Prayer=Rescue the Perishing
A battle rages for the souls of people. The person of prayer will recognize that the forces of hell will do everything to keep men in bondage to their sins. The person of prayer understands that “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” (Ephesians 6:12). The man or woman of prayer must learn to wrestle in prayer against the spiritual forces of wickedness.
God is assembling an army of prayer warriors in this generation. The Spirit is whispering in the hearts of men and women, “Pray! Pray!” He is calling believers to put on the whole armor of God. He is our shepherd and protector, our deliverer and strength. We do not have to fear the enemy. We can storm the gates of hell on our knees and rescue multitudes that are perishing.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “We are rowing like lifeboat men upon a stormy sea, and we are hurrying to yonder wreck, where men are perishing. If we may not draw that old wreck to shore, we will at least, by the power of God, rescue the perishing, save lives, and bear the redeemed to the shores of salvation. Our mission, like our Lord’s, is to gather out the chosen of God, from among people, that they may live to the glory of God.”
Fanny Crosby, the great hymn writer, returned one day from a visit to a mission in one of the worst districts in New York City, where she had heard about the needs of the lost and perishing. Her sympathies were aroused to help the lowly and neglected. Crosby was attending weekly meetings by the interdenominational New York City Mission in July 1869 when a young man was converted through her testimony. This inspired Crosby to write the words to the hymn Rescue the Perishing. This hymn has become a battle cry for the great army of Christian workers throughout the world. Here are three stanzas of this hymn:
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.
Prayer: Mighty God, You have created me to fight on my knees for the sake of those who are facing an eternity without Your Presence! May I be a faithful warrior, putting on Your armor daily and standing in the face of the enemy. You are the ultimate Shepherd and Protector and I put my trust in You to use me for Your purposes in the lives of lost people. In Christ's name, Amen.
Note: This blog was adapted and expanded from The Prayer Factor by Sammy Tippit
About the author
Jack De Vries was hired on by the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia and began his work as Ministry Training Coordinator in January 2008. In 2012 this role shifted to that of Ministry Development Coach.
Jack came from Canada where he pastored three Christian Reformed churches: Alliston CRC, Alliston, Ontario(1983-87), a church plant: New Life Community Church, Pickering, Ontario(1987-95), and Bethel CRC, Listowel, Ontario (1995-2007). Jack is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity - 1983) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry - 2003) Jack and his wife Jeannie currently live in Petrie, a northern suburb of Brisbane in Queensland. They attend and are members of Bray Park Community Church. They have four adult children and seven grandchildren living in the USA and Canada.
In Isaiah 58:11 we read: "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Australia has seen times of drought and floods. There is another type of drought in Australia; there is a spiritual drought. But God promises to provide refreshing rain, a never ending supply of refreshing water. The water he provides will satisfy the needs of all Australians. As we take up the missional vision God has given us we extend the life changing invitation of Jesus: "Come! Whoever is thirsty, come, and take the free gift of the water of life!" (Revelation 22:17)
