Praying Effectively For the Lost DVD Study Guide

Transcription

1 Praying Effectively For the Lost DVD Study Guide There is a new DVD recording of Lee Thomas teaching the principles of praying effectively for the lost from his book of the same title. This recording is available in a two disk set from PEL Ministries Each DVD has two sessions, 1 and 2 that last from 42 to 44 minutes per session. This study guide is intended to help a leader use this DVD resource to lead a group in learning the principles of praying effectively for the lost in eight meetings. The guide uses about half of each session, about 20 minutes, for viewing the DVD material and the balance of the meeting time for review, questions, discussion and prayer. The meetings can last from 45 minutes to one and one half hours depending on the time available. The student can follow along in this guide while viewing the DVD recording and take notes for questions. The leader is encouraged to allow students to ask questions during the session, even during the DVD viewing period. The DVD can be paused and re-started without significant problems to allow for group discussion while the questions are fresh. Originally, this guide was generated to teach the DVD material during a series of Sunday evening discipleship training meetings at Trinity Baptist Church in Laramie, Wyoming. All scripture references are from the New International Version, 1984 and the King James Version where noted. Feel free to print these meeting lessons and distribute them to each one attending for a resource they can re-visit. 1

2 Meeting One, DVD one, Session 1 first half. Stop the DVD at about 24:53 minutes following the story of the woman in church who had been baptized several times. Praying Effectively for the Lost. What happens when we pray for lost people? 1. We break the demonic power that controls the lost person. Mark 3:27 says that 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. The house is the man and the strongman is the demonic power that controls him. A demonic spirit in one-way or another controls every lost person. Luke 11: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils. The church (you and I) is someone stronger. 1 John 4:4 says 4 You, dear children, (H) are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. When we pray for the lost, we take away the demonic control s armor. Armor is always defensive. Dividing the spoils is a reference to the lost person s new ability to make an unencumbered choice to accept Christ as savior. A stronghold, according to the New Testament, is a mindset that is against the word and will of God. The stronghold is the demonic armor generating a mindset in the lost persons mind that is against the word and will of God. Our job is to take away the armor, through prayer, that causes the stronghold in a lost person s mind. No one in his or her right mind would choose hell over heaven. The lost person is not in their right mind. Proverbs 23:7 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: (KJV). Reference to the wild man of Gadara, Mark 5:1-20. Jesus asked one simple question of the man; what is your name? Our name is Legion, which represents between 3,000 and 6,000 soldiers. In this case, the Legion represents demonic beings. Christ knew why the man behaved with such rage and set him free by dismissing the demonic control that had seized him. The man immediately was in his right mind and wanted to follow Jesus. 2 Corinthians 10: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. The lost are blind to the Gospel because of the schemes of the devil. 2

3 Ephesians 6: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Always keep in mind that your prayers (spiritual warfare) are waged against demons, not people. The people you are praying for may seem to get worse after you begin to pray for them. Realize that this is a reflection of Satan trying to fight back and hold them. The question is do you love them more than Satan hates them? Once you start praying for a lost person, never give up; it is war. All prayer is spiritual warfare. Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God so that you can take a stand against the devil s schemes. We walk by faith, not by sight. Reference to Daniel 10, 12 Then he continued, Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. We are given four weapons to fight this war in 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5. Weapons to 1. demolish strongholds, 2. demolish arguments and 3. demolish every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and 4. take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Each of these weapons are intended to specifically fight against wrong thinking in the lost person s mind. The mind is the battlefield that Satan has chosen to destroy man. 2 Corinthians 4: 3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. A stronghold is a mindset against the word and will of God. The head silhouette illustration helps us realize how unbelief, the only sin that sends people to hell, is masked (surrounded) by strongholds. John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God s one and only Son. John 16:8, Jesus is speaking of the coming of the Holy Spirit. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me. The only sin that the Holy Spirit convicts men of is the sin of unbelief. The lost person has a conscience and realizes he has sin in his life. However, strongholds distract him from the only sin that actually convicts; the sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ. Satan carefully blocks (blinds) man s awareness of this sin of unbelief through strongholds. 3

4 Strongholds keep people from being saved. The stronghold in a persons mind is something that they love more than eternal life itself. They do not realize this truth because Satan cultivates the stronghold constantly. Stronghold examples; Greed, 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil., 1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Fun (lust of flesh), fortune (lust of the eyes) and fame (pride of life), are the entire list of worldly draws devil has to work with when keeping people in a lost (confused) state. Lust, John 4, Samaritan woman at the well. From this example we learn to very important things about Salvation. 1. Every person that gets saved must repent. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Repentance means to change their mind. 2. Every person must repent of the issue (stronghold) that kept them from getting saved in the first place. Bitterness, stories of people who were controlled by bitterness. Stop the DVD at about 24:53 minutes following the story of the woman in church who had been baptized several times. End of meeting one DVD portion. Try to facilitate discussion on these principles. Encourage folks to talk about what was new and fresh to them in this material. Get them to start a prayer list of lost people in their family, at work etc. Have them get started in the battle for these souls. End meeting one. 4

5 Meeting Two, DVD one, session 1, second half (24:53 minutes to 43:30). Start meeting by playing Disk one, Session 1, second half as noted above. How do you find out what the issue is and how do you break it? Notes on: Praying Effectively for the Lost by Lee Thomas. There is an expansion here on the principles talked about during this segment of the DVD series. The book opens with the statement The lost will not and indeed cannot be saved unless someone prays for them. This is a shocking statement that sounds unbelievable until we view the Biblical basis for this statement. Biblical basis one: Christ Commissions the Church Matthew 16: Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Jesus is predicting what He was going to give the Church. Biblical basis two: The Great Commission. Matthew 28: Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. When Christ died on the cross and was resurrected, He won back dominion of the Earth that Adam had forfeited. Note: The third temptation of Christ, Matthew 4:8-11, demonstrated that Satan had dominion of the earth. 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me. 10 Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only. 11 Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him. 5

6 Christ did not argue against the fact that the earth was Satan s domain. The great commission was issued to the church forty days after Christ had defeated Satan on the cross. In this passage, Christ gave this authority to the church. Biblical basis three: Ministry of Reconciliation. The Ministry of Reconciliation, issued after Christ s resurrection, is recorded in II Corinthians 5:18,19,20 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ s behalf: Be reconciled to God. The key words for this discussion are given or gave us and committed. Gave: God gave us the ministry of making appeals for the lost on Christ s behalf since we are Christ s ambassadors. Committed: God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. It is important for us to realize that God never supersedes His delegated authority. Since He committed this ministry to us (the church), He has delegated His authority, which He will not supersede. So what do we have the authority to do? 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Since God never supersedes our authority to demolish strongholds, it is up to us to pray for the lost as part of our commission. The stronghold is keeping them from being saved. If we do not demolish the stronghold, they won t get saved. We have no power to save anyone. Only God can save souls: John 6:44 Jesus answered. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. Our role is to support the work of the Holy Spirit, God, by being Christ s ambassadors; fighting the spiritual war on our knees. We have the authority to bind strongholds and loose a lost person from the stronghold so the Holy Spirit will draw them and they can see and clearly understand the truth. No one in his or her right mind will chose hell over 6

7 heaven. Our job is to help get the lost person into their right mind through direct (praying for the person by name) and authoritative prayer. End Meeting two and Disk one Session one. 7

8 Meeting three, DVD one, Session 2 first half. Time zero side one Session 2 to 24:50. Praying Effectively for the Lost. Continuation of what happens when we pray for lost people? 1. We break the demonic power that controls the lost person. Already discussed in first two meetings. This meeting s question is: 2. The Holy Spirit moves in and begins to work on them. Mention of Charles G. Finney s statement that pouring facts at a lost person without first praying with them tends to harden the heart. Prayer is essential in preparing the way for the Holy Spirit to work. Equally, a quote from Jessie Penn-Lewis War on the Saints, when we witness to someone who has not been prayed for, it tends to anger the demon that controls their mind. No one gets saved until the Holy Spirit prepares the heart. When you and I begin to pray for them the Holy Spirit goes to work on them. 2 Peter 3:9 states that 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. God has commissioned us to pray for the lost. If He were going to save one without our prayers, He would save everyone. 1 Peter 1:2 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. Hula Hoop illustration of sanctification (to be made holy). Circle of sanctification is a physical picture of how the Holy Spirit makes the person being prayed for holy. Since the Holy Spirit is holy, He must make the lost person holy (sets him apart) before entering into his spirit. Moses reference to Holy Ground. When God invited Moses to join on the mountain, He made the mountain holy. The dove that returned to Noah could not find a clean spot to 8

9 rest so he returned to the Arc. In scripture, the dove represents the Holy Spirit. Expansion on praying for lost family members. 1 Corinthians 7: And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. If you are saved, the Holy Spirit lives within you. You are sanctified. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 2 Corinthians 5:21 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 Peter 3: 1-6 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. God wants to pour out his Spirit. Our prayers are the key to His doing just that. 3. The third thing that happens when we pray for a lost person is that your love for them begins to intensify and grow. Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. Romans 9:3 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race Paul was willing to trade his own soul for the sake of salvation for his brothers the Israelites. The Lord won t let you trade places with anyone because Christ has already done that on Calvary. 1 John 2:2 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Every soul belongs to the Lord Jesus. 9

10 1 Timothy 2:6 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men the testimony given in its proper time. There is not a single person in Hell today that could not have been saved through trusting Christ. 1 Timothy 4:10 10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. God is the savior because he paid the sin debt for all men but each man has to accept Him as savior. Jude tells us that compassion makes a difference. Have compassion for those you are praying for. Matthew 9:36 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Colossians 1:24 24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. This is a reference to our joining in with Christ and pray for the lost. Tears are liquid prayers according to Charles Spurgeon. Psalm 126: Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Go out with a broken heart and pray for the lost. The harvest is guaranteed. From example of the man who Lee witnessed to and the Lord told the man that his time of waiting was up. Genesis 6:3 3 Then the LORD said, My Spirit will not contend with man forever, Stop DVD at 24:51 after story of Lee s tears pressing a man to repentance. End of Meeting 3. 10

11 Meeting four, DVD one, Session 2 second half. Time 24:50 side one Session 2 to end. Praying Effectively for the Lost. Continuation of what happens when we pray for lost people? If we go out with a broken heart sharing the love of Jesus, God guarantees us the harvest. Reference to a sheave of wheat having 63,000 grains. Proverbs 11:30 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Daniel 12:3 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. George McCluskey story. Martin Luther story. Psalms 126:6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. This verse is about soul winning. The smallest multiple is two. God intended for each one of us to win 126,000 souls during our lifetime. The way to accomplish this is to leave a tree. Two challenges. 1. Develop a prayer list of lost people and start praying for them. 2. The book is not for sale. We do need some help. DIG. We need Distributors, Intercessors and Givers to continue our ministry. Story of Oskar Schindler. I could have saved one more. 2 Corinthians 12:15 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 11

12 Meeting five, DVD disk two, Session 3 first half. Time 00:00 side Session 3 to end (30:02 minutes). Five Reasons We Need to Pray for the Lost Notes on: Praying Effectively for the Lost by Lee Thomas. All versus are from New International Version, 2010 You might consider splitting this portion of the principles into two meetings. The DVD for Session 3 finishes up in about 30 minutes and the balance of the time can be spent reviewing the material. However, it is a little ambitious to try and cover this session in one meeting. 1) Prayer is Gods appointed way for us to get all things from Him. James 4:2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. *** This is simple, a child can understand it. Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. God knows what we need and want but He tells us to ask for it. Lost people being saved are part of everything. 1Tim. 2:1-4 1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. The implication is that if we do not pray for the lost, they won t get saved. **** God and man work together for men to get saved. Asking is the rule of the kingdom.. 12

13 2) We must pray down the will of God Lords Prayer Matthew 6: This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. thy will be done is the key here to showing that God s will does not automatically happen. Example: abortion God s will is: II Peter 3:9 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 3) God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. II Corinthians 5:18,19,20 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ s behalf: Be reconciled to God. Key word given. The message (word) of reconciliation is the Gospel. In verse 20, we are in Christ s stead here on earth. God never supersedes delegated authority. Given once and for all Background: a. Gen. 1:26-28 God gives Adam dominion over the earth 26 Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. 13

14 b. Adam became God of the earth Adam forfeits this dominion when he falls. II Corinthians 4:3-4 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. When Christ is tempted by Satan (3 rd temptation), Matthew 4, Satan offers Christ his kingdom if Christ would worship him. Christ did not argue the fact that the earth was Satan s kingdom. Matthew 4: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. 4 Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 7 Jesus answered him, It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test. 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me. 10 Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. [e] 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. c. Jesus, as God-Man, died on the cross and legally took back the right or dominion of the earth. John 1:1&14 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. d. Hebrews 2:14, 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death that is, the devil e. Colossians 2:15, 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 14

15 f. God delegates this authority to the Church. Matthew 28: Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. The gates of hell shall not rule over it. The gates represent all the junk the devil and his demons pull on man. He has given to the Church all authority. 4) Because of their condition. They cannot save themselves. Isaiah 14:17 17 the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home? Satan is like a jailer who refuses to let his captives go (loose them). Note: Matthew 16: Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be [e] loosed in heaven. 1Cor. 2:14 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. Jesus said that one of the reasons that God sent Him was to set the captives free: Luke 14: and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor. Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners *********We do this through the authoritative prayer.************* 15

16 John 8: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. It is the truth you know that sets you free. (page 29, General Jonathan Wainwright example) Hosea 4:6 6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. 1John 2:2 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Jesus paid the price for the whole world. 1Tim. 4:10 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. He is the savior of all men. 7,200 people die each hour. That is about 63,000,000 each year. Only about 11% of them know the Lord. Jesus is the savior of every one of them. We must demand that the devil turn them loose. 1John 5:19 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 5) Because of the power of prayer. When you pray, you get what God can do God can do more in five minutes than we can do in five lifetimes. We need to pray. He does what we can t do. Hezekiah example. Page

17 Meeting six, DVD disk two, Session 4 first half. Time 00:00 side Session 4 to end (20:04 minutes). How to Pray for the Lost Notes on: Praying Effectively for the Lost by Lee Thomas. DVD Session 4 All versus are from New International Version, ) Motive: We must pray with the right motive. James 4:2-3 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive; because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Selfishness and Pride are the number one wrong motives. Pride examples. Examine your motives. Pride is subtle. 2) Faith; Pray in Faith Matthew 9:29 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, According to your faith let it be done to you Hebrews 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. You must believe that everything you get from God is through your Faith. You need to believe that God is working on the person you are praying for. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Logos and Rhema examples. 17

18 John 15:7 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Words here is Rhema. Ephesians 6: In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Mark 4: He also said, This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. Isaiah 55:11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 57:19 19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. (KJV). 3) Exercise Authority By Speaking it! 4) Pray with Desire Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Mark 11:24 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. End of meeting six at Session 4; 20:03 Stop after Lee s discussion on desire. 18

19 Meeting seven, DVD two, Session 4 second half. Time 20:04 Session 4 to end (40:14 minutes). Continuation of How to Pray for the Lost Notes on: Praying Effectively for the Lost by Lee Thomas. DVD Session 4 All versus are from New International Version, ) Persistence John 8:44 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Pray with importunity shamelessness Luke 11: Then Jesus said to them, Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him. 7 And suppose the one inside answers, Don t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can t get up and give you anything. 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 6) Unity Most powerful aspect of intercessory prayer. Matthew 18:20 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Deuteronomy 32:30 30 How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up? 19

20 7) Prayer of Release If you are praying for a loved one, have the confidence in God to place them in His hands to do what ever is necessary to save them. Romans 2:4 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 8) Pray with a Since of Urgency Luke 2: When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you. 49 Why were you searching for me? he asked. Didn t you know I had to be in my Father s house? [f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. John 4: My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don t you have a saying, It s still four months until harvest? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying One sows and another reaps is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor. Over a million people will die and go to hell this week.. We must be about the Fathers business. 9) Pray with a Spirit of Sacrifice. Paul said in Colossians 1:24 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. Jesus said; Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it cannot produce anything. John 12:24 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 20

21 Jesus sacrificed Himself to save us. We need to have the same attitude as Christ when praying for the lost. 2 Corinthians 12: Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Do everything you can to keep lost people out of hell. Bonus Material: Three Reasons We Don t Pray for the Lost (or don t get our prayers answered) Notes on: Praying Effectively for the Lost by Lee Thomas. DVD Session 4 All versus are from New International Version, ) Sin; we don t want to go into Gods presence, like Adam after he sinned. Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened Isaiah 59: 1-2 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God James 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 1 John 3:22 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. Note: Broken Relationships; If you have anything against anybody alive or dead, your prayers are null and void. 2) Ignorance; we don t know what we are doing. 21

22 Romans 8:26 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 3) Satanic Interference; Daniel example; When Daniel prayed, the angel of the Lord left immediately to answer but the Prince of Persia detained him. There was a Spiritual War going on in Heaven while Daniel was praying. Daniel 10: A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you. And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he continued, Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come. Satan s calling card is Doubt and Discouragement Fight off the discouragement and stay with it. Hebrews 6:12 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Don t give up. Prayer is their only hope. Bonus Material Continued: Satan gets lost souls by default. No one can live a perfect life, free of sin. This places them in a lost condition without Christ. John 14:6 says I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me. 22

23 So if we do not do our delegated job of praying for the lost and demand that Satan give them up, he gets them without even trying. Definition of DEFAULT (Marriam-Webster) 1 : failure to do something required by duty or law : neglect 2 archaic : fault 3 : a failure to pay financial debts 4 a : failure to appear at the required time in a legal proceeding b : failure to compete in or to finish an appointed contest <lost the game by default> 5 a : a selection made usually automatically or without active consideration due to lack of a viable alternative <remained the club's president by default> b : a selection automatically used by a computer program in the absence of a choice made by the user in default of : in the absence of Examples of DEFAULT 1. The defendant has made no appearance in the case and is in default. 2. You can enter your own settings or use the defaults. 3. Which font is the default in that computer program? 23