The keys to praying for others can be found in the words of Jesus and Paul.
1) Pray that God would send laborers into their lives who would transmit the gospel in a way that is relevant to them. It is the Word of God that opens the hearts and transforms them.
2) Pray that the Word would reach their heart and reveal God’s love. The revelation of God’s love is the most important revelation that one can receive. Love this person with the love of God.
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Eph. 3:14-19)
3) Pray that the Spirit would convict them of their need and the gift of righteousness. This is not a condemning conviction, but a revelation of their ‘lostness’ and that Jesus is the answer.
“And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me.” (John 16:8-9)
4) Pray that the seed of the Word that already exists in their heart, or that will be heard by them, will spring up and grow in their life. Believe that the Word of God will transform their heart and mind.
“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” (Mark 4:26-29)
5) Pray that they would have a revelation of God’s goodness. It is His goodness that leads us to repentance.
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4)
Barry, a graduate of Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, has been serving the Lord since 1972. He and his wife, Betty Kay, have served on the mission field in Mexico, Guatemala, and Chile, where they spent almost 12 years before returning to Texas in 2001.
While attending a large Spanish-speaking congregation in Carrollton, Texas, Barry was the director and principal teacher at a Spanish language Bible institute, Instituto Avance, where he served for five years. The Bennetts also spent two and a half years ministering to Cambodian refugees in Dallas, and they have ministered in home groups, churches, and on short-term mission teams.
Barry came to Andrew Wommack Ministries in 2007 and worked in the Phone Center as a prayer minister before accepting a position answering the scriptural and doctrinal questions that would come to AWMI via mail and email. He later became the Dean of Students and is now the Dean of Instructors. Barry is also an instructor at Charis Bible College in Colorado and teaches at domestic and international CBC satellite campuses.
