Matthew 9:35-38; 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:38)
People are born again through the power of the Word of God, not through prayer. Prayer is very important, but it is not a substitute for the Gospel. Many people petition God for someone to be saved and can’t understand why it doesn’t happen. They don’t have to ask the Lord to save anyone. He isn’t willing that anyone should perish (2 Peter 3:9) and has made provision for everyone’s salvation. So what do we pray? Jesus said to pray that God would send laborers across their path. They need to hear the Word. Also, we should bind the influence of the god of this world, Satan, who tries to blind them to spiritual truth. (2 Cor. 4:4.)
God is more motivated to save our loved ones than we are. All we have to do is look at the Cross to see how motivated He is! We don’t need to plead with Him, but rather we need to become a channel for Him to flow through to reach that person. We do that by sharing the Good News with them and/or praying for others to come across their path who will do the same.
The Gospel is the power of God that releases the effects of salvation in our lives. (Rom. 1:16.) If a person needs healing, it’s in the Gospel. If deliverance is needed, it’s in the Gospel. Prosperity, answered prayer, joy, peace, love—they are all found through understanding and believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel is the Good News. You have every motivation within you to share this Good News with the people you meet and know and love today. If you are unable to share the Gospel with them, then pray for the Father to send others. Release your faith for Him to send just the right person at the right time to every lost person-and remember, sometimes that will be you.
