Untitled Sermon

Praying for the Lost

Our #1 concern when praying should be for the lost.

That is what we are here for is to reach the lost for Jesus Christ, by presenting the Gospel, and telling others about our salvation experience.

How do we do this? First by prayer, we cannot do this on our own, we have to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to tell us what to say, how to act, what to pray.

Who is the hardest group of people for some to reach? Their own families. Why

Because they see us at our lowest points.

We are on our best behaviour while we are at church and other believers, but when we are around family we are not always on our best behaviour.

We may feel like a hypocrite if we witness to them, or they may even call us that.

Pray for your lost family members daily, have an intentional list in front of you.

When you pray daily for them, the words start soaking in to your mind and they help you when the Holy Spirit tells you it is time to share the Gospel message with them.

Pray for lost friends

In a lot of ways they are like your family because they also see you at your most comfortable times.

Pray that the times you are with them that they will see Jesus in you.

Pray that you will say the right things, do the right things.

Pray they will see Jesus in you, and that they will want what you have.

Be intentional in the Holy Spirit that is what He is here for.

What does that mean?

Simply that when we pray that we ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in how we pray, how we witness, and how we act.

Praying for your family

You have family who are Christians, they still need prayer also, matter of fact they will need more prayer because the enemy is probably attacking them more than other family members who are not saved.

Pray specifically for your spouse, or future spouse.

Walk in integrity

Be patient

They will have wise close friends, not unwise friends (they may be a bad influence on your spouse).

Walk with God.

Depend on God for wisdom and strength, rather than their own.

God free them from any bad habits.

That they read the word and gain wisdom from it.

One of the things not mentioned that I pray for daily about Nita, and I is that we both grow closer to the Lord, and thereby us growing closer to each other

Pray specifically for your children

That God protect them

They surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ if they haven't already.

Walk with integrity

Respect all people

Become hard workers

Make choices that will honor God.

Praying for those we work with, and are close to all the time

Get to know those you work with, when they find our you are a praying person they will ask you to pray for them.

They may even make fun of you about your faith until tragedy strikes then they will come to you and ask for you to pray with them.

If you are asked to pray for someone, tell them you will be praying for them, but also say you would like to pray with them, and do it right then.

I did it Friday morning in the middle of the intersection of 1st and Hall Street in Webb City. Tell Story of Robert and his wife.

Pray for your Christian friends. I don't have much life besides church and work, but that's ok i am not complaining, but what I am saying is I spend a lot of time with the people I work with, and you guys in this church.

I have a little bit of advantage when it comes to people asking me to pray for them at work and here, because at work they know I am the City Chaplain, and here most people know that I am a Pastor here, and that I do pray for them.

If you tell someone you will pray for them do it. One day you will be held accountable for everyone you tell you will pray for them, whether you do or not. If you do pray like you say, you will receive a reward, if you don't I am not sure what will happen, you won't lose your salvation over it but something happens.

Pray for the leaders of your church

says that it is a joy to pray for the leaders in the church.

Steve Stafford is a perfect man, he does not wrong whatsoever. That's and absurd comment isn't it, but isn't that how we think of our pastor if we don't pray for him daily. A lot of times we go to him expecting him to pray for us, but don't go to prayer for him.

We should pray for the elders in our church, that they seek guidance from the Holy Spirit as they assist the Pastor in making decisions about the church.

Pray for all the ministry leaders, we have a list of ministries so it is easy to get a list of people to pray for.