THE PORTRAIT OF AN INTERCESSOR

SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:21-39

INTRODUCTION:

Luke 11:9 (KJV) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

1. Here we have the three (3) types of prayer -

a. Ask - Prayer of petition
b. Seek -Prayer of devotion
c. Knock -Prayer of intercession

2. Ask - Get your needs met

Seek - Come to know God in relationship
Knock - Share the burden of Christ according to His will.

3. Ask - God will do something for you

Seek - God will do something with you
Knock - God will do something through you

It is only as you get what you need from God -

as you get to know God -
that you can share the burden of Christ for others and for this world.

4. Before Jesus was born, God had raised up a faithful intercessor.

He spent many years, no doubt, fasting and praying for the Messiah to come

I. The Intercessor Must Be Righteous

(Luke 2:25 KJV) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon:
and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy
Ghost was upon him.

II. The Intercessor Must Be Dedicated

(Luke 2:25 KJV) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon.
and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy
Ghost was upon him.

III. The Intercessor Must Be Patient

 (Luke 2:25 KJV) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon;
and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel:

IV. The Intercessor Must Be Spirit-Filled

(Luke 2:25 KJV) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon;
and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and
the Holy Ghost was upon him.

V. The Intercessor Must Be Spirit-Taught

(Luke 2:26 KJV) And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not
see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

VI. The Intercessor Must Be Word-Oriented

(Luke 2:26 KJV) And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not
see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

VII. The Intercessor Must Be Spirit-Led

(Luke 2:27 KJV) And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

VIII. The Intercessor Will Be A Person Of Destiny

(Luke 2:28 KJV) Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
(Luke 2:29 KJV) Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy
word:

IX.. The Intercessor Will Be A Person of Vision

 Luke 2:30 KJV) For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

(Luke 2:31 KJV) Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

(Luke 2:32 KJV) A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

X. The Intercessor Will Be A Person of Blessing

(Luke 2:28 KJV) Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God,

(Luke 2:34 KJV) And Simeon blessed them,

CONCLUSION:

Simeon was a righteous man - a dedicated raw - a patient man - a Spirit filled man -a Spirit instructed man
- a Word of God man - a Spirit led man - a man of destiny -a man of vision - a man of blessing.

This is what God is calling us to be as we go beyond our asking, and even beyond
our seeking, and we begin to share the burden of the heart of God in intercession.