For the Asking

Some Christians don’t like seeing me asking non-believers to pray with me to get saved. They seem to think if a sinner is ready for that, he or she will initiate their own salvation. But not every sinner who feels convicted of the need to get right with God will immediately know what to say. One example in Scripture is the Philippian jailer who asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) On the night of my conversion, I didn’t become born again until I responded to my brother-in-law’s offer to pray with me.

There have been occasions when strangers approached me asking for prayer but that doesn’t happen very often. Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” God is the One who saves people but He still needs a willing vessel to be His mouthpiece.

I’ve seen some Christians take a lot of time telling sinners how to be saved without inviting them to receive salvation. This would be like a salesman talking about all the benefits of his product without asking his prospects for the sale. That salesman won’t earn much in commissions unless he changes his approach. Likewise, multitudes won’t get saved unless they are confronted with the necessity of making a decision for Christ. Jesus told us in Luke 14:23, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and COMPEL THEM to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Many sinners will gladly come into the kingdom of God if you share the gospel and then confidently ask them to pray with you. But always remember if someone says “no”, they are not rejecting you. They are rejecting Jesus.

“…ye have not, because ye ask not.” - James 4:2 (KJV)