Sunday School Lesson Outlines

Praying For The Lost

Did you know that the lost will not and cannot be saved unless someone prays for them? Satan has their ears and eyes closed. Satan has no power over prayer - especially persistent prayer. This is the only way for Holy Spirit to open their ears to hear and their eyes to see.

Let's look at these scriptures which specifically teach that Satan has blinded the minds of the lost to keep them from understanding the gospel: John 8:44 - children of the devil, Acts 26:18 - under the authority of Satan, Mark 3:27 - a strong man's house, Isaiah 14:17 - prisoners of war, 2 Corinthians 4:3&4 - blinded to the gospel.

One preacher shares his testimony about how many prayers, sermons and songs he grew up hearing continually. Yet one night he heard the gospel as he had never heard it before, and he was saved! He had heard the preaching of the gospel a hundred times before. What was the difference? Other preachers he had heard in the past saved former sinners, but on this night the power of the Holy Spirit brought him to a saving knowledge of our Lord. His ears were finally opened, and the message was guided to his heart. The light was shinning all the time, but the soul was not sensitive to the divine beams.

Sharing the gospel with someone that has not been prayed for, is like showing a blind man a sunset. It is hopeless because he is blind and cannot see! (because of Satan - 1 Corinthians 2:14.) All of us have the responsibility to be intercessors with urgency and faith and not to give up. For it may be your prayer that allows the Holy Spirit to take the blinders off and save a person from hell. We do what Jesus did - pray for others!

1. The Biblical basis for this type of prayer:

• Isaiah 41:21 - "'Present your case,' the LORD says. 'Bring forward your strong arguments', ..." (NASB)

The best reason is our love for that person. The account in Luke 16:27-28 compelled a rich man who had been sent to hell to pray for his five brothers whom he loved so much. He did not want them to end up in Hell like himself. Love will lead us to intersession. A mother's love is indeed the strongest asset to praying for saving souls.

2. Faith in another Biblical reason for praying for the lost:

• Mark 9:23 - "And Jesus said to him, 'If You can? All things are possible to him who believes.'" (NASB)

This includes salvation of a family member, friend, coworker, etc. Mark 2:5 tells a story of four men bringing a paralyzed friend to Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he not only healed their friend, but he also forgave him of all his sins.

3. God expects it!

• Isaiah 59:16 - "And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede ..." (NASB)

God was surprised not to find a single intercessor for Israel. This shows God expects us to be intercessors for the lost. When man prays - God responds.

4. The power of prayer:

• See 2 Kings 18-19

The atomic bomb killed 92,000 people in world war 2. When Assyria was under attack, King Hezekiah cried out to God. He was an intercessor for his people out of love and faith. God heard his cry and 185,000 soldiers were killed by an angel in one night. Hezekiah's prayer was twice as affective as the atomic bomb! If prayer can save armies, how much more believable is it that it can save souls.

5. God made praying for others a number one priority in a Christian's life:

• 1 Timothy 2:1-4 - First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and [b]dignity. 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. (NASB)

There are so many biblical reasons I've found in this study. This may have to become a two part Sunday School lesson. There is so much written on this subject in the Bible because it is so very important to God. He could use a tree or a rock if He wanted to because he is God. However, He chooses to work through us so we will receive the reward, the blessing, the fellowship, and watch the miracles that strengthen our own faith. You and God are a team, He made it that way, and gave us Jesus as the example.

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