Pleading for those who are lost

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7:25 NLT

Principle: A Prayer Warrior knows how to plead for the salvation of the lost.

Pam’s father Jessie Smith went to his forever home to be with the Lord in 2009.  During his battle with cancer, we had several opportunities for he and Betty to stay with us during his recovery.  We had the privilege of “tucking them in” as he was recuperating.  One of his regular closing activities of each day was to pray for his family.  He verbalized in prayer all 5 of his children and their spouses by name.  Then he would lift the name of each of his grandchildren to God, asking Him to save them and bless them.  The preciousness of the moment was the intimacy he shared with God.  He was comfortable and confident that God was listening and that God wanted to answer his prayers.  How much protection and care do we experience because someone interceded for us?  Only when we get to heaven will we see the full scope and magnitude of people who interceded for the salvation of the lost.

Over the next few entries, I want to explore the subject of praying for the lost.  One of the best books written on this subject is called Praying Effectively for the Lost by Lee Thomas. You can order these books for donation only at http://www.pelministries.org.  No other subject causes more pain for a believing parent, than the thought of one of their children rejecting Jesus and spending eternity in hell.  Is there a way to pray that God would allow for the “whole household to be saved”?  Lee Thomas would say yes, but prayer is the key.

The following is taking from page 11-12 of Lee’s book.  I strongly encourage you to take a little time after reading this devotional to go through the verses that he mentions.  Write them down, memorize them, and say them aloud.  When you are praying for your lost loved one, use these verses in your prayers.  For instance, Luke 19:10 says that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost just like he did for Zacchaeus.  In fact, no one wanted Zacchaeus to be saved, he was a low down thieving tax collector.  But Jesus sought him out.

So, when praying for your loved one, this is an example of using scripture to plead for your loved one. “Father, your word says that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.  My (son/ daughter, dad etc.) is one of the lost people.  Please Jesus seek him out.  Please keep being who you are  Thank you for finding him regardless of where he is trying to hide from you.  Thank you, Jesus that you pursue those who don’t even know they are in need of him.  In Jesus name, Amen”

From Lee’s book pg 10-11.  “When it comes to praying for others, pleading is very effective…Pleading basically means that you present to God a Biblical reason why he should answer your prayer…We can plead the purposes of God for man (Jeremiah 1:5), (Luke 19:10), (2 Peter 3:9), (Acts 26:18) and (Ephesians 2:5-7).  We can plead the promises of God concerning salvation (John 3:16), (John 1:12), (Romans 10:13) and (John 6:37).  We can plead the power of God to save (Hebrews 7:25), (Romans 1:16), 1 Corinthians 2:4-5) and (1 Peter 1:3-5).  We can plead the personage of God in His relationship to man as Creator, Redeemer, Father and Lord.  We can plead the attributes and attitude of God toward man such as His love, His mercy, His grace, His gentleness and His longsuffering.  My favorite plea involves His past performance in saving others: Nineveh ( a city so wicked that God had already earmarked it for destruction).

“Father, help us learn how to plead for the salvation of others.  Let us see their need in such a clear way that we are accustomed to tears.  Not fake tears, but tears sown in sorrow, that yield a harvest.  Teach us to pray with conviction in pleading your promises and character.  It is your desire that people come to a relationship with you.  We are praying in agreement with your desires when we ask you to open the eyes of those who are blind, so that they can see you for who you truly are.  We ask you that you would find us faithful to stand in the gap for others.  Thank you for helping us.  In Jesus Name, Amen.