Praying for the Lost
Summer 2021
The concept of a Christian earnestly seeking God to have mercy upon lost sinners has a great deal of Biblical warrant. From Abraham’s persistent pleas for Sodom; to Christ Himself weeping over Jerusalem; to Paul’s remarkable words in Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved”; we are not short of examples in praying for the lost in Scripture. Such prayer is a natural, practical extension of the many wonderful gospel invitations and promises.
For many believers, this matter comes close to home, in that many of us pray over unconverted children and loved ones. Paul’s words, cited above, give us important instruction and encouragement.
Prayer for the lost springs out of a desire in the heart. This state of heart lovingly longs for the spiritual welfare of those still in sin. Paul’s concern for sinners was a deep-seated burden that lay at his heart. His was not a cold, clinical, professional concern (Romans 9:1-3). Rather, this is a wonderful reflection of the love which compelled Christ to become accursed to secure the salvation of the lost.
In addressing these words to his spiritual brethren, Paul indicates that every child of God should cultivate a similar burden! How much we need an experience of the love of Christ for the lost worked into our hearts to enable us to pray for the unsaved. It was an understanding of Christ’s love for him that constrained Paul to act as he did (2 Corinthians 5:14). There are many things that people may need, and which may be properly prayed for, but none is greater than the sinner’s need for salvation. Paul’s prayer priority was that sinners be rescued from sin.
It is obvious that he offered his prayer to God. The desire for the salvation of the lost must be converted into active supplication for God to have mercy. It is not the love of the burdened heart but the powerful, direct intervention of God that can alone save the sinner, for salvation is of the Lord.
It is God Himself whom we must deal with for the souls of men. An understanding of the being and character of God is ever a discipline for the Christian to be careful, deliberate, and diligent in prayer. Yet the way to God is fully opened to us through Christ. We have free access to His very presence and a claim upon His grace and power in the Savior.
The large scope of Paul’s desire and subsequent prayer is revealed in the words “for Israel”. Paul prayed for a whole nation of sinful Christ-rejecters! In Romans 11:28 he acknowledges them to be the bitter enemies of the gospel! With wicked hands this nation had crucified the Savior (Acts 2:23). They must have seemed to be inveterate sinners and utterly impervious to the gospel. Yet, for such Paul prays! If we follow Paul’s example we can surely pray for sinners that may appear to be beyond hope.
A question looms large over these words. What did such praying accomplish? Paul recognized the sovereign purpose of God in salvation with reference to this very matter. His words in Romans 11:5 indicate that he understood that there was a remnant according to the election of grace out of the nation. His petition was humbly subjected to the sovereign purpose of God and the salvation of this remnant was an answer to his prayers! No doubt Paul was directly involved in the salvation of many Jews, and therefore, saw this prayer answered before his eyes. Paul also prayed in the assurance of a future salvation of Israel alluded to in Romans 11:25-26, when he writes that “all Israel shall be saved” when the Redeemer comes to Zion to deliver the nation from sin.
We may not see all of the answers to our prayers immediately for the lost. So much of the prayer made by God’s people is invested in the future. As we desire and pray as Paul did, let us be encouraged that it may please God to work in answer to those petitions both now and far into the future according to His will.
Andrew Foster | Minister of Penticton FPC, Penticton, BC