchizedek in sign of his gratitude and in honor to the divine ordinance. This was a sign of respect. As his priest, Melchizedek in turn gave the promised offering dedicated to God. What Abraham did is an act of piety, fear and devotion to God. There is no rebellion there, but honor. Let nothing accuse us. We must always be prepared to have the kind of fervor, enthusiasm, dedication and respect that Abraham had. There are many charlatans and mockers, who are what they are, because of the rebellion that is within them; against God and His precepts. We have already seen that Abraham was a godly man, he was righteous. Here in Genesis 18:22-33 there is a very interesting, and helpful scene that demonstrates the efficacy of prayer, and intercession of the righteous. Lot, son of Abram's brother, lived in Sodom (Genesis 14:12). But God had decided to destroy Sodom because of the great evil in its inhabitants (Genesis 18:20, 21 Then the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down ... "). I don’t think that Lot prayed, that he was able to speak to God on behalf of his own. Poor man! He had arrived at Sodom with his hands full, and ended with empty hands and great shame. (Genesis 13:12, 13 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while

Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.") If we want to see good in our lives, prayer and the Word of God must be a part of us. GOD SPEAKS TO US WITH THE WORD; WE SPEAK TO GOD IN PRAYER. In this passage from the Bible we see that Abraham speaks to God in favor of Lot. Abraham approached the Lord in confidence. Abraham was able to approach the Lord with confidence because of his faith. Abraham prays to God in case there were any righteous among the Sodomites. This was a degenerated city. But Lot, his nephew was there. In Abraham's prayer and intercession, we see a tremendous fear of displeasing God. (Genesis 18:30 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.") We must go before God and deal with Him; not address men. Abraham thought there might be a few righteous there. PERHAPS ABRAHAM THOUGHT HIS NEPHEW, LOT, HAD FOLLOWED THE GOD ABRAHAM KNEW. AND THAT IF GOD WAS IN LOT, MAYBE HE WOULD ALSO BE IN THE FAMILY. This Abraham, a pious and just intercessor, put his prayer before the throne of grace to obtain mercy in favor of Lot and his family (Hebrews 4:16). He did so with great boldness, and absolute confidence. God heard Abraham and answered favorably by sending His angels to bring Lot and his family out from Sodom (Genesis 19:15). This is the problem on earth, among men who are not like Abraham (Ezekiel 22:30 "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none."). It takes a man "to become a wall", to stand between the wrath of God and the people. A figure, a brave, and just person to lead the people to repentance. A gap in the wall is a break, an opening. Someone just and with faith stands in the gap between the people and God. We see it in Abraham in the form of an intercessor; speaking to God in favor of that person for whom he had to pray. But here, in Ezekiel, we read that during the time close to the captivity of Judah; God says to the prophet: "I did not find him." What about during our time? Will He find it in you? Will you be a righteous person who intercedes before God for others? During that time, the prophets Jeremiah and Baruch were also with Ezekiel. But none of the so-called pious wanted to "interpose" between the wrath of God and the people. And what are you doing today? Interceding? Are you that righteous person who intercedes as Abraham did? Amen.