Month / March 2021

by Keith Roberts

Scriptures on Praying For Spiritual Strugglers

  1. Why Pray for Them?
  • “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2nd Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV).
  • Jesus said to Saul (Paul) in a vision: “But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose… to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:18 ESV).
  • “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 ESV).
  • “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV).
  • “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1st John 5:19 NIV).
  • “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (Eph. 2:1-2 NIV).
man in orange top beside eyeglasses on brown book

2. Bible Examples of Praying for The Lost:

  • “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matt. 9:37-38 NIV).
  • “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people… This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1st Timothy 2:3-4 NIV).
  • “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2nd Peter 3:9 NIV).
  • “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message… Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” (Colossians 4:2-4 NIV).
  • “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness… After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:29-31 NIV).
  • “Paul replied…’I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’” (Acts 26:29 NIV)
  • “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1 NIV).
  • “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel… Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Ephesians 6:19-20 NIV).
  • “Brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.” (2nd Thessalonians 3:1 NIV).
  • Remember: “You do not have because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2)

by Keith Roberts

Is This The Great Neglected Prayer?

    Jesus said on two occasions, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:38 & Luke 10:2)

    Have you ever prayed that prayer? Or if you have, do you pray it regularly?

    I haven’t.

    And I guess most believers would say the same. It isn’t always at the top of our prayer list.

    I suspect most of us pray occasionally for lost people—especially for family members that we want to see in Heaven.

But Jesus thought, and said, that praying for harvest workers was important, so important that he spelled it out specifically, ”Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.”

If he thought it was so important, I’ll bet he prayed it himself. Often. And with passion.

So, here’s the big question—why don’t we pray more often for the Lord to send workers?

· Maybe we don’t think it’s a life or death issue. Are we reluctant to “change someone’s religion”, believing that most people are going to find God on their own without our help?

· Maybe we don’t believe that hell is real and that people actually go there. The reality of hell is a central doctrine of the Bible. And Jesus spoke about hell more than anyone else did. It’s real and people really go there—not because God hates them but because Satan rules human flesh (1st John 5:19) and he’s taking people to hell with him (Rev. 20:10-15).

· Maybe we don’t believe prayer makes much difference. We think God will do what He’s going to do without our input. But the Bible says otherwise; “You do not have because you do not ask God.” (James 5:2)

· Maybe we just don’t get around to it. Maybe someone else will do it.

Whatever has caused our prayerlessness, begin now to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send them out (and send us, too)!