| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Carl" |
| Date: |
31 Jan 2008 02:05:01 AM |
| Object: |
Praying For The Lost |
On more than one occasion I have asked my Christian brethren to pray for the
lost especially those posting on Usenet. In several instances, I have asked
my Christian brethren to pray for specific individuals. I pray for those
lost souls as well in the sincere hope they will come to Christ one day
before it is too late. The following brief Biblical lesson from John
MacArthur shows Biblical reasoning for such prayer and that God does honor
such prayer.
May God bless,
Carl
my website -- http://www.nettally.com/saints/
my blog -- http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/
---
Praying For The Lost
by John MacArthur
Before Jesus gave up His spirit as He hung on the cross, He took time to
pray for those who were murdering Him. He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for
they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). God began to answer His
prayer on the Day of Pentecost as some three thousand people repented and
were baptized that day, and there have been countless multitudes that have
been saved through the centuries. In response to Jesus' intercession for the
transgressors (Isaiah 53:12), God has snatched many souls from eternal
death.
Do you have a heart to pray for the lost like Jesus did? Do you have the
passion that inspired John Knox to plead, "Give me Scotland or I die"? Is
your attitude that of George Whitefield, who prayed, "O Lord, give me souls
or take my soul"? Do you, like Henry Martyn, mourn when you see others
trapped in false religion and cry out, "I cannot endure existence if Jesus
is to be so dishonored"?
God used those faithful men as powerful tools to bring salvation to dying
people. Each of them had a clear and vivid understanding of what is at stake
in the gospel--it's an issue of life or death, an eternity in heaven or
hell. Do you realize that your unbelieving family members, your co-workers,
and your neighbors will spend forever suffering in torment away from the
presence of God if they don't embrace Christ? That realization should drive
you to your knees to plead, not only with them to believe the gospel, but
with God to save their souls.
The seventeenth-century English Puritan Richard Baxter wrote,
Oh, if you have the hearts of Christians or of men in you, let them yearn
towards your poor ignorant, ungodly neighbors. Alas, there is but a step
betwixt them and death and hell; many hundred diseases are waiting ready to
seize on them, and if they die unregenerate, they are lost forever. Have you
hearts of rock, that cannot pity men in such a case as this? If you believe
not the Word of God, and the danger of sinners, why are you Christians
yourselves? If you do believe it, why do you not bestir yourself to the
helping of others? (cited in I.D.E. Thomas, ed., A Puritan Golden Treasury
[Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1977], 92)
It is one thing to pray for family and friends, those for whom you have
natural affections. But God wants you to pray for all people. Paul writes,
"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" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Kings and people in authority in Paul's day
weren't bound by civil rights and were often unjust, self-serving, and
cruel. Do you pray for the salvation of people like that--those who disagree
with you politically, those who advocate ungodly agendas, those who openly
embrace sin and reject the Scripture?
The Bible has several examples of radical evangelistic prayer, and for the
worst of sinners. Here are a few examples:
Moses interceded for Israel after catching them in orgiastic idolatry at the
foot of Mount Sinai. After he confronted and dealt with their sin, he turned
to the Lord and prayed, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and
they have made a god of gold for themselves. But now, if You will, forgive
their sin--and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have
written!" Moses was willing to forfeit his life for his people, even though
they were guilty of wicked rebellion!
While being stoned to death, Stephen followed the Lord's example by praying
for the salvation of his executioners: "And they went on stoning Stephen as
he called upon the Lord and said, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!' And
falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold
this sin against them!' And having said this, he fell asleep" (Acts
7:59-60).
Standing among those who killed Stephen was a young man named Saul of
Tarsus. His salvation was an answer to Stephen's prayer. Years later, the
apostle Paul communicated the depth of his concern for his people Israel,
and in Romans 9 he sounds very much like Moses:
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me
witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in
my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from
Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
[...]Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their
salvation. (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1)
His brethren according to the flesh, fellow Jews, were the very ones who
persecuted him so severely, disrupting his work, stirring up mobs, even
plotting his assassination. And yet he loved them and prayed that God would
show them mercy.
God honored those men's prayers for the souls of the lost; He'll honor yours
too. Whether friend or foe; whether moral or immoral; whether you know them
or not--pray for the lost. For those God brings your way, open your mouth in
love and compassion to tell them the truth. Warn them of God's judgment for
their personal offenses against his holiness, but then tell them the good
news. There is salvation in Jesus Christ from God's eternal wrath, if they
will only repent and believe. Once you've told them the truth, keep praying
for them and trust God for the results. You will rejoice as you see God use
you to save people from their sins and grant them new life in His Son.
.
|
|
| User: "John Fraser" |
|
| Title: Re: Praying For The Lost |
31 Jan 2008 07:54:20 AM |
|
|
Good morning Carl;
"Carl" <saints@nettally.com> wrote in message
news:fnrvfd$6he$1@news.utelfla.com...
On more than one occasion I have asked my Christian brethren to pray for
the
lost especially those posting on Usenet. In several instances, I have
asked
my Christian brethren to pray for specific individuals. I pray for those
lost souls as well in the sincere hope they will come to Christ one day
before it is too late. The following brief Biblical lesson from John
MacArthur shows Biblical reasoning for such prayer and that God does honor
such prayer.
May God bless,
Carl
my website -- http://www.nettally.com/saints/
my blog -- http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/
---
If one had requested American Christians in times past for the likes of
Adolph Hitler, Stalin and Krushchev during the Cold War, Ho Chi Ming during
the Vietnam Conflict, many would have happily declined. I'm not picking on
the Yanks per se. Strangely, we find it easier to pray for those who
personally persecute us perhaps because the issue is mainly about us and
it's more of a defensive measure.
If we pray for the Lost, we must first consider them as our long lost
good friend. Only in that regard will praying for the Lost truly work as it
takes on a personal yearn for the betterment of their spiritual welfare.
Same goes for our leaders whether we agree with their motives or not. If
not, we reap what we sow. Good post.
Cheers,
John
Praying For The Lost
by John MacArthur
Before Jesus gave up His spirit as He hung on the cross, He took time to
pray for those who were murdering Him. He prayed, "Father, forgive them;
for
they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). God began to answer
His
prayer on the Day of Pentecost as some three thousand people repented and
were baptized that day, and there have been countless multitudes that have
been saved through the centuries. In response to Jesus' intercession for
the
transgressors (Isaiah 53:12), God has snatched many souls from eternal
death.
Do you have a heart to pray for the lost like Jesus did? Do you have the
passion that inspired John Knox to plead, "Give me Scotland or I die"? Is
your attitude that of George Whitefield, who prayed, "O Lord, give me
souls
or take my soul"? Do you, like Henry Martyn, mourn when you see others
trapped in false religion and cry out, "I cannot endure existence if Jesus
is to be so dishonored"?
God used those faithful men as powerful tools to bring salvation to dying
people. Each of them had a clear and vivid understanding of what is at
stake
in the gospel--it's an issue of life or death, an eternity in heaven or
hell. Do you realize that your unbelieving family members, your
co-workers,
and your neighbors will spend forever suffering in torment away from the
presence of God if they don't embrace Christ? That realization should
drive
you to your knees to plead, not only with them to believe the gospel, but
with God to save their souls.
The seventeenth-century English Puritan Richard Baxter wrote,
Oh, if you have the hearts of Christians or of men in you, let them yearn
towards your poor ignorant, ungodly neighbors. Alas, there is but a step
betwixt them and death and hell; many hundred diseases are waiting ready
to
seize on them, and if they die unregenerate, they are lost forever. Have
you
hearts of rock, that cannot pity men in such a case as this? If you
believe
not the Word of God, and the danger of sinners, why are you Christians
yourselves? If you do believe it, why do you not bestir yourself to the
helping of others? (cited in I.D.E. Thomas, ed., A Puritan Golden Treasury
[Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1977], 92)
It is one thing to pray for family and friends, those for whom you have
natural affections. But God wants you to pray for all people. Paul writes,
"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" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Kings and people in authority in Paul's day
weren't bound by civil rights and were often unjust, self-serving, and
cruel. Do you pray for the salvation of people like that--those who
disagree
with you politically, those who advocate ungodly agendas, those who openly
embrace sin and reject the Scripture?
The Bible has several examples of radical evangelistic prayer, and for the
worst of sinners. Here are a few examples:
Moses interceded for Israel after catching them in orgiastic idolatry at
the
foot of Mount Sinai. After he confronted and dealt with their sin, he
turned
to the Lord and prayed, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and
they have made a god of gold for themselves. But now, if You will, forgive
their sin--and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have
written!" Moses was willing to forfeit his life for his people, even
though
they were guilty of wicked rebellion!
While being stoned to death, Stephen followed the Lord's example by
praying
for the salvation of his executioners: "And they went on stoning Stephen
as
he called upon the Lord and said, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!' And
falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold
this sin against them!' And having said this, he fell asleep" (Acts
7:59-60).
Standing among those who killed Stephen was a young man named Saul of
Tarsus. His salvation was an answer to Stephen's prayer. Years later, the
apostle Paul communicated the depth of his concern for his people Israel,
and in Romans 9 he sounds very much like Moses:
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me
witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief
in
my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from
Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
[...]Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for
their
salvation. (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1)
His brethren according to the flesh, fellow Jews, were the very ones who
persecuted him so severely, disrupting his work, stirring up mobs, even
plotting his assassination. And yet he loved them and prayed that God
would
show them mercy.
God honored those men's prayers for the souls of the lost; He'll honor
yours
too. Whether friend or foe; whether moral or immoral; whether you know
them
or not--pray for the lost. For those God brings your way, open your mouth
in
love and compassion to tell them the truth. Warn them of God's judgment
for
their personal offenses against his holiness, but then tell them the good
news. There is salvation in Jesus Christ from God's eternal wrath, if they
will only repent and believe. Once you've told them the truth, keep
praying
for them and trust God for the results. You will rejoice as you see God
use
you to save people from their sins and grant them new life in His Son.
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Doug" |
|
| Title: Re: Praying For The Lost |
04 Feb 2008 12:50:27 PM |
|
|
On January 31, 2008 03:05 am, Carl <saints@nettally.com> wrote:
Praying For The Lost
by John MacArthur
<snip>
Do you realize that your unbelieving family members, your
co-workers, and your neighbors will spend forever suffering in torment
away from the presence of God if they don't embrace Christ?
This is the doctrine of the locusts.
Don't be a locust! They are the ones depicted in John's prophecy in
Revelation 9:1-11, which is presented below one more time, with my
interpretations indicated by parentheses.
1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the
earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit,
as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by
reason of the smoke of the pit (the truth of the gospel is obscured).
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: (they resemble the
locusts of the great army described in Joel 2) and unto them was given
power, as the scorpions of the earth have power (they afflict people with
an agonizing pain).
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the
earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which
have not the seal of God in their foreheads (they teach a doctrine that
affects only unbelievers).
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, (they teach the
immortality of the soul) but that they should be tormented five months:
(the duration of the flood waters that covered the earth, and destroyed all
those not saved in the ark of Noah) and their torment was as the torment of
a scorpion, when he striketh a man (terribly painful).
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall
desire to die, and death shall flee from them (the doctrine of infernal
torments of the souls of unbelievers).
7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle;
(they are ridden by their dogmas, and fight to defend them) and on their
heads were as it were crowns like gold, (some like St Augustine are
venerated as saints, an hence wear a halo in old paintings; they appear as
a kingdom of priests, churchmen; 1 Peter 2:9) and their faces were as the
faces of men (they are humans).
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, (they are confident in their own
safety, and their own salvation: 2 Samuel 14:11, Luke 21:18) and their
teeth were as the teeth of lions (they appear as fierce predators; Satan is
compared to a lion in 1 Peter 5:8).
9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; (they tout
their own righteousness, Ephesians 6:14) and the sound of their wings was
as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle (there are great
numbers of them, and they are agressive).
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, (Isaiah said, "the prophet that
teacheth lies, he is the tail" Isaiah 9:15) and there were stings in their
tails: and their power was to hurt men five months (the doctrine of
infernal torment of unbelievers).
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit,
whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, (destroyer, Job 26:6) but in
the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon (Apollo Parnopius, god of plagues.
Apollo is also a god of prophecy).
Doug
http://vinyl2.sentex.ca/~tcc/OP/
.
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
