Beth-El Baptist Church
7/24/05
How should we pray for our unsaved loved ones?
All of us have loved ones who are not saved and whom we desire to see saved by the grace of God. The question that will be looked at today is how to proactively pray for out unsaved loved ones
1. What are some conditions for prayer?
Heb 13:18 – Good Conscience
James 1:6-8 – Without wavering
James 4:13-15 – Presuming God’s will
Daniel 9:3 – Seeking God with fasting and mourning
Proverbs 15:8 – Delighted by God
Matthew 21:21-22 – Without doubting
Philippians 4:6 – For everything and with thanksgiving
1 John 5:14-15 – According to His will
Matthew 23:14-15 – without pretence/false cause
Matthew 21:21-22 – Pray in faith
Matthew 6:5-8 – Private not expecting to be seen, not using repetition
Acts 3:1 – Time for community prayer
Mark 11:24 – Believe you already received
Luke 18:1 – Without giving up
Luke 18:9-14 – Humbly recognizing God’s sovereignty and man’s inadequacy
Romans 8:27-28 – Perfectly communicated by the Holy Spirit
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Without ceasing
Some keys to remember about prayer is that our prayers need to be filled with faith and belief knowing that God knows the desires of our heart and will grant them according to His will. To pray according to God’s will requires closeness with God to understand what he desires. This will require much time in prayer and the word of God to understand Him and to draw closer to you so that he will draw closer to you (James 4:8).
Matthew 26:39
Many people end their prayers with “not my will but your will be done” to follow Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane. This was Jesus’ impassioned plea for God to have an alternative way to rescue mankind from the punishment of their sins besides the cross. Jesus demonstrates the weakness of human flesh in desiring to find an alternative pathway for God’s will to be done, but is also recognizing that God’s will is for him to go to the cross. Therefore his prayer for “thine will be done” is an act of submission to the known will of God. Sometimes, but not always, our use of “God’s will be done” carries with it a hint of unbelief. We desire not to pray presuming God’s will and by praying that “God’s will be done” we are in effect leaving a way out so that our request does not have to be fulfilled. We are often implying that we don’t believe that we have prayed according to God’s will so it is ok for it not to be fulfilled. The difference in our use and Jesus’ use is that he KNEW that God’s will was for him to go to the cross and that his human desire was NOT to go to the cross but he also knew that he had to submit to the will of God.
2. When will our prayers be answered?
Psalm 32:6 – At the appropriate time
Daniel 10:11-12 – Answer is sent immediately takes time to be seen/understood
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 – Sometimes the answer is no
God answers every pray that we make. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it is no, and sometimes it is not yet. Sometimes we will never know if our prayers are answered according to your desires.
3. Why aren’t our prayers answered according to our desires?
Judges 3:1-4 – Necessary to keep us close to him
Jeremiah 2:29-30 – History of disobedience
Matthew 6:14-15 – Lacking forgiveness of others
Matthew 15:21-29 – Lacking faith
1 Peter 3:7 – Dishonoring your spouse
James 4:2-3 – Selfish reasons
There are many reasons that our prayers are not answered according to our desires. It could be that since God knows best that he answers no in order to keep us close to him and dependant on him. It could be because we have a history of only talking to God and being a “servant” when we want something from him and not serving when things are going well. It could also be the results of selfish requests or unconfessed sin in our lives.
4. How often should we pray?
Luke 11:5-9
1 Thessalonians 5:17
We ought to pray continually and without ceasing. Never give up on your prayers until God tells you to.
5. Who should we pray to?
Matthew 6:9
John 16:23-27
Pray to God the father but in the name of Jesus. There is no other name that will yield effective results in prayer.
6. How else should specifically we pray for the unsaved?
Acts 2:38-39
John 18:9
Luke 15:17-23
1 Timothy 2:3-4
Job 1:5
2 Samuel 7:2, 12-13, 18-20
James 1:5
Some specifics that can be prayed for our unsaved loved ones includes God’s promises to His children that he has given us the promise of our children as they repent and come to God. Thank God that none of His children are lost and like the prodigal son had to depart from the presence of God for a while, you are trusting that they will return to their Father in heaven. Remember that God does not delight in the death of the wicked but delights in the prayers of His saints and that he wants all to come to know him. It is a picture of pleading on their behalf and being like Job, an intercessor on their behalf before God.
Regardless of what our prayer is about they should be made according to His will, which entails our knowing His will for ourselves and for others. God is not like a vending machine to whom we come and ask God for a cup of blessings and then depart. He desires our heart to be centered and focused on Him and praying His words back to Him. Reminding Him of His promises to us and thanking Him for them and for the wisdom He will give to know how to pray and how to communicate His love and desire for them.