Prayer 2.3 - October 17, 2010

Practice #2 – Prayer
2.3 – How do I pray for those who don’t believe?

Matthew 9:35-38 (New International Version)
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Acts 4:31 (New International Version)
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

How do we pray for the harvest?

1. Pray for a heart of compassion.
a. Jesus saw those who were like a sheep without a shepherd and had compassion on them. If we are going to reach those who are lost in the world, we must start to see the world with eyes that are full of compassion.

b. We pray in order to develop and participate in a relationship with God that will re-form us. We're not always praying in order to "change God's mind." We pray for the lost in order to have a passion and mission for the lost.

Ezekiel 33:6 (New International Version)
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.'


2. Pray for Aid

a. When we are PRAYERED up we are prepared

b. Pray for others to see the needs in the field, and start working in the harvest

Ephesians 3:16-19 (New International Version)

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

3. God is answering your prayers by sending you.
Matthew 10:1 (New International Version)
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

a. Don’t let prayer become an excuse to stand on the sideline

b. When you start to work in the harvest, you start to see specific needs in the field.


Some Questions to think about…

1. Do you have a heart for those who are wondering like sheep without a shepherd? How can your prayer life create depth to your compassion?

2. If every great movement in the church begins with prayer, are you willing to spend the time in prayer to start a movement?

3. What is holding you back from sharing Jesus with your friends? Are you asking God to remove that barrier in your life?

4. What can you pray for to help you become more prepared to share the gospel?

5. Are you ready to get involved in ministry so you can see what the needs are in the field and focus your prayers toward meeting them?