Step 9... Pray For Lost Souls Praying for the salvation of the unsaved around us should really be one of our greatest efforts in prayer. After all life is short and all that really matters when all is said and done is whether or not they received Jesus Christ as Saviour. Perhaps we subconsiously struggle with needing to pray for the lost at all, or maybe we struggle with the Sovereignty of God and our prayers. Isn't God the one who saves? Is not He more concerned with the lost than we? Can not He do this work with out our praying for Him to do it? There are some things that we do not know nor will we ever know. God sovereignly saves whom he chooses, but he also tells us that he is not willing that any should perish, and that we should pray for the salvation of souls. The same God who sovereignly chooses to save, chooses also the MEANS by which he will do so. He chooses NOT to do it without us. We must PREACH and we must PRAY! How do we pray for the salvation of someone? Typically we hear: "Dear Lord, please save John Doe, Jane Doe, Joe Shmoe, and Tom Moe. In Jesus name, Amen." Is there more to praying for the lost than this? I think so! We will pray better and more wisely when we remember the PROCESS by which anyone comes to Christ and his CONDITION before he is born again. A MAN BEFORE SALVATION 1. He has a sin nature I Corinthians 2:14 "The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolish to him" 2. He has rejected, ignored, or neglected God's presence. Romans 1:18-20 3 He is dead is sins and trespasses. Ephesians 2:1 4. He willfully walks according to the course of this world, obeying the prince of darkness. Ephesians 2:2 5. He serves his own desires of the mind and body. Ephesians 2:3 6. He is separated from God, alienated by sin. Ephesians 2:12 7. He is blinded to the Gospel by Satan. II Corinthians 4:4-4 8. He is a slave to sin. John 8:34 9. He has no faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 10. He needs the grace of God to lead him to repentance John 6:44 11. He does not see his sin as very sinful. John 16:8-11 12. He chokes out the Word with other interests. Luke 8:12-14 PRAY THEN FOR... 1. CONVICTION - John 16:8-11 "He (Spirit) shall convict the world of sin...righteousness and judgement" 2. QUICKENING - John 6:63 "It is the Spirit that quickens the flesh profits nothing." 3. FAITH - Eph. 2:8 "It (faith) is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." 4. EYES TO OPEN - II Cor. 4:4-6 "In whom the god of this world has blinded the eyes...God who commands light to shine in the darkness has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God..." 5. EARS TO HEAR - Rev. 3:20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in." 6. WORD TO PENETRATE - Hebrews 4:12 "The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword.." 7. WORD TO MELT & BREAK - Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my Word like a fire. It is like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces." 8. WILL TO BE BROKEN - John 7:17 "If any man wills to do his will he shall know of the doctrine..." 9. BONDAGE TO SIN BROKEN - John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." 10. FATHER TO DRAW HIM - John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father...draw him" 11. FATHER TO CALL HIM - John 6:37 "All that the Father gives me shall come to me..." 12. FATHER TO SHOW MERCY - Romans 9:16 "It is not of him that wills nor of him that runs but God, which shows mercy." PRAYING FOR SOULS It is not an easy task to remain faithful in prayer for a lost soul. Though we may know the need, feel the burden, and even have some indication of what God must do in order for them to come to Christ, it still is a difficult task to keep at it and not grow weary, or bored in the task. After perhaps a week of prayer we all begin to wonder "What more can we pray for?" The following is a helpful guide for praying for a lost soul by reading, reviewing, and reusing Scriptures in your prayer for the one on your Most Wanted List. It is in the format of a daily devotional to help direct your thinking. There are eight points. You may want to choose seven, one for each day of the week to keep you focused and intense in your prevailing prayers for the lost. - His WHEREABOUTS led by God - His CIRCUMSTANCES controlled by God - His INNER EMPTINESS amplified by God - A FAITHFUL WITNESS to encounter him daily - The HOLY SPIRIT to influence his heart - The WORD OF GOD to affect him dramatically - An ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- " Lord control his WHEREABOUTS " ----------------------------------------------------------------------- We know that the Lord is able to influence time and space and move people into the right place at the right time as illustrated and taught in these Scriptures: Acts 8:26- Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 16:13-14 Lydia down by the river side John 4:5-8 The woman at the well Psalm 139:5-11 No hiding place down here Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus up a tree Luke 15:9-6,10 Lost sheep he will pursue! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- His CIRCUMSTANCES controlled by God ----------------------------------------------------------------------- God is able to stop time, turn the sun back 10 degrees, send a storm, calm the sea, or prepare a whale, or whatever else is necessary to bring a man to himself. Acts 9:1-6 Paul met on the Road to Damascus Luke 15:11-32 The Prodigal son met in a pig pen Hosea 2:6 Hosea's prostitute wife hindered from finding lovers Psalm 107:23-30 God even brings ship in storms to haven of rest ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- His INNER EMPTINESS amplified by God ----------------------------------------------------------------------- God has created man with a God consciousness. Man seeks to fill the emptiness with other garbage, but only the Lord can satisfy that desire. Augustine said,"Our souls are restless 'til they rest in thee." Psalm 42:1-2 Heart pants thirsty after God. Psalm 42:3 Tears are daily and nightly evidenced Psalm 42:5 Fears accompany this loneliness without God Hebrews 2:14-15 The fear of death binds them Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Money, fame, and success cannot satisfy Ecclesiastes 5:10 Silver and gold will bring no happiness ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- A FAITHFUL WITNESS to encounter him daily ----------------------------------------------------------------------- God has an immense plan of the ages to use people like you and me, his servants which he places in points of opportunity, as with Esther "For such a time as this..." Esther 4:14 Esther placed in the palace Acts 8:26-39 Phillip was the preacher in the desert Acts 16:25-33 Paul and Silas were in prison to lead a jailor to Christ Ephesians 6:17-18 Pray for boldness in those special witnesses Isaiah 50:4 Pray for wisdom of speech for Gods special agents Romans 10:14-15 Be the preacher in the place God puts you for someone. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- The HOLY SPIRIT to influence his heart ----------------------------------------------------------------------- There is a process at work in the heart of everyone who comes to Christ. Sometimes that process begins in childhood with the Word sown in a VBS program or on a mother's lap. The Holy Spirit is present in the life of the unbeliever to bring about the conversion at the appointed time. That work of the Holy Spirit takes place WITHOUT our help, but we are involve in resisting the Resistor, Satan who opposes all that God wills to do. He seeks to QUENCH the Holy Spirit, GRIEVE the Spirit, HINDER the Spirit's work, and to snatch away the life of the unbeliever before his is converted. Pray for the Spirit's work to be accomplished. John 16:8-14 He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgement to come John 15:26-27 He shows the things of Christ, witnessing to the truth John 4:10,13-14 He creates thirst for things of God John 6:35 He creates spiritual hunger for the Bread of Life John 6:44 He draws men to Christ (Says "COME" Revelation 22:17) John 6:63 He quickens (makes alive) the Words of Jesus John 8:12 He opens eyes to the LIGHT that gives life (2Cor.4:4) John 8:12 He breaks the bondage to sin ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- The WORD OF GOD to affect him dramatically ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Peter emphasizes that we are born again BY THE WORD of God which lives and abides forever. We cannot over emphasize the importance of the Word of God in the process of the sinner being saved. I Peter 1:23 Born again by Word Hebrews 4:12 Heart thoughts penetrated and revealed by Word Jeremiah 23:29 The heart is melted and broken by the Word 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Pray for the Word to have FREE COURSE 2 Timothy 2:9 The Word of God is not bound 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 Word is sown, watered but God gives the increase! Romans 10:17 The Word brings Faith ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- An ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Jesus in the first, center, and last of the Gospel. Without him no one can be saved. HE ALONE is the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the father BUT by HIM." John 14:6 No other way Acts 4:12 No other name John 12:32 When his is LIFTED UP he will draw men to himself John 20:31-32 Doubting Thomas believed when he saw Jesus John 12:20-22 The unsaved requested the essential thing --to see Jesus Acts 9:1-6 Paul believed when he saw Jesus on the Damascus Road John 18:6 His would-be assailants fell backward upon seeing him. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- THANKFUL PRAYING ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "I thank you Lord that... You are able to do exceeding abundantly above all I ask or think. Eph 3:20 You are able to save to the uttermost. Heb. 7:25 You are not willing that any should perish. 2 Peter 3:9 You open the eyes of the blind, and deaf ears. Is. 35:5 You have mercy on the sinner. Titus 3:5/ Lam 3:22 You are still the Savior! Is. 43:3/ Acts 4:12 You draw men to yourself. John 6:44/ 12:32 You melt the heart of of stone. Jer. 23:29 You call men by your grace. Eph. 2:8-9 You have chosen those that are yours. Eph. 1:4 You convict of sin, righteousness, and judgement. John 16:8-11 You spare men in your mercy. Malachi 3:17 You pull men out of the fire. Jude 1:23 You transform lives. 2 Cor. 5:17 You reveal yourself. John 15:26-27 You reveal the thoughts and intents of hearts. Heb. 4:12 You loose the captive sinner. John 8:34,36 You make sin appear exceeding sinful. Romans 7:13 You reconcile men to yourself. 2 Cor. 5:18 You deliver men from the power of darkness. Col. 1:13 Your Word is not bound! 2 Tim. 2:9 Your arm is not shortened that it can not save. Is. 59:1 All that the Father gives you WILL come to you. John 6:37 HOW TO TARGET A SOUL FOR CHRIST Choose A Most Wanted Person There are literally millions and billions of people in the world that do not know Christ. There are 100s and 1000s within your neighborhoods cities, schools, and malls. There are dozens that you come in contact with every day, or every week. How then do you target a few people that God wants you to reach? 1. They must be within your reach. That means, they must be within your target area, places you go. It is your Jerusalem first then the rest of the world. 2. You should have a burden for them. A burden is a) A VISION of their need. b) a DEEP CONCERN for their soul c) a WILLINGNESS to do whatever necessary to bring them to Christ. 3. You must have contact with them during the week. Don't target someone who you don't even know, or don't rub shoulders with, or don't relate to, or don't have anything in common with, or don't speak to. 4. Make a list of all peole who fit this category. It may be 3, 5, 10, 20 or more, but make the list of people you are concerned about. 5. Pray about which 3 people to target with a) INTENSE INTERCESSION b) EAGER ENTHUSIASM, c) AGRESSIVE ARRANGEMENTS. How To Build Bridges To Your Most Wanted Person Jesus approached the woman at the well with a natural bride for conversation -- the water and and a need for a drink. Andrew went and draged his brothers to hear Christ for themselves. Paul went to the highways and hedges...he went after them in business places, in market places, in social settings, and in recreational areas. All had definate strategies and plans for reaching out to unreached people. What is your plan? 1. List all the ways you can think of to . . . make contact, have conversations, build friendships, socialize, get alone with your target person. 2. Pray for clear direction . . . From the Lord on what tactics to use. Adopt a stategy by a certain date. Write it down in your personal diary or journal. Calendar the activities that will be bridge builders. 3. Start with just one person. Give yourself one month, at least four weeks, to start implimenting your plan. If you find it is not working or the person is not responing to you friendship, then move on to the next person on your list. 4. Pray every day for your target person. Pray for 2 areas of the Holy Spirit's work each day for six days a week. Use the prayer guide to pray for Conviction, Faith, Eyes opened, etc. 5. Praise and Thank the Lord for His work . . . already begun in these target people. The Lord is not slack in his concern or his promises concerning them. Give it time. Give it believing prayer! Just as the Lord was at work in you long before your salvation so he is at work in them -- to will and to do His good pleasure.