Living An Intentional Life

Part 3: Intercede

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Summary

As Christians, we are called to pray because it ignites our apologetics and evangelism. Just as Jesus intercedes for his people, we should be praying for ours. In this weeks sermon, we are challenged to pray thoughtfully for those in our sphere of influence with the goal of bringing the gospel to our neighbors, community and the world.

Content
Defining Some Important Words

The words intercede, apologetics, and evangelism might not come up in your everyday conversations. You might even feel a little overwhelmed when you hear them. But these aren’t things that should be left to pastors and theology professors alone! In fact, you’ve probably engaged in these things this week! So, let’s make sure we’re clear on what they mean.

To intercede simply means to bring the needs of other people to God on their behalf. If you’ve ever prayed for someone’s health, or for a city’s recovery from a natural disaster, or for people to come to faith in Jesus, you have interceded! When we intercede for unbelievers, we’re praying for them the prayer that they don’t know to pray for themselves. 

While you can intercede for people you’ve never even met, you usually practice apologetics in conversation with someone. Apologetics is the defense of our beliefs using reason, logic, and evidence. Many people who do not believe in God consider their decision to be a rational one; therefore, they don’t recognize the need for the presence of God and for the forgiveness of their sins. However, as Christians, we know that our belief is the truth, and we know unbelievers are in dire need of Him.

It can be said that apologetics are pre-evangelism, because evangelism is the next step in winning a heart or mind for Jesus. Once someone has come to understand their sinful nature and confesses the existence of God, their Creator, they still need to discover who that God is. Evangelism happens when we share the Good News of The Gospel! It communicates who Jesus is, what He did, and why it matters for all of us. It speaks light into the darkness, and it introduces people to the solution for death, sin, and meaninglessness. 

The Holy Spirit is Our Guide

Every time you read Scripture, you are sharpening your skills of apologetics and evangelism. As your knowledge of God’s Word grows, you will more often have the right verse come to mind at the right time in conversation with unbelievers. You will learn to answer questions you couldn’t answer before! Much of this learning takes place at church, in community groups, and in community with other Christians. 

However, regardless of how much knowledge you have, you won’t be winning the most hearts if you are not guided by the Spirit. Two thousand years ago, the Pharisees had incredible amounts of religious knowledge, and yet they missed Jesus — Immanuel, God With Us — their Savior. 

But the fact that we’re not as well-read as the Pharisees were shouldn’t discourage us! God doesn’t just call the theologians to bring others to Jesus. He calls each of us to share the Good News where we are today. And He equips us to do this, too, with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

If we listen for Him and trust in God, our efforts can be given supernatural effectiveness. All throughout the Book of Acts, we see this taking place for the early church! Peter speaks boldly before the Sanhedrin while filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8). Encouraged by the Spirit, the church grew in number (Acts 9:31). The Holy Spirit guided Philip in missions strategy (Acts 8:29). Paul was compelled by the Spirit to bring the Gospel forward despite the risk of persecution (Acts 20:22-23). 

It is a blessing and a gift that we don’t need to rely on our own abilities to bring others to Christ. We don’t need to worry about our own performance (whether we say everything just right), we just need to be willing to let Him use us. 

Even when we cannot see the outcome of our spiritual conversations, or when it feels as though we failed, we cannot see the purpose God in bringing us to that person. Sometimes, we simply plant a seed that will one day grow, and we must trust our God who can see the whole picture. 

Prayer is The Fuel

Take a moment to read 1 Timothy 2:1-6. Intercessory prayer gives further power to the apologetic and evangelistic efforts we make. When we pray for others, we even join Jesus! 

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 

— Romans 8:34


Prayer doesn’t only serve to strengthen the effect of our spiritual conversations on unbelievers; it’s more than worthwhile in its own right! Many of us have loved ones who we deeply desire to come to Christ. In some cases we no longer can talk to them, or it can be unproductive. Thanks to God, who hears our prayers, unbelieving loved ones don’t have to be your burden to bear. You can give them to God in prayer!

SUPPORTING RESOURCES:

Engage // Part 7: Prayer // Jason Hale

Everyday Armor // Part 4: Our Secret Weapon // Nic Allen

Next Steps // A Disciple's Guide // Prayer

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