Prayer on Behalf of Others

Ephesians 6:18 …With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)

           

            Jesus had given the great commission for the disciples to go and preach the gospel to the world. They were to baptize new believers and teach them to go and produce other followers as well. Paul and Silas were busy preaching, teaching, and baptizing as part of the great commission when on the Sabbath day, they came to a river and thought they would see a place of prayer.

            Women came and gathered around them to listen to what they had to say. One of the women listening was a lady named Lydia. She was a purple cloth dealer from the city of Thyatira and worshiped God. The Lord made her heart responsive to His message because she had a willingness to learn. Paul baptized Lydia and her family members. After which, she invited Paul and Silas to her home to stay at her house. 

            The Apostle Paul lets us know that we must be alert and pray for the saints. There are souls that are in need of saving and prayer is the key to helping those lost souls to be saved. We as Christians should be diligent in praying for them. It’s a matter of life or death…Heaven or hell. Every soul that is won over to Christ is one less that the devil will have. He already has the majority of the world and the church following him. Nevertheless, it is important for God’s warriors to be prayerful when evangelizing to the lost by asking the Holy Spirit to help them to receive the message with an open heart just God did with Lydia. 

            The Bible lets us know that it is our job to intercede on behalf of the saints and those who are lost through prayer. 1 Timothy 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. (NIV) Praying for the lost and those who are in Christ to remain strong helps us in our walk with God as well. It helps us to think of the needs of others before ourselves. It gives us humility in being concerned for others and going before the throne of grace on their behalf. It also lets us know that we are all in need of a Savior and if it wasn’t for Christ, we would be lost. Ephesians 2:8-10 ⁽⁸⁾For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— (⁹⁾not by works, so that no one can boast. (¹⁰⁾For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)

            Always pray for your fellow brothers and sisters. Pray for those who are still in need of Christ. Ask God to make you into the vessel that He can use to bring others to Him and allow Him to do His perfect work in you.