First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24-25.
And He saw that there was no man and was astonished that there was no one to intercede. Isaiah 59:16.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
To witness effectively for Me in the world, that is, to have good success, you need to prepare the way by prayer. Do not even approach others without praying first. Pray for utterance and guidance from the Holy Spirit. Pray for the salvation of souls, intercede for the lost.
And that is today’s Life Lesson on being an effective witness, “Pray first.” It will prepare the way in the hearts of those you encounter and it will prepare your heart and open it to My direction, guidance, and input.
My apostle Paul knew the power of intercessory prayer for his mission to be an effective witness of the unfathomable riches of Christ, he wrote to the Church at Ephesus, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:18-20.
In your life on earth, I direct you to imitate Me as My dear children, and walk in love, even as Christ loved you. My servant Paul, inspired by My Spirit, told you to imitate him as he imitated Christ. In seeing Jesus you see Me. And Jesus prayed. He prepared during the late night and early morning with prayer before He began His works for the day. And during the day, when encountering situations that needed wise answers that would benefit all involved for purposes of salvation, He would seek My answer immediately in prayer. Remember when He traced on the ground when asked for an answer about the woman caught in adultery? He wanted all people to be saved and come to know the truth. He wanted to answer everyone in the way that would lead them to Me.
And why was He so careful to seek My Words for the answer? “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” John 12:49-50. He knew it was My Words alone that are Spirit and life. They are the Words of Eternal Life.
You may be thinking that Jesus did that but you are not always sure you hear Me. But do you remember Samuel? I tell you, “Thus Samuel grew and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fail. All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 3:19-20. I revealed Myself to Samuel by My Word. 1 Samuel 3:21. And that is how you know Me now too, by My Word, but far better than Samuel, for you have a born again spirit and My Spirit is living in your spirit. Samuel did not have the wonderful counselor available within him as you do. You have 24/7 access to Me by My Spirit. Ephesians 2:18. Samuel did not.
When you pray, believe you have received what you are asking for and it is yours. Mark 11:24. When you ask anything according to My Will, I hear you, and when you know I hear you, you then know that what you asked for is yours. 1 John 5:14-15. And I tell you quite clearly that My Will, My heart’s desire, is for all people to be saved and come to know the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4. It will set them free from the captivity of the devil and give them a whole new life. And I can dwell with and in them. And My delight is to be among the children of men. From the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, I am seeking to dwell with and have constant fellowship with you. And even though the first man and woman rejected that, I continued to seek those who would enter into fellowship and partnership with Me. I delight in doing good to you. I gave you all things to richly enjoy.
Jesus always did what pleased Me. And what did He do? He saved people. He told Zacchaeus, “today salvation has come to your house.” My angel Gabriel told Joseph to name the baby in Mary’s womb “Yeshuah (Jesus)” because He would save His people from their sins. His Name, which is “Yeshuah” in Hebrew, means “Salvation.” He cast out demons. He healed people. He comforted people and healed their broken hearts. He came for My purpose: to save you unto eternal life. He took your sins and reconciled you to Me in perfect oneness. And now We have made you ambassadors of reconciliation, appealing to those I send you to be reconciled to Me through the good news of Jesus!
And I tell you that My good pleasure, My Will, prospered in Jesus’ hand. Isaiah 53:10. He came to seek out and save the lost. He preached and taught about Me and shared My Word with them, whether to crowds or one to one. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls. Proverbs 11:30. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3.
And what do you pray? I give you instruction in this area, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority.” 1 Timothy 2:1. You are to pray for all people and particularly those in positions of authority for they will determine the tone of a nation or the domain over which they have authority—they will block My access to the people or they will open wide a door for Me to care for them. I can protect, prosper a defend a nation whose leaders are walking with Me. And it will give good lives to all of you under their authority as well. So it is in your own best interests to earnestly intercede for them. The same for bosses, supervisors, pastors, teachers, fathers and mothers. All who have authority over the lives of others. This is good and acceptable in My sight for I desire all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4. I desire above all things that you prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.
How do you pray for souls you do not even know? The ones you may encounter as you go about your business today? And how about those who you will not encounter but by your prayers they will be reached in some manner, such as by other witnesses, by internet evangelizing websites and broadcasts, on social media, or by picking up a book or Bible at a store or in a hotel room? The fact you believe means someone prayed for you. I tell you to pray for laborers to go out in the vineyards to save souls. But be aware I have sent every believer to reach someone. Complete your mission.
But I will now reveal to you the best way to pray in intercession for others in order to pray the right prayer every time, all the time. Pray in the Spirit. My Spirit dwelling in your spirit helps your weakness (is at your side to pull the helm with you); for you do not know how to pray as you ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for you with groanings too deep for words. And I, who search hearts, know what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for My people according to My will. And My Will for each person is good, pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2. It is for your shalom and not evil, to give you a future and a hope (an anchor behind the veil embedded in the Holy of holies). Jeremiah 29:11; Hebrews 6:19-20. And when you pray in the Spirit, that is, in tongues, you speak out mysteries. You speak to Me and not men. And you know that I cause all things to work together for good to those who love Me, to those who are called according to My purpose. Romans 8:28. And by now you know My purpose and My delight: to save souls and bring them to know the truth of My Word, that is, the truth of who I AM to them and who are they are to Me in Christ Jesus your Lord.
Paul prayed in tongues more than any of you and he was very successful in winning souls for Me and he asked the believers to also pray in the Spirit for him to have a door (an opportunity) for utterance, that is, for sharing the good news. Ephesians 6:18-20.
And before witnessing, in prayer, put on the full armor I give you, that is, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17. For expect there will be some opposition to your saving souls and you need to have the answers to take the devil down every time.
But I assure you that I surround those who witness for Me with the shield of My good Will and I keep the devil away from you as you witness. You will find this to be so. And the fields are ripe for harvest. If you are not sure who I am telling you to strike up a conversation with, look for the person who smiles at you or says “hello” as they walk by you and know there is an opening there that you can work with. If you have a heart for others, witnessing will be easy. Let Me pour My love in your heart by the gift of My Holy Spirit and you will always be ready to speak what is filling your heart. The more you pray and sing in tongues, and ask Me to give you understanding of what you are praying and singing, the more filled you will be with My Spirit and those rivers of living water that are pouring into you will run over into a thirsty world.
You are the Light everyone is looking for because you have the Light of the world in you. Christ in you, your hope (and everyone else’s) of glory. What I have freely given you, freely give. You will love witnessing for it lets you share the treasure that is overflowing in your heart with others, so that you make them rich too. And don’t forget to pray for them is they need healing. You can tell.
And the more you pray in the Spirit, the more My Spirit will bestow on you the gifts He has to give to each for the benefit of all. A Word of Wisdom, a Word of Knowledge, extraordinary faith, gifts of healings, effecting of miracles, prophecy, the distinguishing of spirits, various kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues are all very helpful, if not essential, in witnessing.
My Spirit witnesses with your spirit that you are My child and that your sins and offenses I remember no more. Witness that to others as well. A Word is established by two or three witnesses.
And what is Jesus doing today at My right hand as your great High Priest? He is interceding for you for He is able to save you to the uttermost. He ever lives to make intercession for you. That means prayer will never end. Why don’t you join Him in interceding for souls? I love it when you pray with Me seated in the heavenly places in Christ. Come with confidence with Jesus to My throne of grace and pray. “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” And you know My Will: that all people be saved and come to know the truth.
If you love Me and are called according to My purpose—which is saving souls—I make all things work together for your good. No matter what your assignment, as varied as My manifold grace, there is one thing certain, I will be sending you souls to save. Do not turn away from so great a mission. It brings great reward. And it makes Me and all of heaven rejoice each time a soul is saved. Remember that and come share your Father’s joy. Make yourself available. It could even be a telemarketer on the phone that you would otherwise hang up on. Don’t just hang up, strike up a conversation and tell them about Jesus. The fields are ripe for harvest, so much so that the reaper is overtaking the sower. Time to rebuild the fallen hut of David and gather all the world into the tabernacle of praise.
I love you. If you love Me, you will want to win souls with Me for it is a joy to Me and it will be to you too. I am so pleased to share Jesus with the world. I gave Him to you and He is wonderful. And what do you do first to save souls? You pray. “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4.