Young Adults' Group

The Challenge To Pray For The Lost

by Pastor Mark
September 25, 2025

Concerned for the lost

A deep burden that should fill our hearts is the salvation of the many who are lost. As we think about our loved ones and friends who remain outside Christ, our hearts grieve to know that they are facing the impending reality of the Lord’s judgment. There should be a stronger sense of desire and urgency to reach out to them, so that they can come to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be challenged to pray for their salvation. We should be encouraged to persevere in prayer, not only for those around us but also for the many who are still in darkness and in need of Christ as Saviour. Let us be challenged to pray and not give up, even if they don’t respond as we hope.

Praying for the lost

1. Our heart’s desire to pray

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1)

1. This was the Apostle Paul’s heartfelt desire for his brethren, the Jews, to come to faith.
2. His concern for the salvation of his fellow brethren had caused him great sorrow and continued grief (Romans 9:2).
3. Paul sought to pray for them that they would be saved and be justified in Christ.
4. May we too have this deep desire to pray for the lost, even though we know how difficult it is to reach out to them!

2. Doors to open

“Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,” (Colossians 4:3)

1. Paul also sought to encourage different churches to pray, such as the Colossian church.
2. He encouraged them to pray that God would open a door for him and his fellow workers to speak about the mystery of Christ.
3. The challenge is to pray for the opportunities for us to reach out to the lost.
4. If God does not open these doors, it would be difficult for us to reach out to them.

3. Prayer for more labourers

“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37,38)

1. The Lord Jesus had a great vision of the harvest field.
2. This was a reference to the multitude who were still lost.
3. But the Lord also recognised that there were few labourers…servants willing to share the gospel with the unbelievers.
4. The world is filled with many who are lost and the work of evangelism is truly vast.
5. The Lord gave a call for us to pray that God would send out more labourers.

The challenge to pray

It is wonderful to see many being reached with the gospel of Christ in our IPC family, both in Bethany and in our overseas chapters. However, there are still so many more around us living in darkness. Let us pray for more servants of God to rise and reach out to those who are lost. Let us be challenged to have the desire and diligence to continue praying for the lost and their salvation that can only come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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