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The Power of Persuasive Prayer

The Power of Persuasive Prayer

Nov 18, 2018

Preacher: Michael Grigsby

Series: The Power of Prayer

Category: Prayer

Detail:

Title: The Power of Persuasive Prayer

Scripture: Exodus 32 NLT

 

OPENING PRAYER

 

            The story is told of the sharecropper who was charged with stealing his Landlord’s mule. The landlord was a rich and domineering man who had few friends among the common people, but the evidence against the defendant was overwhelming. When the jury retired to consider the verdict, they were out only 5 minutes.

 

            "Have you reached a verdict, Mr. Foreman?" asked the judge. "We have, Your Honor," the foreman replied, and handed a paper to the clerk. The clerk read: "We the jury find the defendant not guilty, provided that he returns the mule." The judge brought the gavel down sharply, saying, "Folks that’s not a proper verdict. The defendant is either guilty or not guilty." He told the jury to retire and come back with a lawful verdict. So they left the room and returned again in another five minutes.

 

            The verdict was handed to the clerk who unfolded the paper, and read the following: "We the jury find the defendant not guilty. He can keep the mule."

 

            You might say that jury was engaged in some creative decision-making.

They were not comfortable with the options they had, so they came up with a verdict that was new and unique. In today’s text (dealing with Moses’ prayer for Israel)... we’re faced with something uncomfortable for many of us.

 

            It’s a teaching from scripture that seems to go against everything we’ve ever been taught about God, but a teaching, which might just help us look at prayer in a way that is entirely new & unique.

 

            First, let’s look at the setting for Moses’ prayer. About 4 months previously, Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt, and it seems - from the moment they were freed from slavery - the Israelites did nothing but complain. The Israelites were world-class complainers!

 

            They complained at the waters of the Red Sea, because they were afraid of the Egyptians. They complained in the desert, because they didn’t think they had enough to eat and then they didn’t think they had enough to drink.

 

            When they got to Mt. Horeb and saw the power of God displayed in lightning, thunder and smoke and they heard the voice of God, as He spoke declaring the 10 Commandments, The Israelites in essence told Moses – You go talk to Him... we can’t stand to listen to Him anymore!

 

            Ever since they left Egypt, the Israelites had done nothing but complain and grumble. Finally, while Moses is up on the mountain top with the all powerful God, the Israelites decide that they’re bored and they talk Aaron (Moses’ bro.) into making a golden calf for them to worship. IN SPITEof the fact that this was a direct violation of the 2nd commandment that had been proclaimed to them a little over 40 days ago!

 

            The Israelites have been nothing but trouble ever since God freed them from their chains, and now it appears God has had... enough. Exodus 32:7-10, “7 The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 9 Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are.10 Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.” NLT.

 

       Was God serious? Did He really intend to annihilate the entire nation & rebuild a new nation from Moses’ offspring? Yes... I believe He did!

 

            One thing I learned long ago as a parent, never threaten any punishment that you don’t intend to follow through on. Kids begin to pick up on that! Moses certainly took God seriously. Moses was so convinced that God intended to do what He threatened, that he offered up an immediate and extremely intense prayer. As a result of Moses’ prayer God changed His mind, and decided NOT to destroy the Israelites.

 

God did WHAT??? He changed His mind? God’s not supposed to do that!

 

            In Numbers 23, God Himself tells us; Numbers 23:19, “19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” NLT.

 

            This can be a difficult passage to wrestle with. I thought to myslef, “My theology tells me God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. God is supposed to know all things. But if He knows all things - why make this threat if He knows He’ll not do what He’s threatened?”

 

            It is a problem. We are taught that prayer is a powerful force. Jesus said in Matthew 18:19, “19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.” NLT.

 

            In Mark 11:24 Jesus says; Mark 11:24, “24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” NLT.  In John 1:5-7 Jesus declares: John 15:7, “7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” NLT.

 

            All our religious lives, we’ve been told that we can change things through prayer. But, in the back of our minds, there’s this nagging suspicion that our prayers don’t really do all that much. I mean God is God, and God’s going do what God’s going do. So, what difference does prayer make?

 

            I mean, if God’s going to do what He wants to do anyway why bother?

Exodus 32 tells us why we should bother. Think about this for a minute. Why did God tell Moses to “leave Me alone?” Exodus 32:10, “10 Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.” NLT.

 

            Why bother to tell Moses to leave Him alone? Why not simply stretch forth His arm and wipe the Israelites off the face of map, and then tell Moses what was going to happen next? He’s God after all? What difference would it make whether or not Moses approved of this plan? It seems it made ALL the difference in the world.

           

            It looks like God is asking Moses’ for permission to do what He has decided. Why would God do that, because God had given Moses authority over the people of Israel. Notice how God describes the Israelites in Exodus 32:7, “7 The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves.” NLT.

 

            This isn’t like when a wife gets mad at the kids and she says to the husband: “they’re your kids, you take care of them.” That’s not what’s happening here. What’s happening is God has given Moses a responsibility for these people, and, now that the Israelites have so blatantly mistreated and abused God, God is not about to take away the authority and responsibility He has given Moses.

 

            The people of Israel have been given to Moses – they were his area of influence. And while God DOES want to destroy them He asks Moses’ permission, because that’s a responsibility God has given to him. Moses has authority because God gave it to him.

 

            Likewise, we have authority in prayer, because God has given it to us. That’s why Jesus said that if 2 of us agree here on earth, through prayer, that God would honor that as long as we remain in Him.

 

            We have been given permission to plead with God in order to alter His will to meet our needs, and desires. That’s what prayer is all about. We’ve been given that privilege, because we belong to Him. Now, let’s get to this issue of changing God’s mind.

 

            Moses did not presume to change God’s mind. Even though he had a position of responsibility and authority with Israel he still prayed with an eye on what would be in God’s will. Let’s look at Exodus 32:11-13, “11 But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? 12 Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’” NLT.

 

            Notice that Moses appeals to the reasons why God would want to spare the nation: Egypt would get the impression that Jehovah had brought the people out into the desert for the sole purpose of destroying them.

Even though Moses had a position of responsibility and authority with Israel, he still prayed with an eye on what would be in God’s will.

 

            As an example: A husband has a position of authority and responsibility in the home. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:23, “23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.” NLT.

           

            Now some men take this passage as permission to do whatever they want. They believe they have a God ordained mandate to RUN their household with an iron fist, but such men are fools! For God tells husbands that even when we’re married to non-Christians wives we are to treat our brides with special care.

 

            Turn to 1 Peter 3:7 (HUSBANDS MARK THIS), “7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.” NLT.

 

            You know what that’s saying? It’s saying that a husband, the head of the household, must not misuse his wife BECAUSE IF HE DOES God won’t hear his prayers!!! So, my point is this: a husband has authority and responsibility in the home, but he is wise if he keeps an eye on what God’s will is in his home – otherwise his prayers are hindered.

 

            Likewise, we have authority in prayer. In prayer, Christians have permission to ask God to shape His will to our requests, but we would be wise to always keep an eye on what God would desire.

 

            That’s why Jesus said in John 14:14, “14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” NLT. In other words, pray with an eye on what would please Jesus, what would glorify His name.

 

            Before we close, we need to address the question of using prayer to manipulate God. There are those who believe in the authority of prayer, but who use that "authority" with the belief that they can somehow force God into altering His will to their desires.

 

            God tells us in Exodus 32:30-34, “32 But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!” 33 But the Lord replied to Moses, “No, I will erase the name of everyone who has sinned against me. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about. Look! My angel will lead the way before you. And when I come to call the people to account, I will certainly hold them responsible for their sins.” NLT.

 

            In essence, God was telling Moses, this great leader and Godly man, that there were some things that God would not change. Though God had granted Moses’ earlier request, there were requests that would not be granted. Even though Moses brought his umbrella with him there would be no rain.

 

            When you and I pray, we can pray with confidence. We can boldly come before God with the knowledge that we have authority to petition Him.

Hebrews10 tells us, as Christians, we can boldly approach the throne of God. Hebrews 10:19-22, “19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” NLT.

 

            When you & I pray, we are entering the presence of God with our requests. In 1540 Martin Luther’s good friend and assistant, Friedrich Myconius, became sick and was expected to die within a short time. From his bed he wrote a tender farewell letter to Luther.

 

            When Luther received the message, he immediately sent back a reply:  Martin Luther, "I command thee in the name of God to live because I still have need of thee in the work of reforming the church -- the Lord will never let me hear that thou art dead, but will permit thee to survive me. For this I am praying, because I seek only to glorify the name of God."

 

            Myconius had already lost the ability to speak when Luther’s reply came, but he soon recovered. He lived 6 more years - dying two months after Luther did. Martin Luther brought his umbrella on behalf of his friend, and man did God bring the rain!                  

           

CLOSING PRAYER