Interceding for the lost.

Interceding for the lost

Exodus  32:30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.  32:31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.  32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

One of the greatest responsibility God has given all Bible believing believers, is standing in the gap for the lost.

Ezekiel  22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Moses did this over and over pleading with God for erring 

Numbers  14:11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?  14:12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.  14:13 And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)  14:14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.  14:15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,  14:16 Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.  14:17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,  14:18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.  14:19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.  14:20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

Our Lord Jesus Christ did same for Peter and the persecuting Jesus.

Luke  22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:  22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Luke  23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Stephen before his death did same for his persecutors.

Acts  7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,  7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,  7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.  7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Paul prayed tirelessly for the stony heart Jews.

Romans  10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

He did same for erring Galatians and many others.

Galatians  4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Philippians  1:8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

Colossians  2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Ephaphras prayed for the Colossians.

Colossians  4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

God wants you to do same for the lost in your world of influence. Begin to do same till Christ comes.

Luke  19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Let us pray.