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Rescued through gentle instruction
Message
#12 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
Sometimes those we love seem to have hardened their hearts against understanding the truth of the Gospel. How do we pray for them? We might follow Paul’s heart and insight from his second letter to Timothy and pray that the Lord will send someone to "gently instruct them, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth..." and--this is a key point--Paul continues: "...and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." [2 Timothy 2:25-26]Satan can cause people to harden their hearts as he tries to hold them in captivity. But they can be--and need to be--rescued, as Paul encouraged the Christians in Colosse. He wrote, "[Our Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves...." [Colossians 1:13-14]The Greek word for "rescue," in context, means to rescue from bondage [Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words]. It is gentle instruction that will often rescue the lost. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. ...if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." [John 8:31-32, 36]The lost are in bondage to Satan. We must recognize that as we pray, and ask our God Who is able to choose to rescue them through the gentle instruction of others, softening their hearts by granting them repentance and leading them to a knowledge of the truth--that only His Son can set them free and that they will perish in their bondage, if they refuse to love the truth and so be saved [2 Thessalonians 2:10].
Pray with me now -- Father, reveal Your Truth to the lost, through gentle instruction they will accept. Grant them repentance and set them free, in Jesus’ name, amen.
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