Introduction

At our prayer meetings, I used to start with the “invisible prayer board,” but I would tell you who was on it

Body

I. Who should be on the invisible prayer board?

A. Let’s look at Jesus as an example.

(Mat 9:36 NKJV) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

1. For several weeks, I had the quilt that was given us on the back wall. Many of the names are no longer members here.

2. But now let’s look at another list: Our directory. How many are not here?

3. Jesus could see them, sometimes we do not.

4. Do we understand His language? Sheep without a shepherd!

5. Laretta has a stray cat that would rather catch and eat mice that eat cat food.

6. Lost sheep are food for wolves and other animals.

7. Are we concerned about the lost, or straying sheep?

B. What was Christ prayer?

(Mat 9:37-38 NKJV) Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. {38} "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

1. It is a prayer, and God answers prayers.

2. We need to be willing to be used of God.

3. It is a blessing when we truly get involved.

C. There is the story of Lazarus

(Luke 16:19-26 NKJV) "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. {20} "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, {21} "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. {22} "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. {23} "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. {24} "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' {25} "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. {26} 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

1. Let’s put the story in spiritual terms.

2. Are there spiritually ill or needy on our door steps?

3. What would we do is God placed them on our door steps?

4. How close are the spiritually ill or needy?

II. Pray to be counted worthy.

A. Are there signs that the end is coming?

(Luke 21:25-28 NKJV) "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; {26} "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. {27} "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. {28} "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

B. He told the prayer that we should pray.

(Luke 21:34-36 NKJV) "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. {35} "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. {36} "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

1. It is so easy to get caught up in the daily activities of life, and forget what is yet to come.

2. We need to “pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things.”

3. and to stand before the Son of Man." – to be ready to stand before Him in judgment.

III. We are to pray for our enemies

(Mat 5:44-45 NKJV) "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, {45} "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

A. It’s one of the toughest assignments that I have come across for me.

B. Sometimes I can almost have the spirit of Jonah toward someone who has viscously and deliberately done me wrong.

1. Yet consider what God has done.

2. The rain and the sun was a mild way for Jesus to say it. He sent His Son to die for us.

IV. Paul also had some prayer requests.

A. By his example, he prayed for the salvation of the members of the church.

(2 Th 1:11 NKJV) Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,

B. Pray for all men, but especially for those in authority.

(1 Tim 2:1-4 NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, {2} for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. {3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, {4} who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

C. And in general, to pray.

(1 Tim 2:8 NKJV) I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

Conclusion

I. May we be people of prayer?

II. May we honor those requests we sometimes forget.

A. The request for the lost.

B. The request that we be counted worthy to escape the tribulation coming on the world.

C. The request that we pray for our enemies.

III. May we pray that God will help us reach out to the lost around us.