PRAYER- The moment you are faced with something bigger than you, and you realize you can’t fix it. It is beyond you, and any combinations of human beings. The moment you realize the lost-ness of a soul, and your desire to see them delivered, freed from the bondage that grips and holds them captive and has blinded their eyes, and you can but watch and in and of yourself realize with a heart that is broken- you are impotent to deliver them, and they are content where they are. So what can be done? Turn to Him and talk to Him and ask Him to convict them of sin and grant them repentance towards God and faith in Christ Jesus. He is the answer! There have been times over the years, I have quoted this verse to the LORD and said, “LORD , You have said, “… It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance, Christ Jesus CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.”…. I have said to Him, “LORD, You have said…. and they are a candidate for salvation for they are sinners… and You came to save sinners.”

And so I find myself again heavy hearted, trying to remind myself of truth and to call out on behalf of another who is so lost only God can rescue. Only God can do the work of God. But reminded as I write of a verse I have prayed for years for the same individual,” It is the KINDNESS of God that leads to repentance.” {Rom 2:4} …And so I am encouraged to pray on…pray to Him…to ask Him to do what only He can do and what He came to do… save sinners…. and it is His Kindness that leads to turning to Him.

CORPSES, AND SATAN’S SLAVES Who can speak to a corpse and expect it to answer? For no amount of effort can awaken the dead. Paul said that outside of Christ people are spiritually dead {Eph 2}. No spiritual life- dead in sin. And not only spiritually dead , but spiritually held captives, prisoners, slaves to satan, thinking they are “free” -Paul said of their spiritual condition, “…and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” {2 Timothy 2:26 }. They are not only to be pitied but Paul says how to behave towards such a spiritually poor slave,- ” The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” {2 Timothy 2:24-26 }. They are irrespective of culture, education, male or female, rich or poor, – all outside of Jesus Christ are spiritually dead and spiritual prisoners, the devil’s pawns and prisoners, “..held captive to do his will.” How horrific! What bondage. Paul says they need to come to their senses, they are not in their right mind, “BUT GOD…” He can give repentance so that they may come to their senses through the knowledge of the truth and lead to their spiritual liberty, freedom from the bondage and bitterness and blindness and dead-ness of sin, to be right with God and know His love and love Him!

They are Incapable of imparting spiritual life to themselves. It takes a miracle. The Miracle of the New Birth. Peter said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus who through His great mercy has CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”{1 Peter 1:3}. Believers were called to Bless- speak well of, Praise the Father for He is the One who has caused this new birth…this Living Hope… ” What the flesh could not do, weak as it was GOD DID…{Rom 8:2}.

* Salvation is of God. * Jesus came to save sinners * Sinners are candidates for His salvation * It is His kindness that leads to salvation * It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS

And so I take hope, as I write and am reminded of verses of Hope to pray to Him. And may you too take hope, in Him and from His Word… and KEEP on PRAYING and when you are tempted to quit, or to despair, do not let the evil one or the flesh deceive you, but with each such temptation, keep praying and asking in faith for HIM to DO what only He can DO and SAVE the Sinner you are praying for.- Because He is worthy of their worship * He created them for His Glory- Isaiah 43:7 * They like us have all sinned and fallen short of His glory- Rom 3:23 * “But God… ” {Eph 2:4-5} * “It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS.”

Prayer is dependance upon God, to do what only God can do- save, rescue, deliver a sinner.

“In my desperation I Prayed and the LORD LISTENED….” Be encouraged He in the midst of the myriads and crescendo of worship that fills His presence, hears you…. He is LISTENING to you, irrespective of what you “feel,” or don’t “feel,” He hears you, He is able to do the exceeding Abundant above all we can think or ask. He is able to save to the uttermost.

* When He saw the multitudes, it says He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd…. He told His disciples to PRAY…. * Paul wrote to Timothy and said, “FIRST OF ALL I want the men to PRAY…{1 Tim 2:1-3}. The context is that in the congregation He wants the believers to be of “first importance” – pray for the salvation of souls!

PRAY ON …”Son of David have mercy…”

So I remind Him and myself, of what He has said and that the person I am praying for is a candidate- they qualify for they are sinners and …so in humility before Him I ask Him to do what only He can do… For He has said, “It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” – 1 Timothy 1:15.

HOPE FOR HELP; ” Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”-{Heb 4:14-16}

PRAY ON… May God give you the desire of your heart as you pray specifically for the lost person or persons on your heart to be saved, rescued, delivered from the wrath of God, the penalty of sin, and the enslaving to the dominion of sin and the destruction it causes, and the offense to God which it is. Saved from sin, satan and saved to the God and for God. Forgiveness. Right Relationship. New power, new ambitions and a heart towards the things He has a heart for and He has a heart for the souls of men. A heart that aches and desires and longs for the sin sick soul to-Turn from self rule and submit to Christ’s rule and to worship Jesus the LORD…we need God to do what only He can do. We need Him to do what is impossible with us but possible to Him…

We need for Him to do a miracle…and save the sinner…and He specializes in the Miracle of the New Birth!