Lesson 67: How to Pray for the Lost

Christians should speak the gospel clearly.

They should answer questions honestly.

They should warn people compassionately.

They should overcome fear and speak when God provides an opportunity.

But before, during, and after all of that, they should pray.

Paul wrote:

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is,

that they might be saved.”

— Romans 10:1, KJV

Paul did not merely possess correct doctrine about salvation.

He desired that people be saved.

That desire entered his prayers.

If we genuinely care about lost souls, we should bring them before God.

Prayer Confesses That Only God Can Save

Christians can explain the gospel.

They cannot regenerate a heart.

We can present evidence.

We cannot force spiritual sight.

We can reason from Scripture.

We cannot create repentance or saving faith through personality, pressure, or eloquence.

Jesus said:

“No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me draw him…”

— John 6:44, KJV

Prayer acknowledges our complete dependence upon God.

It says:

“Lord, I can speak, but You must work.”

“I can plant truth, but You must give spiritual life.”

“I can appeal to the conscience, but You know the heart.”

Prayer Is Not a Substitute for Witnessing

Some believers pray for a person for years but never speak to him about Christ.

They say:

“I am waiting for God to save him.”

But God often answers prayer by opening an opportunity for the person praying to speak.

Paul asked believers to pray:

“that God would open unto us a door of utterance,

to speak the mystery of Christ…”

— Colossians 4:3, KJV

The prayer concerned both an open door and actual speech.

Do not pray for someone to hear the gospel while refusing every opportunity to explain it.

Pray.

Watch.

Prepare.

Then obey when God opens the door.

Witnessing Is Not a Substitute for Prayer

The opposite error is also common.

A believer speaks repeatedly but rarely prays.

He depends upon:

arguments;

memorized presentations;

emotional pressure;

or the strength of his personality.

He begins acting as though the right wording can produce conversion.

Prayer keeps evangelism dependent upon God.

Do not only:

post truth;

send messages;

invite people;

debate objections;

or issue warnings.

Pray for the people receiving those words.

Pray Because God Commands Intercession

Paul writes:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all,

supplications, prayers, intercessions,

and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”

— 1 Timothy 2:1, KJV

He continues:

“For this is good and acceptable

in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved,

and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

— 1 Timothy 2:3–4, KJV

Intercession is not reserved for pastors or unusually mature Christians.

Believers should pray for others.

God’s revealed concern that people be saved and know the truth should shape the church’s prayers.

Pray for Specific People

General prayers have value:

“Lord, save the lost.”

But specific prayer helps the believer remain attentive and responsible.

Bring names before God.

Pray for:

your spouse;

children;

parents;

siblings;

relatives;

friends;

neighbors;

coworkers;

and people with whom God gives repeated contact.

You do not need to know with perfect certainty that someone is lost before praying for his spiritual condition.

You may pray:

“Lord, You know this person’s heart. If he does not truly know Christ, bring him to repentance and faith. If he does know Christ, strengthen him to walk faithfully.”

Do Not Publicly Label People Carelessly

Specific prayer does not require publicly announcing:

“This person is definitely unsaved.”

Someone may have an unclear testimony.

Another person may be struggling spiritually.

You may lack enough information to judge accurately.

Pray with humility.

When praying with others, share only what is appropriate.

Do not turn another person’s spiritual condition into gossip disguised as a prayer request.

Pray for the Light of the Gospel to Shine

Paul writes:

“But if our gospel be hid,

it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds

of them which believe not,

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,

who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

— 2 Corinthians 4:3–4, KJV

Spiritual blindness is real.

People may hear Christian words while failing to understand the glory of Jesus Christ.

Pray that God will expose deception and allow the truth of the gospel to become clear.

Paul continues:

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,

hath shined in our hearts,

to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ.”

— 2 Corinthians 4:6, KJV

The God who created physical light can shine spiritual light into a darkened heart.

Pray for the Person to Hear God’s Word

Scripture says:

“So then faith cometh by hearing,

and hearing by the word of God.”

— Romans 10:17, KJV

Pray that the person will encounter Scripture.

Ask God to provide opportunities through:

a Christian conversation;

biblical preaching;

a Gospel account;

a faithful website;

a video;

a tract;

a book;

or another believer.

Do not prescribe the exact method as though God can answer only one way.

Ask that the person hear the true Word and not a distorted gospel.

Pray for Clear Understanding

Hearing words is not the same as understanding them.

A person may hear about:

grace;

faith;

repentance;

the cross;

and resurrection

while interpreting those words according to false religion or previous assumptions.

Pray that confusion will be removed.

Ask God to help the person understand:

who Jesus Christ is;

why sin separates people from God;

why good works cannot purchase salvation;

why Christ died;

that He rose again;

and why repentance and faith are necessary.

Pray That God Will Open the Heart

When Paul preached in Philippi, Scripture says of Lydia:

“whose heart the Lord opened,

that she attended unto the things

which were spoken of Paul.”

— Acts 16:14, KJV

Paul spoke.

The Lord opened Lydia’s heart.

These truths belong together.

A Christian should prepare and speak accurately while praying that God will cause the hearer to attend seriously to the message.

Pray:

“Lord, open this person’s heart to hear Your Word.”

“Remove careless distraction.”

“Cause the gospel to become personally serious.”

Pray for Conviction of Sin

People will not understand their need for salvation if they continue believing they have no real guilt before God.

Pray that sin will be exposed.

Not merely another person’s sin.

Their own sin.

Ask God to bring conviction concerning:

pride;

unbelief;

self-rule;

dishonesty;

immorality;

false religion;

or confidence in personal goodness.

Do not pray vindictively:

“Lord, make this person suffer because he offended me.”

Pray redemptively:

“Lord, show him the truth about sin so that he will seek mercy in Christ.”

Pray for Repentance

Paul instructed the Lord’s servant to correct people in meekness:

“if God peradventure will give them repentance

to the acknowledging of the truth;

And that they may recover themselves

out of the snare of the devil…”

— 2 Timothy 2:25–26, KJV

Repentance is not merely emotional regret.

Pray that the person will stop defending rebellion and turn honestly toward God.

Ask that he will:

acknowledge truth;

confess sin;

reject false confidence;

and become willing to obey Christ.

Do not pray merely that consequences will frighten him temporarily.

Pray for a genuine turning of the heart.

Pray for Faith in Jesus Christ

A person may become aware of sin and still attempt to save himself through religion or personal improvement.

Pray that he will trust Jesus Christ alone.

Ask God to remove confidence in:

good works;

church attendance;

baptism;

family background;

religious ceremonies;

or moral comparison.

Pray that the person will see the sufficiency of:

Christ’s death;

Christ’s resurrection;

Christ’s righteousness;

and Christ’s mercy.

Pray for Freedom From Deception

People may be held by:

false religion;

materialism;

atheism;

spiritual pride;

worldly philosophy;

or a distorted understanding of Christianity.

Pray that lies will be exposed by truth.

Do not become fascinated with naming every possible demon or using formulas Scripture does not command.

The believer’s confidence is not in a special vocabulary.

It is in God, His Word, the gospel, and the work of the Holy Ghost.

Ask God to break the power of deception through truth.

Pray for Humbling Circumstances Without Desiring Harm

God may use circumstances to awaken a person.

Illness, loss, disappointment, or the failure of worldly hopes may cause someone to consider eternity.

But Christians should be careful how they pray.

Do not delight in suffering.

Do not ask for tragedy merely because you want to see a person broken.

Pray:

“Lord, use whatever righteous means You know are necessary to awaken this person, but show mercy and draw him toward Christ.”

Submit the method to God’s wisdom.

Pray for Protection From False Teachers

When someone begins seeking spiritual truth, false teaching may quickly appear.

Pray that the person will not be led toward:

a false gospel;

a controlling religious group;

prosperity teaching;

works-based salvation;

or a teacher who distorts Jesus Christ.

Ask God to lead him toward Scripture and trustworthy believers.

Pray that he will test what he hears rather than accepting the first confident religious voice.

Pray for Faithful Laborers

Jesus said:

“The harvest truly is plenteous,

but the labourers are few;

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,

that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

— Matthew 9:37–38, KJV

You may not be the only person God uses.

Another believer may have:

a closer relationship;

a better opportunity;

greater knowledge of the person’s questions;

or access you do not possess.

Pray for laborers.

Ask God to send truthful, compassionate Christians across the person’s path.

Then remain willing to become one of the laborers for whom you prayed.

Pray for an Open Door

Paul asked for prayer:

“that God would open unto us a door of utterance,

to speak the mystery of Christ…”

— Colossians 4:3, KJV

An open door may appear through:

a question;

a crisis;

a conversation about death;

a discussion about purpose;

a request for prayer;

or visible interest in Scripture.

Pray for opportunities that allow the gospel to be explained naturally and clearly.

Then pay attention.

An open door can be missed when the believer remains distracted or fearful.

Pray for Clarity When the Gospel Is Spoken

Paul also asked:

“That I may make it manifest,

as I ought to speak.”

— Colossians 4:4, KJV

The messenger needs prayer too.

Pray that the gospel will not be buried beneath:

unexplained religious language;

unnecessary side issues;

personal opinions;

politics;

or excessive information.

Ask God to help the witness explain:

sin;

Christ;

the cross;

the resurrection;

grace;

repentance;

and faith

in a way the hearer can understand.

Pray That the Word Will Have Free Course

Paul wrote:

“Finally, brethren, pray for us,

that the word of the Lord may have free course,

and be glorified, even as it is with you:”

— 2 Thessalonians 3:1, KJV

Pray that obstacles to the message will be removed.

These obstacles may include:

fear in the messenger;

constant interruption;

false accusations;

social pressure;

confusion;

or practical barriers.

The prayer is not merely that a Christian will speak.

It is that the Word of the Lord will run freely and be honored.

Pray for Courage to Speak

Lesson 66 addressed fear fully.

The connection here is necessary:

Pray for your own courage.

Ask:

“Lord, when You open the door, keep me from closing my mouth.”

“Help me speak without shame.”

“Give me wisdom and love.”

“Keep me from delaying until the opportunity is gone.”

Prayer for the lost should make the believer more available, not more passive.

Pray for a Consistent Christian Example

A careless Christian life may make it harder for someone to listen.

Pray that your conduct will not contradict your message.

Ask God to expose:

hypocrisy;

anger;

dishonesty;

worldliness;

and inconsistency.

Do not wait until you reach sinless perfection before speaking.

But repent quickly when your conduct is wrong.

A humble confession may strengthen the witness:

“I acted wrongly. That conduct did not reflect Jesus Christ.”

Lesson 68 will address the believer’s life as light more fully.

Pray With Love, Not Control

Prayer is not a method for controlling another person.

Do not pray:

“Lord, force this person to agree with every decision I make.”

“Make him join my church so I will feel successful.”

“Save her so she will become easier for me to live with.”

Pray for the person’s reconciliation with God and true spiritual good.

Salvation is not mainly about making another person more convenient for you.

Do Not Treat Prayer as a Formula

There is no special sentence that guarantees a person’s immediate conversion.

Repeating a name a certain number of times does not force God to act.

Declaring that the person is already saved does not make it true.

Anointing objects, sending chain messages, or repeating phrases mechanically does not replace biblical intercession.

Prayer is not magic.

It is humble dependence upon the living God.

Pray in Faith Without Making Presumptuous Claims

Pray believing that God is able to save.

No person is too sinful, hardened, educated, religious, skeptical, or resistant for God’s power.

But Scripture does not authorize us to guarantee:

“This person will certainly be converted by a particular date.”

Faith trusts God’s power and character.

Presumption claims information God has not revealed.

You may pray confidently:

“Lord, save him.”

Then submit the person, timing, circumstances, and outcome to God.

Do Not Assume Delayed Answers Mean Prayer Is Useless

You may pray for someone for years without seeing visible change.

The person may appear more resistant.

He may avoid spiritual conversation.

You may wonder whether anything is happening.

Do not measure the value of prayer only by immediate evidence.

God may be arranging circumstances, bringing truth to remembrance, exposing false confidence, or preparing a future witness.

You cannot see the entire work.

Continue praying without pretending you know what God has not revealed.

Lesson 77 will address delayed answers more broadly.

Persistence Is Not Attempting to Wear God Down

Paul says:

“Continue in prayer,

and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

— Colossians 4:2, KJV

Persistence does not mean God is reluctant and must be annoyed into compassion.

God already understands the person’s need more fully than you do.

Persistent prayer demonstrates:

dependence;

love;

faithfulness;

and continuing concern.

Return to God because He is the only One able to do the spiritual work required.

Pray With Thanksgiving

Thank God for every evidence of mercy.

Perhaps the person:

agreed to read Scripture;

asked a question;

attended church;

listened respectfully;

or acknowledged a spiritual need.

Do not turn every small step into a claim of conversion.

But thank God for opportunities.

Thank Him for sustaining your concern.

Thank Him for faithful witnesses.

Thank Him that the gospel remains powerful and Christ remains willing to save.

Pray Even for Hostile People

Jesus prayed concerning those crucifying Him:

“Father, forgive them;

for they know not what they do.”

— Luke 23:34, KJV

Stephen prayed while being stoned:

“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”

— Acts 7:60, KJV

These were not prayers offered only for kind, receptive people.

A hostile person still has a soul.

Pray for:

mockers;

opponents;

persecutors;

and people who have spoken cruelly.

You may also need boundaries and lawful protection.

Prayer does not require unsafe access.

It refuses to let hostility eliminate concern for the soul.

Pray With Other Believers

Private prayer matters.

Corporate prayer also matters.

Ask trustworthy believers to pray for:

family members;

gospel conversations;

outreach;

missionaries;

and communities.

Share details responsibly.

Do not disclose private information unnecessarily.

A church that cares about souls should regularly intercede for people without Christ, not merely discuss evangelism.

Keep a Prayer List Without Making It Mechanical

A written list can help you remain consistent.

Record:

the person’s name;

what you know about his spiritual beliefs;

specific current requests;

opportunities that arise;

and answers or changes you observe.

The list is a tool, not a ritual.

Do not rush through names merely to finish.

Pause.

Remember the person.

Pray thoughtfully.

Let Prayer Change Your Attitude

You may begin praying for someone who irritates you.

Over time, God may expose your own pride, impatience, or lack of love.

Prayer brings the person before God and also brings your heart under examination.

You may begin asking:

“How can I serve this person?”

“Do I need to apologize?”

“Have I listened?”

“Am I presenting Christ or merely trying to win?”

Prayer for the lost should make the witness more compassionate and humble.

Let Prayer Lead to Readiness

After praying, remain prepared to act.

You may need to:

invite the person to church;

share a lesson or Gospel passage;

answer a question;

offer practical help;

give your testimony;

or explain the gospel clearly.

Prayer does not remove responsibility.

It prepares you to fulfil it under God’s direction.

Do Not Carry the Burden as Though You Are the Saviour

Concern for someone’s soul can become emotionally crushing when the Christian assumes responsibility that belongs to God.

You cannot save:

your child;

your spouse;

your parent;

your friend;

or anyone else.

You are responsible to love, pray, speak, and live faithfully.

You are not the Holy Ghost.

You cannot force conviction or repentance.

Carry the person to God.

Do not attempt to carry God’s responsibility yourself.

A Biblical Prayer Pattern for the Lost

1. Pray for Spiritual Light

Ask God to expose blindness and make Christ clear.

2. Pray for the Word to Be Heard

Ask that the person encounter faithful Scripture and gospel witness.

3. Pray for Understanding

Ask that religious confusion and false assumptions be removed.

4. Pray for Conviction

Ask God to reveal sin and personal guilt truthfully.

5. Pray for Repentance

Ask that the person turn from rebellion toward God.

6. Pray for Faith

Ask that he trust Jesus Christ rather than himself.

7. Pray for Laborers

Ask God to send faithful believers.

8. Pray for an Open Door

Ask for a suitable opportunity to speak.

9. Pray for Clarity and Courage

Ask God to help the messenger speak properly.

10. Pray Persistently and Submit the Result

Continue without manipulation, presumption, or despair.

A Lost-Souls Prayer List

Person’s name:

What I presently know about his or her spiritual beliefs:

The misunderstanding or deception that may need to be removed:

The Scripture or gospel truth this person needs to hear:

The open door I am asking God to provide:

The faithful action I may need to take:

The believers I can ask to pray responsibly:

Discipleship Questions

1. Why should prayer for the lost accompany rather than replace personal gospel witness?

2. What specific spiritual needs should believers bring before God when praying for someone’s salvation?

3. What is the difference between praying in faith and claiming certainty God has not revealed?

4. How can persistent prayer remain hopeful without making the Christian feel personally responsible for producing conversion?

5. Which three people will you begin bringing before God consistently?

Closing Exhortation

Pray for the lost.

Pray by name.

Pray for light.

Pray for truth.

Pray for conviction.

Pray for repentance.

Pray for faith in Jesus Christ.

Pray for laborers.

Pray for open doors.

Pray for clear words.

Pray for courage.

Pray when the person appears interested.

Pray when the person appears hardened.

Pray when you see progress.

Pray when you see none.

Do not use prayer as an excuse for silence.

Do not use witnessing as an excuse for prayerlessness.

Do not manipulate.

Do not presume.

Do not despair.

Bring the soul before God, remain ready to obey, and trust the One who alone can save.

A Prayer for People Without Christ

Father,

Thank You for showing me mercy and bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ into my life.

You know every person I love who may still remain without Christ.

You know the true condition of each heart.

Shine the light of the glorious gospel into darkness.

Expose every lie, false religion, proud confidence, distraction, and deception that keeps people from seeing Jesus Christ clearly.

Bring Your Word across their path.

Send faithful laborers.

Open doors for honest conversations.

Help the gospel be explained accurately and plainly.

Convict them of sin.

Show them that good works and religion cannot erase guilt.

Grant repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

Draw them toward Jesus Christ.

Help them understand His death for sins, His burial, and His resurrection.

Bring them to genuine faith in Him alone.

Protect them from false teachers and distorted gospels.

Use righteous circumstances to awaken them, but show mercy.

Give me courage when You provide an opportunity to speak.

Keep my conduct from contradicting the message.

Forgive my fear, impatience, pride, and attempts to control the outcome.

Help me pray persistently without despair.

Remind me that I am not the Saviour.

I place these souls into Your hands.

Do what only You can do, and make me faithful in whatever part You give me.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Next Step

Write the names of three people for whom you will pray consistently:

Person One

Name:

Specific prayer:

Possible faithful action:

Person Two

Name:

Specific prayer:

Possible faithful action:

Person Three

Name:

Specific prayer:

Possible faithful action:

Choose a regular time to pray for them.

Review the list weekly.

Watch for open doors.

Record meaningful developments without assuming that outward interest equals conversion.

Then continue praying and remain ready to speak.

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Next Lesson: Lesson 68 — How to Be a Light in a Dark World