Evangelism Part 29: Intercession
Matthew 10:14-15 February 11, 2024
Recap and Introduction
Today is part 29 in our evangelism series and it’s been almost 7 months of focusing our
study on Matthew 10:5-15—“Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles.” By God’s grace we
trust that our study has been 2 Timothy 3:16 “16 …profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be
complete, equipped for every good work”, and especially for the work of evangelism.
o I hope that you recall how we have defined evangelism in this series: discerningly
and winsomely teaching the gospel with the aim to persuade
Helping people take one step closer to Jesus (Engel scale – go back and
listen to part 3)
o Within this passage we’ve exposited in two distinct seasons:
A Season of Proclamation—What is the Gospel? Who is it for? How do we
proclaim the kingdom of heaven in power to those around us with signs
and wonders and generosity?
o A Season of Peace—Examining and applying the power of Jehovah Shalom, the
God of Peace, who sent the Prince of Peace who gave us his Spirit of Peace to be
peacemakers as we seek out others who would be people of peace, have
households of peace, and tell stories of peace (aka testify) about the only one
who can bring true peace.
We’re about to close our Season of Peace and turn to the final part in this series — A
Season of Persecution —which is uncovered by Jesus in the next sections of text in
Matthew 10
o Jesus is about to address the questions of what kind of persecution can we
expect? Who can we expect it from? And how do we deal with it?
But before we jump into the Season of Persecution, two important topics that the
teaching team felt led to bring to the pulpit before we move on from the Season of
Peace: 1. Intercession (this week) and 2. Forgiveness (next week). We’ll take some time
in our final meeting of February to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and in testimony to
celebrate everything the Lord has done in this season through the peacemakers of Vine.
Matthew 10:5-13 “5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among
the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of
the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at
hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received
without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10
no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his
food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay
there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is
worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from
your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more
bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that
town.”
We have just studied what it means to recognize when it is time to move on with our
evangelistic efforts when we discern that we are casting pearls before swine (see
Matthew 7:6). But a critical truth that we must recognize is that though we may discern
a time when we are called to cease our outward evangelistic efforts toward someone –
at least until the Lord opens the door otherwise – that does NOT mean that we should
stop interceding for them before the throne of mercy.
So today we are going to focus on the importance of intercession in evangelism.
Though I don’t agree with several of his liberal theological positions, Tony Campolo tells
the story of the power of intercession. He was preparing to speak at a Pentecostal
chapel service and the elders brought him to a back room to pray over him before he
spoke. The eight elders laid hands upon Tony and each began to pray in turn. Tony
explained that the prayer session wore on as each man listened and responded to the
Holy Spirit directing their prayers.
One of the elders started to pray and quickly began to focus not on Tony or the chapel
service, but for a man named Charles Stolzfus. His prayer went something like this,
“Dear Lord, you know Charlie Stolzfus. He lives in that silver trailer down the road a
mile. You know the trailer. Lord, just down the road on the right-hand side.” It was
about that time that Tony began to get impatient – the Lord knows where Charlie lives,
there is no need to describe it – but the praying continued, “Lord, Charlie told me this
morning he’s going to leave his wife and three kids. Step in and do something, God.
Bring that family back together.”
As the eight elders finished, Tony went out and preached to the waiting congregation.
Of course, given the prayer that was prayed, he half expected Charlie Stolzfus to come
the front and receive Jesus. But Charlie never came. In fact, Charlie wasn’t even in
attendance at the service as he had left his family earlier that day. Though, the elders
were interceding for Charlie, the Lord had not answered the prayer at that service.
o Story Source: Cited in The Life You’ve Always Wanted, by John Ortberg, 2002,
Michigan USA, Zondervan, p.104-105
Intercession Defined
We left Matthew 10 with Jesus declaring the judgment to come on those who would not
receive or listen to the gospel. However, in order to receive and listen, they had to be
given and told. The very act of evangelism is intercession: pleading for the lost to be
found, the dying to come to life.
“Intercede” (Hebrew pāḡaʿ): to light upon, to go forth to encounter, to meet, to reach
out
o “Intercede” (Greek entygchanō): to light upon a person or a thing, to go to or
meet a person, especially for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or
supplication, to entreat or plead
Biblically, to go before the throne of God to meet with the God Most High
(El Elyon) on behalf of another person or situation.
Steven Cole recognized intercession as the necessary work of the people who are called
to be salt and light (see Matthew 5:13-16) to a rotting, dark world, “Wicked societies
tend to despise righteous people, and yet it is because of the righteous that God’s
judgment is often withheld. There are times in history when God declares that a wicked
nation has filled up the measure of their sins (see Gen. 15:16). When that occurs, even
the godly cannot deliver that people from judgment (Ezek. 14:14, 20). But until that
point of no return is reached, God’s people are the safeguard of a nation, as they pray
and live righteously before God.”
o Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any
people.”
o Proverbs 28:12 “When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the
wicked rise, men hide themselves” (as Lot is about to do in our text).
Charles Spurgeon said ““If they [lost sinners] will not hear you speak, they cannot
prevent your praying. Do they jest at your exhortations? They cannot disturb you at
your prayers. Are they far away so that you cannot reach them? Your prayers can reach
them. Have they declared that they will never listen to you again, nor see your face?
Never mind, God has a voice which they must hear. Speak to Him, and He will make
them feel. Though they now treat you despitefully, rendering evil for your good, follow
them with your prayers. Never let them perish for lack of your supplications’’”
We are all called to intercession, in fact, scripture demonstrates that for us not to pray
when we are called to is a sin, 1 Samuel 12:23 “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me
that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the
good and the right way.”
o The following is a non-exhaustive list of those on whose behalf scripture
demonstrates that we are called to intercede: those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2);
those ministering to us (Philippians 1:19); peace around the world (Psalm 122:6);
friends (Job 42:8); the unsaved (Romans 10:1); the sick (James 5:14); the people
in your city (Jeremiah 29:7); those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44); those who
are being persecuted (Acts 12:5) and all men (1 Timothy 2:1) as the Lord leads.
In Scripture there are many examples of intercessors in action and in prayer: Abraham,
Moses, David, Abigail, Samuel, Hezekiah, Esther, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and
Paul. Today we’re just choosing one intercessor to highlight some principles as we
follow God’s command to intercede for others who will be judged worse than Sodom
and Gomorrah should they turn aside our proclaiming and peace. And since Jesus is
referencing Sodom and Gomorrah in this passage, it is critical to note that before those
cities were judged, they were interceded for by Abraham. Let’s turn to Genesis 18:22-33
for the text.
Intercession Demonstrated
Genesis 18:20-33 “20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and
Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have
done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood
before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away
the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will
you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25
Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so
that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the
earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the
city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Abraham answered and said,
“Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28
Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of
five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to
him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will
not do it.” 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.” 31 He said,
“Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He
answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the
Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He
answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when
he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.”
Want to see four aspects of intercession here:
1) (v23) Draw near to God – “Then Abraham drew near”
o This is the first time in Scripture that a man initiated a conversation with God. Law
of first mention – important insight as to how we are to approach the throne of
the Holy One
o “came near” (Heb nagash; Lxx – eggizo) is used of priests approaching the Lord
(Ezek. 44:13) or the altar to carry out their priestly duties (Ex. 28:43; 30:20) and
denotes close proximity.
It is used of the mind and heart reaching out to God in worship, confession,
and, here, intercession
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of
grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
o Abraham is not demanding anything, he is not insisting on some right,
entitlement, or misconception that he knows exactly what needs to be done and
is “right” – he has the heart and mind of submission as he is humbly drawing near
to the throne of Grace and asking a request of his heavenly father.
o Remember that the Lord is our heavenly father, not a genie who we merely ask
things of and have no relationship with
Oswald Chambers said “Watch the tendency to pathetic humbug in your
approach to God. If we could see the floor of God’s immediate presence,
we would find it strewn with the “toys” of God’s children who have
said—This is broken, I can’t play with it any more, please give me another
present. Only one in a thousand sits down in the midst of it all and says—I
will watch my Father mend this. God must not be treated as a hospital for
our broken “toys,” but as our Father.”
2) (v25) Know the character of God – “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is
just?”
o Abraham drew near and knew that the God above all other Gods is a just and
righteous judge.
o Abraham knew the character of Yahweh and appealed to that character in his
intercession
Abraham was humbly bold before for the throne of the king because
Abraham knew God’s character. When we are asking the Lord to be who
we know Him to be, we can boldly and humbly draw near as Abraham did
The fact that the Lord was willing to spare what likely amounted to tens of
thousands of wicked people for the sake of 10 righteous is pretty
incredible.
3) (v32) Persist at the Throne of God – “Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and
I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.””
o Six times Abraham asks the Lord for mercy, each time lessening the righteousness
that he is asking the Lord to consider worthy of sparing.
I wonder why he stopped at 10? Perhaps he knew there were none
righteous but Lot’s family? Perhaps the Lord didn’t give him the chance to
ask again? We don’t know. But what we do know is that Abraham was
humbly persistent.
o Intercession is not a once a done activity. As we watch and wait for the Lord’s
response, we do not cease in our intercession for the person or situation until we
see clearly what the Lord has determined. Nor do we lift up a prayer one time;
God is not like the famous informercial tagline, “set it and forget it.”
Oswald Chambers again said, “There is in this prayer of Abraham a
distinction between the begging which knows no limit and the prayer which
is conscious that there are limits set by the holy character of God.
Repetition in intercessory importunity is not bargaining, but the joyous
insistence of prayer.”
4) (v33) Trust in the Will of God – “And the Lord went his way, when he had finished
speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.”
o And for all that, his prayer wasn’t answered the way Abraham hoped. Sodom was
destroyed. Sometimes our prayers won’t be answered with a yes. Often times the
answer is no. There was no fault with Abraham’s intercession; there wasn’t
something he did wrong. At the end of the day, as Abraham went away and God
went His way, Abraham knew that ultimately that His prayer must be, “Thy will be
done.” (see Matthew 6:10, for Lord’s prayer)
In the garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26:39, 42, 44 “39…“My Father, if it
be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you
will.”…42 gain, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father,
if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” …44 “he went away
and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”
Oswald Chambers one more time, “It is an insult to sink before God and say
“Thy will be done” when there has been no intercession. That is the prayer
of impertinent unbelief—There is no use in praying, God does whatever He
chooses. The saying of “Thy will be done” is born of the most intimate
relationship to God whereby I talk to Him freely.”
o We draw near to God, knowing who God is, persistently seeking His mercy, always
knowing and trusting in His ultimately will and glory.
The beautiful thing is that Christ Himself is interceding on our behalf with the Father at
all times (see Romans 8:34) and so is the Holy Spirit (See Romans 8:26).
o As we go to the throne of grace, Jesus is already there, joining us in prayer as we
are led by the Spirit to pray for those who the Lord puts on our hearts. It is our
responsibility to faithfully, humbly, obediently, and boldly go to the throne of
grace and mercy on behalf of those around us – asking the Lord to intervene and
bring people one step closer to Jesus in whatever situation they are in
Praying for the gospel to break through into their life. Always remember
the ultimately aim of your prayer – that someone would know Christ more
deeply so that God the Father would receive more glory.
If your prayer is not for those ends, then something is off in how you
are approaching the situation. We pray for healing, deliverance,
salvation, and all the rest so that the ones we pray for would
themselves draw near to the Lord in faith that God the Father, Son,
and Spirit would be glorified.
Conclusion
This brings us back to Tony Campolo. After he finished speaking, there was no sign of
Charlie Stolzfus. He started his long drive home and eventually made his way onto the
Pennsylvania Turnpike. As he was driving he saw a lone man walking along the road with
a hitchhiker’s thumb extended looking for a ride. Tony stopped for the man and let him
in.
o I’m just gonna read the rest of the story from here, “‘We drove a few minutes and
I said: “Hi my name’s Tony Campolo. What’s yours?” He said, “My name is Charlie
Stolzfus.” I couldn’t believe it!
o I got off the turnpike at the next exit and headed back [to the town in which I just
spoke]. He got a bit uneasy with that and after a few minutes he said, “Hey
mister, where are you taking me?”
o I said, “I’m taking you home.”
o He narrowed his eyes and asked, “Why?”
o I said, “Because you just left your wife and three kids, right?”
o That blew him away. “Yeah, that’s right.” With shock written all over his face, he
plastered himself against the car door and never took his eyes off me.
o Then I really did him in as I drove right to his silver trailer. When I pulled up, his
eyes seemed to bulge as he asked, “How did you know that I lived here?”
o I said, “God told me.” [well, God told him through the elder with whom Tony got
annoyed]
o When he opened the trailer door his wife exclaimed, “You’re back!” You’re back!”
He whispered in her ear and the more he talked the bigger her eyes got.
o Then I said with real authority, “The two of you sit down. I’m going to talk and you
two are going to listen!” Man did they listen! (…) That afternoon I led those two
people to Jesus Christ.’”
Abraham’s prayer of intercession did not pan out the way he hoped. The elder’s prayer
of intercession worked out more differently than he could have imagined, but God
heard and miraculously moved.
In both cases, the people of God were faithfully, humbly, obediently, and boldly
interceding as the Spirit led them as they appealed to the mercy of God. This is perhaps
the most important aspect of evangelism any of us can undertake – especially in the
face of opposition. Even if it is time to shake the proverbial dust of our feet in a given
situation, never cease to pray for those who need Jesus.
Amen. Amen.