The Power of Prophetic Prayer

Streams in the Desert

(Genesis 20:1-18, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 28, 2014)

[20:1] From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. [2] And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. [3] But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife.” [4] Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? [5] Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” [6] Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. [7] Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

Abraham and Sarah were on the move on a journey that would lead to Messiah and heaven. The Lord protected Abraham, His prophetic servant, and was determined to bless him greatly. The word “prophet” is first used in the Bible in this life-wrenching passage. What is the Lord starting here? See 2 Peter 1:21 and the yearning of Moses that the prophetic experience would one day be the common life of a community of faith (Numbers 11:29), a desire that begins to be fulfilled in the Acts 2 preaching of Peter from Joel 2:28-32. This could never be without Jesus as our Prophet. “The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 10:10) He leads us on.

[8] So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. [9] Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” [10] And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” [11] Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ [12] Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. [13] And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”The Lord's blessing through the “Spirit of prophecy” is bigger than the fears that so easily captivate us. God was leading Abraham and Sarah through a dangerous and difficult world. The journey for the Lord and His church takes us through a world of fear, even fear we have in us.

[14] Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. [15] And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” [16] To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” [17] Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. [18] For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

The Lord God of Israel will bring blessings through the prayers of His church. What will the Lord do through us in the year ahead if He chooses to fill us with His Spirit?

Put the Word to Work: The Lord will bless those whom He will bless. He uses the Word that He speaks through His prophets to bear fruit now and for eternity. Though His purposes might seem to fail, He will surely bless us as we serve Him, and He will answer our prayers. More than any blessing that we might receive in this life, the Lord has secured for His people the eternal blessings of heaven.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 126:4 – Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb!

Gospel Reading—Matthew 17:1-13 – The Transfiguration

Deliverance from Shame in the Gift of Jesus

How Can We, Who Are So Ashamed, Be Glad?

(Genesis 19:30-38, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 21, 2014)

[30] Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters.

Abraham's nephew, Lot, was an old and broken man. He had lost his wife and his entire community. He and his daughters were rescued by God, but what was their new life like? Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar, the little town that the Lord had spared. He lived in seclusion in a cave in the hills with his two daughters.

[31] And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. [32] Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” [33] So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
[34] The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” [35] So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. [36] Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father.

The two daughters were also very broken and alone. They had lost their mother and the two men that they intended to marry. Their whole world was gone in an instant. Now they were living with their overwhelmed father, far away from any human companionship. They did not have hope for their future, nor did they have confidence that the Lord who rescued them from His judgment upon Sodom would be able to care for them in this time of desperate need.

Those who are not aware of their heavenly father, live like orphans. Since they know of no God who will take care of them, they invent strange ways to solve their own problems. These young women were desperate for children, and they turned to incest in order to succeed in their plans.

[37] The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. [38] The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Their strange plans bore fruit. From one daughter came the nation of Moab (Moab=from father), and from the other, the Ammonites (Ben-ammi=son of my people). Both groups would become very prominent national enemies of Israel. The first of these, the Moabites, would be a part of the human heritage of the Messiah through the wonderful Ruth.

The Lord of the manger, the cross, and the resurrection has done great things for us, despite our horrific stories of fear, panic, and shame. Because of Jesus, we can be truly glad. (Hebrews 12:2)

Put the Word to Work: The story of the destruction of Sodom ends here, yet the mess of the fall continues, waiting for the Lord's great salvation. That Salvation, Jesus, would come through a Moabitess who wanted to be known by the Name of Israel's God's. Through our association with Jesus, from the line of Ruth and Boaz, we have a holy heritage, despite our secret shame.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 126:3 – The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 16:24-28 – Take up your cross and follow Jesus.

The Lord Will Both Judge and Save

How Great Thou Art!

(Genesis 19:23-29, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 14, 2014)

[23] The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. [24] Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. [25] And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

What happened to the beautiful place where Lot had chosen to live? See Genesis 13:10-13. In the day when Lot went to Sodom we were told that “the men of Sodom were wicked.” We heard more about this in Genesis 18– that the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was very great and their sin was very grave. The events described in the earlier verses in Genesis 19 were a horrible confirmation of their violent depravity.

This judgment of God was recorded for us in the verses before us now. In the absence of even ten righteous people, the entire region was destroyed. 2 Peter 2 :6 says that God “condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly.” Jude 1:7 is more specific: “Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities … indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire [lit. other flesh].” As in 2 Peter 2, Jude makes an application beyond these ancient cities, saying that they “serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” Peter went beyond Jude in helping us to see how we have been rescued by God. The Lord “rescued righteous Lot,” [!] who was “greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked.” Point: “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials ...”

[26] But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.While Lot and his daughters were saved, Lot's wife was destroyed. She looked back longingly on the place that was her delight despite the explicit warning that was given through the angels. Jesus Himself referred to this incident as a warning to those who prefer a dying world to the kingdom of God. “Remember Lot's wife.” Read Luke 17:28-33.

[27] And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. [28] And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

[29] So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.Abraham saw the place of divine judgment the next day. Imagine what that experience would be like! The Lord has overthrown this tired world. You are alive and safe, but so many others are gone. God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out before fire came down from the sky.

Put the Word to Work: The Lord's destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah reminds us of the wrath from which we have been delivered. The Lord has done great things for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Praise the Lord. He is terrible in judgment and glorious in mercy.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 126:1-2 – When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

Gospel Reading—Matthew 16:21-23 – Jesus foretells his death and resurrection

So flee... (2 Tim 2:22)

Peace Be Upon Little Israel

(Genesis 19:1-22, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 7, 2014)

[19:1] The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth [2] and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” [3] But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.Lot, Abraham's nephew, was following God's commandments in caring for strangers. He did not understand who His guests were and what their mission was.

[4] But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. [5] And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” [6] Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, [7] and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. [8] Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” [9] But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. [10] But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. [11] And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.The men of Sodom were violent sexual offenders. They did not understand who they were after.

[12] Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. [13] For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” [14] So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.Lot's sons-in-law missed their opportunity for rescue. They did not understand the times.

[15] As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” [16] But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. [17] And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” [18] And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. [19] Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. [20] Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” [21] He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. [22] Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Lot found a little city of refuge for his beleaguered family in the midst of a world of judgment.

Put the Word to Work: We need a place of refuge. The 1^st century Zoar, Jesus and His little church birthed in Jerusalem, has now become a mighty kingdom of life all over the earth. Yet in every place of spiritual battle it may seem to be too weak to win. Keep your eyes open for the surprise of God's grace against the overwhelming backdrop of His righteous judgment. The Lord's deliverance comes to us through faith and we grow through faith. Look for a refuge from all evil in Jesus, and may the Lord bring His fullest peace upon all the Israel of God.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 125:4-5 – Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!

Gospel Reading—Matthew 16:13-20 – Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ