Young People's Group

PRAYING FOR THE LOST

by Pastor Mitch
January 15, 2006

Should We Pray For The Lost?

This question was raised up last week after the YPG. Should Christians pray for non believers? Can our prayers make a difference for people who do not know the Lord? The answer is “yes”. Paul, in the first of his pastoral epistles, wrote of the need to pray for all men.

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men”
1 Timothy 2:1

The phrase “all men” indicates everyone, including the lost. Yes, we must pray for the lost.

Making Praying For All Men A Priority

Not only is there is a need to pray for the lost, we must also make it our priority.

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men”
1 Timothy 2:1

Paul was beseeching the brethren that they should made it their chief occupation to pray for all men. They are to engage in different kinds of prayers, and greater efforts in prayer when the need arises. They should pray for people in authority so that they could live quiet and godly lives, and their efforts to reach the lost will not be hindered. Young people, is praying for the lost your priority?

Strong Motivations To Pray For The Lost

What should motivate us to pray for the lost?

1. God’s Desire For All Men To Be Saved

“Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:4

It is within the will of God for the lost to be saved. It is God’s desire that all men come to know the truth of God’s word. When we pray for the lost to be saved, we are praying according to the will of God. This should be our motivation to pray for the lost.

2. The Lord Jesus As Our Mediator

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” 
1 Timothy 2:5

Furthermore, we have the Lord Jesus as our mediator between God and man. He will bring our requests before Him and intercede on our behalf. He paid a great price to be our mediator. If the Lord Jesus is our mediator, should not we pray so much more for the lost? We must pray with confidence that God will hear us.

Strong Commitment To Pray For The Lost

It takes strong commitment to pray for the lost. Sometimes, it takes many years before our prayers are answered. My cousin prayed for her father for over fifteen years before he came to know the Lord. Yes, there are no guarantees that the lost will be saved. And yet, we will never know how our prayers can make a big difference for a lost soul unless we pray. Young people, let’s be committed to interceding for lost souls.

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