“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Each time I read this scripture, it breaks my heart to think about the love that God has for the sinner man. Who will be so interesting to go after one and leave the ninety-nine and go after one single sheep? What about the fear of losing ninety-nine? What about the joy in heaven over the repentance of a sinner? A sinner who has been on the path where God is not glorified, but He is mocked, etc., all of a sudden he/she forsakes that sinful life, and heaven is excited? If this kind of action is not able to put a reference for God in the heart of a man, then I am not sure there is anything else. We must have the same kind of passion for the lost as intercessors to pray until every lost sheep enters the heavenly sheep pen according to James 5:20 “remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” There are so many lost sheep in our families, churches, workplaces, communities, circles of friends, etc. We must stand with the burden in God’s heart and cry for their deliverance, as well as direct them into the door which is Christ according to John 10:9 “ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”.
As the bride of Christ, we have been given a command to go out and seek the lost, pray for the grace that comes with this office of soul winning: Mark 16:15-16 “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
As intercessors, ask God to pour upon us the spirit of grace and supplication as we go before the father on behave of the lost: Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
Sometimes we may think that someone is so sinful to be saved, but the truth is with God, everything is possible. Ask the God of possibilities to hear us concerning those who are believing God for their salvation: Matthew 19: 25-26 "When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."
Pray that as light, we will shine forth into every dark corner and bring the gift of salvation to the lost: Acts 13:47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Pray for a revelation and understanding of the love of God to those perishing: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
“Pray that God will grant us the grace to fulfill this ministry of pulling out the lost sheep from the world: 2 Corinthians 4:1-4 “1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”
Pray for the release of the word of God to cleanse the blindness on the minds of unbelievers so that they will see the light in the person Jesus Christ: 2 Corinthians 4: 3-4 “3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Pray that the ears of those needing the Lord for salvation will open up and hear the voice of God knocking at the door of their hearts: Revelation 3:20 “20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
Pray for the revelation of the name Jesus to the lost sheep, for there is no other name by which they can be saved, not a church, not an activity, not giving, etc.: Acts 4:12 “12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Pray that the eye of their hearts be open to seeing the word that is very nearby so that by faith they may turn to God: Romans 10: 8-10 “8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, ”that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Pray that in this season of prayer/fasting, the father will show mercy and draw the lost sheep unto him: John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
Stand on the word of God that brings salvation and declare unto satan that the Lord who has chosen these the lost rebuke satan from the field where the lost are: Zechariah 3:2 “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
There are so many lost Peters out there needed for the work of God. Pray for a revelation of God’s word upon them so they may get into business with the Lord: Mathew 16:18” And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Pray for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to convict the sinners their sins so that they may forsake their sinful nature and turn to God: John 16:8 “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” Acts 2:38 “Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God’s gift, the Holy Spirit.”
Pray for a spiritual breakthrough for salvation for the lost: Revelation 22:17 “17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come, and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”