06/19/2024
Prayer as a tool for spreading the gospel continues to be our thought this morning, and Pastor E.M. Bounds observes that "The gospel moves altogether too slowly..." and suggests prayer as the cure for this lumbering pace when he says "Prayer, more prayer and better prayer will do the deed." He goes on to write; "This means of grace will give swiftness, splendor, and divinity to the gospel." We live in a world filled with wickedness and unbelievers. Some know who Jesus is by name but have never heard the gospel, while others may be entirely ignorant of God, Jesus, and faith. Our task at hand is to deliver that message and allow these poor souls to make a spiritual decision based on biblical facts and not their own conclusions… then to help them on their spiritual way.
There are those of us who have been called to missionary fields, and others who are called to other evangelical pursuits, or pastoring, but we are all called to share the gospel, and to pray it. In this way, through our prayers, we can support those on the front lines of salvation as they deliver the good news of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God, to the world. Through praying the gospel we can not only strengthen the missionaries, but we can better deliver it ourselves to the lost in our own neighborhoods, and circles of influence.
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 KJV
Our prayers strengthen the messengers, and in this way we speed up the pace at which the gospel is being spread. We should never be remiss in praying for those who have been called to carry the Word of God abroad, or for that matter, for the saints who speak it to their neighbors. If you question whether various subjects included in your prayers are within the will of God, you should never doubt this one. Jesus gave his disciples this directive specifically when he said:
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
Pastor Bounds also wrote that "Whatever concern's man's welfare and whatever has to do with God's plans and purposes concerning people on earth can be a subject for prayer." Friend, there is no greater prayer than for a person to receive the good news concerning Jesus Christ, and no greater quest than delivering that message to the lost.
So as we pray this morning, let's pray for those who are delivering the gospel message to lost, dying, and uninformed souls. Let's also pray that all will hear and believe at the peril of their very salvation. It is God's will that all should hear, and his desire that everyone who hears should believe. Furthermore, it is His desire that through the Gospel of Jesus that they will not only find forgiveness and eternal life, but be transformed, and lead a righteous life. Ultimately, believing or not believing is a choice each one of us must make once we have heard the gospel. So, let's pray for the messengers that they might speedily deliver this message to the dying souls of the world, and also for those who hear the gospel, that they might join with us who have already come to believe, and are on this mission as warriors sent to rescue other souls who are as lost as we once were.
“... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
James 5:16 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for calling us to deliver the gospel of Jesus Christ in various ways. Thank you for calling some of us to be missionaries, pastors, teachers, and prophets, and sending us into the world with your Word, and the gospel of Jesus, but thank you also for instructing each of us who are not called in this way to witness to the lost wherever we are. Send your Holy Spirit to help us pray as we should, and to lead us in prayer so that we will not be remiss in praying for all those who you have called to go into the world, those who witness to friends and neighbors, and every soul who hears the good news, so that they will believe. Teach us to not only deliver the gospel, but to pray it each day. Let it be on our lips and in our hearts every day, and rise up in prayer from wherever we come before you. Loving are you our God, and long suffering, but we pray that the spread of your Word and the Gospel of Jesus will overtake the world like wildfire, as it comes to save, and transform all who hear it! We know that your desire is that none should perish Father, so hear our prayers that your messengers be strengthened, and that every heart be circumcised and made ready to receive Jesus as their savior, and you as their God. Father, we thank you for sending your only begotten Son to live, suffer, die, and be resurrected that we would are now saved, and for sending us out as His witnesses into the world so that none would be lost. We pray that he come again to take us, His Church, as His bride. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. Praised be your Holy name Father, and blessed be the name of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen, Amen, Amen!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 KJV
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”
Revelation 19:7 KJV
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Revelation 22:20-21 KJV
Rich Forbes