Moses: Intercessory Prayer

*Does prayer really change things? 
*If God has His plans and purposes- why should we pray ?

Read: Exodus 32:1-14 (15-35)
God tells Moses, “ I’m going to wipe them out” !  
Was He serious?  Moses certainly took God seriously!

I.  Prayer is a powerful force
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.    James 5:16 (NLT)

Matthew 18:19;   Mark 11:24 ;   John 15:7;  
Do we ever say? God is God , and He’s gonna do whatever He wants.  So, why bother, what difference will my prayer make anyway
Exodus 32 tells us WHY we should pray !
v7 God gave Moses the authority over the people of Israel
v10 God’s anger is spoken

II.  Changing God’s mind
v 11-14  Moses had authority- recognized God’s sovereignty, but he still prayed (pleaded) that God would be merciful and change His mind.    Look at:  John 14:14   “You may ask anything in my name...” 
We must keep in mind God’s desire for us

III.  Using prayer to manipulate God
NOT a good idea!  You can not “force” God into altering His will.
v30-34  Moses says to the people, ...you have committed a great sin, but now I will go up to the Lord... perhaps I can make atonement for you.

Conclusion:  And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  20 This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us.  21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's people,  22 let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 (NLT)

When you and I pray, we can pray with confidence.  We have the authority to petition Him with our requests.

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