|
THINK On These Things |
Prayer For The Lost |
|
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
(James 5:16)
Many are the righteous mothers and fathers who have prayed a lifetime for the salvation of their children. Their prayers have been fervent. Some have lived to see that wonderful result. Others have gone on to Heaven without ever seeing the desire of their hearts, but with an enduring hope for the future.
How can we best pray for the unsaved: our children, our relatives, neighbors, friends, or even nations? Our prayers must be “effectual.” An “effectual” prayer cannot be based on emotion, desire, hope or even love. To be “effectual” a prayer must be in keeping with the character, plan and provision of God. How then should one best pray for the salvation of a friend or relative? Let us examine some aspects of the Word that relate to this question.
If I tell God how much I love them, value them, delight in them, desire their well-being, I have done nothing. God loves them more than I ever could. He is their Creator, their Sustainer, their One True Source. My love for them is pleasant to God, but it is not a reason for Him to move.
If I tell God how wonderful a person my son is and that He really ought to save him so he can be in Heaven with me, I have done nothing. God knows my son. He knows how wonderful (or not) he really is, far better than I do. Further, my son’s salvation will never be based on my desire. It can only be based on my son’s desire.
If I ask God to give my son the desire to be saved, He will not do it. Verse after verse of the words of Jesus say plainly that the reward is for “whosoever WILL believe.” It is something the person must do themselves. It is a matter of their own WILL. It is a desire that must rise up in them in the face of the evidence of the Gospel. It is a response. It is a decision. God will not force it.
If I ask God to draw my son to Himself, He cannot do it, for it is already done. In John 12:32 we hear Jesus saying, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” God draws everyone. The drawing is already in operation. It is not lacking. It is the response that is lacking.
If I ask God to convict my son of his sins, He cannot do it, for again, it is already done. In John 16:7-8 Jesus said,
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
That Comforter, the Holy Spirit came among us on the day of Pentecost and has been reproving the world of sin ever since. He is a constant laborer. There is no man, woman or child who has not been advised by the Holy Spirit that they are sinners. They have simply, willfully, refused to hear the confrontation of the Holy Spirit. While conviction must precede repentance, repentance does not always follow conviction. Very often those who are convicted by the Holy Spirit respond not with repentance but with rebellion. They choose to deny the existence of God to justify their sinful life styles.
If I ask God to send laborers to reveal the Gospel to my son, He can and will do that. But it is not certain to be effective. Where can you live in America and claim that you have never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Missionaries carry the Word to far places where it has not yet penetrated. Evangelists circle the 50 states giving opportunity in person, in books, on radio and on TV. No. The Gospel has already been brought, but it has been rejected. Sometimes a special emissary, a special friend or relative might break through. We can hope for that.
To summarize, we cannot achieve our goal by asking God to do what He is already doing. Also, we cannot ask God to impose Himself on the individual. If He did, that person would simply become a slave instead of a willing worshipper. God won’t do that. It would violate His character.
How then might we pray?
What God does do is this: He wrestles with the devil and his angels. This is the battlefield that is before us. This is the place where God is willing and able to operate, in power and dominion. In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 we read,
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
That’s right! We are dealing with blinded minds. The god of this world has done the blinding. Not only that, but he continues to maintain that blinding, lest any should escape his grasp and find the truth and the light. He is powerful and strong. Some among us believers may be able to come against him in the name of Jesus, in that day when our own faith is strong and powerful. But Jesus Himself is strong and powerful against this enemy every moment of every day.
If I ask God to remove the devil’s blinding scales from the mind of my son, opening his eyes to see the light and the truth, then I have asked in keeping with the possible. This is the work in which we must enlist Him. Here is a prayer He can answer without violating His nature or His works of the past. Here is a prayer He desires to hear. 1 John 3:8 says,
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
Some of those works were already destroyed by His death and resurrection. Other works of the enemy are still among us today, such as blinded minds. These works remain to be destroyed. These minds wait to be set free. When they are set free, then it can be said of them also,
“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light is sprung up.” (Matthew 4:16)
“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)
Drawing, convicting, preaching, are all important. Freedom to respond is crucial. Defeat the one who keeps the bonds of blindness on his victims, and the drawing, convicting, and preaching of the gospel can bring forth their precious fruit.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
06/17
Presented by Brother Al Salay, Blessed Man Ministries Inc.
1093 A1A Beach Blvd. #273, St. Augustine, FL 32080-6733