Interceding for the Lost

(Please be sure to check the "Power Links" at the end)

"If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertion, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

- Charles H. Spurgeon in sermon, "The Wailing of Riska"

Keep in mind that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me."

The Apostle Paul stated, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Let us ALWAYS keep in mind that Jesus is the ONE and only Savior, and those souls without Him are LOST. Those who refuse His grace will be everlastingly lost!

AS CHRISTIANS, WE MUST CARE!

The first step in praying for the lost, or unsaved, is having a burden for their souls. The following song by Fanny Crosby portrays the hopeless plight of the lost. Think of the words and let God's Holy Spirit guide you in praying for your lost loved ones or friends. The harvest of souls begins with intercession.

RESCUE THE PERISHING

1. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Refrain:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

2. Though they are slighting him, still he is waiting,
waiting the penitent child to receive;
plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
he will forgive if they only believe.
(Refrain)
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

3. Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
(Refrain)
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

4. Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
back to the narrow way patiently win them;
tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died.
(Refrain)
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.


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"Lord, lay some soul upon my heart,
and love that soul through me,
and may I humbly do my part,
to win that soul to Thee."


"When we pray for others the Spirit of God works in the unconscious domain of their being that we know nothing about, and the one we are praying for knows nothing about, but after the passing of time the conscious life of the one prayed for begins to show signs of unrest and disquiet. We may have spoken until we are worn out, but have never come anywhere near, and we have given up in despair. But if we have been praying, we find on meeting them one day that there is the beginning of a softening in an inquiry and a desire to know something. It is that kind of intercession that does most damage to Satan's kingdom. It is so slight, so feeble in its initial stages that if reason is not wedded to the light of the Holy Spirit, we will never obey it, and yet it is that kind of intercession that the New Testament places most emphasis on." - Oswald Chambers

"Lead me to some soul today,
O teach me, Lord, just what to say;
Friends of mine are lost in sin,
and cannot find their way.
Few there are who seem to care,
And few there are who pray;
Melt my heart and fill my life,
Give me one soul today."

- Will H. Houghton

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HOW I LEARNED TO PRAY FOR THE LOST



We present here a remarkable testimony which we feel will prove to be of real help to many readers. The nature of the testimony being personal, the writer modestly requested that her name be withheld.

The letter accompanying this testimony says in part: "This is the result of my search for the right way of praying for the unsaved. I have found it to produce amazing results in a very short time. It seemed that there was no possible chance for one's loved ones to ever return to the faith, and after over twenty years of fruitless praying, and after only a few short weeks of this type of praying we see them studying the Bible by the hour and attending every church service possible. Also their whole attitude towards Christianity has changed, and all resistance seems gone. I have taken my place of authority in Christ and am using it against the enemy. Oh, it is real! I have not looked at myself to see if I were fit or not: I've just taken my place and have prayed for the quickening of the Holy Spirit. If each and every member of the Body of Christ would do this, what a change would be made in this old world!

We know that believers everywhere are burdened for unsaved or backsliding loved ones. However, many are praying in the spirit of fear and worry instead of in faith.

This has caused the writer to seek for definite light on how to pray, feeling the need of praying the right prayer, also the need for a definite promise or word from God upon which to base our faith when praying for the unsaved. Praise God He never fails to give such needed help. Perhaps because the salvation of some looked to us to be an impossibility, the Scripture that was given us was Mark 10:27 "With God all things are possible."

The next Scripture had occupied our attention some time before but with new emphasis now: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations ("reasonings"), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Cor. 10:4,5). This shows the mighty power of our spiritual weapons. And we must pray that all this be accomplished in the ones for whom we pray; that is, that the works of the enemy be torn down.

Finally we were given the solid basis for our prayers-the ground of redemption. In reality, redemption purchased all mankind, so that we may say that each one is, actually, God's purchased possession although still held by the enemy. We must, through the prayer of faith, claim and take for God in the name of the Lord Jesus that which is rightfully His. This can be done only on the ground of redemption. We do not mean to imply that because all persons have been purchased by God through redemption they are thus automatically saved. They must believe and accept the gospel for themselves; this our intercession enables them to do.

To pray in the name of the Lord Jesus is to ask for or to claim the things which the blood of Christ has secured. Therefore each individual for whom prayer is made should be claimed by name, as God's purchased possession, in the name of the Lord Jesus on the ground of His shed blood.

We should claim the tearing down of all of the works of Satan, such as false doctrine, unbelief Communistic teaching and hatred which the enemy may have built up in their thinking, and that their very thoughts shall be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

In the authority of the name of the Lord Jesus claim their deliverance from the power and persuasion of the evil one and from the love of the world and the lusts of the flesh. We should pray also for the quickening of their conscience, and that God might grant them repentance and hearing ears and believing hearts as they hear or read the Word of God. Pray that God's will and purposes be accomplished in and through them.

Intercession must be persistent, not to persuade God, for redemption is of God, but because of the enemy. Our prayer and resistance are against the enemy, the awful powers and rulers of darkness. It is our duty before God to fight for the souls for whom Christ died. just as some must preach to them the good news of their redemption, just so others must fight back the powers of darkness on their behalf.

Satan yields only what and when he must, and he renews his attacks in subtle ways, therefore, prayer must be definite and must be persisted in, even long after definite results are seen. And we must hold what is taken for God against the enemy until such time as that soul is firmly established in the faith.

We will find that as we pray the Holy Spirit will give new leads. Always follow His leads. We were interceding for a soul recently and felt that our prayers were not making contact. It seemed that there was nothing there. Then the Holy Spirit inspired us to begin to draw them up to God in the name of the Lord Jesus. As we obeyed this leading, repeating "I draw ---- unto God in the name of the Lord Jesus, " we felt our prayers gradually take hold. It seemed that we were drawing that one from deep within the very camp of the enemy. Then we were able to proceed as usual, claiming every detail of that life for God, holding the blood against the enemy. This is true warfare in the spirit realm. Thank God that our spiritual weapons are mighty and that our authority in Christ is far above all the authority of the rulers, the principalities and powers of darkness, so that the enemy is obliged to yield. But it takes faith and patience and persistence.

Missionaries on foreign and home fields can resist the enemy in their districts, communities and schools, by holding the blood of Jesus against the powers of darkness, sin and unbelief, in the authority of the name of Jesus. In the name of the Lord Jesus they can demand that the enemy retreat.

We would like to point out that "it is the Spirit that quickeneth," the flesh "profiteth nothing." "The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life." Therefore, we must constantly seek the quickening of the Holy Spirit in our own hearts, in our faith, in our prayer and testimony. It is most important also that we keep ourselves and all that we have under the protection of the blood. The enemy will use every possible means to silence our intercession and block our advancement against him. We must not only understand our enemy, our authority in Christ, and how to use our spiritual weapons, but also how to wear the armor God has provided for our protection. Thus equipped and protected, we need have no fear. But let us always remember that we of our selves have no power and no authority outside of Christ.

"Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Luke 18:1 "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14 "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. " 1 John 4:4

Note: We do not know who the original author of this was. We copied it from an issue of "Herald of His Coming" years ago for our personal use. We will gladly give credit to the original author if he/she will contact us. Thank you!

Power Links

Scripture Prayers for the Lost

A Guide To Intercessory Prayer

Praying God's Will

Praying for the Lost

Pray for Lost Souls

A Search for the Atoning BloodTestimony of how one man’s search for atonement for sins through the blood led him to Jesus!

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