“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” 1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NKJV)
Veil to lift away for the gospel and the blindness to be removed:
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (NKJV)
Those people who do not believe in Jesus Christ are already condemned. They cannot even pray for themselves and it has become our responsibility to pray for them, so that God can answer our prayers and lift the veil that is covering the gospel for them. Because God will not force anyone to do anything but want them to come on their own. So God can answer our prayers and help them. The god of this age, who they worship, had blinded their minds, so that they could not see the true living God, but our God wants all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of Him. John 3:16-18(NKJV)
God to grant repentance so that the truth be known:
“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:22-26 (NKJV)
We have to preach to those who are in opposition to the gospel and to the right doctrine even among the so called Christians but with gentleness, patience and humility and pray for them also; so that God can give them repentance and they come to their senses and escape the devil whose will they are doing not knowing and never understood God’s Will in their lives. Real heartfelt prayers should be raised for all those lost and to those who do not obey all the commandments of the Lord Jesus so that we can see real change to happen. We should not find fault and speak wrong about the lost but pray fervently for their repentance.
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20 (NKJV)