Monday, January 24, 2022

Hebraic Musing – What does it take to Get the Lost Saved?

 Hebraic Musing – What does it take to Get the Lost Saved?

If a lost person cannot see the Light, what does it take to open their eyes?  Simple answer – PRAYER.
Let’s start by identifying the three things that should bring us to our knees in prayer for them:

1. LOVE – Prayer is defined as “Love on our knees”!   Jesus tells of a man in Hades pleading for his five brothers.   “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, ‘for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’”  Luke 16:27-28 NKJV   
Another example of the importance of “Love” is the welcome sign for new believers at the famous Chicago Garden Mission - “MOTHER’s PRAYERS HAVE FOLLOWED YOU”.  We are told 10 times in God’s Word to “love your neighbor as yourself.”  That’s a lot of love!   What’s the most loving thing you can do for someone?            A - To usher them into Heaven instead of letting them default into Hell?

2. FAITH is another important Biblical reason for praying for the lost.  Remember – “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23   Faith was the basis for four men bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus and “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’” Mark 2:5.   Note that Jesus reacted when He saw the faith of the four men! 

3. POWER of Prayer is underestimated by too many Christians.  How powerful is prayer? 
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16  
Did God place Praying for all men as a priority in our lives?  “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy.2:1-4

Here are more BIBLICAL EXAMPLES of praying for the lost:

·      Let’s start with an OT prophecy of Jesus in Isaiah 53:12  “…And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”  And this prophecy was dramatically and lovingly fulfilled when Jesus was suffering on the cross for us and said – “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  Luke 23:34  (Note that the singular “sin” is the sin of unbelief!)

·      Paul makes a compassionate appeal – “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”  Romans 10:1

·      Jesus’ words - “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”  Matthew 9:37-38

·      … far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you;…”  1 Samuel 12:23

·      Apostle Paul made a compassionate appeal when he recognized Jesus’ role as the unchangeable priesthood – “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

I’ve always taken it personally when I read 1 Peter 2:5 - “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  You and I are assigned the role of a priest, an intercessor between God and man.  As “Born Again” Christians we don’t need an intercessor, BUT the lost person(s) desperately need an intercessor.  Peter gave us that role and responsibility.  I sure would hate for someone to go to Hell because I shirked my responsibility.

Points to ponder

Prayer has been defined as “Love on our knees”!

Remember how “on fire” you were right after your salvation experience, and…
you wanted to tell everybody?    What happened?

Are we to follow the Biblical examples of praying for the lost?

Are you praying for your neighbor?  Who is your neighbor?

Be inspired to pray for the lost as never before.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      January 25. 2022

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

Note – Inspired by & excerpted from “Praying Effectively for the Lost” Chapter 2 - Lee E. Thomas

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