How to Pray for the Lost – Jack R. Taylor
Jack and Friede Taylor
I have had the privilege to interview both Jack R. Taylor and the late Dr. Roy Fish when I was researching Miss Bertha Smith’s involvement during the Shantung Revival.
Papa Jack, as he is affectionately called, has written over 13 books. He still preaches world-wide on the Spirit-filled life and the message of the Kingdom of God. Pastor Taylor met Miss Bertha when she spoke at his church, Castle Hills First Baptist Church in Antonio, Texas, in 1970. During her visit a great revival broke out. Within a period of 18 months, over 2000 people were saved.
Dr. Roy Fish was the professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. I had the privilege of meeting him when he served as interim President of the North American Mission Board from 2006-2007. He passed away in 2012. I am gracious the Lord led me to interview him when I did. He had invited Miss Bertha to speak at the seminary many times while he was there.
Even though I interviewed both men separately, they both mentioned praying together through a tract which had been found in a parking lot. However, neither could remember the name of the tract. Just recently, while reading Jack’s book, Much More, I found the name, “How I Learned to Pray for the Lost“. I quickly searched the internet to see if I could find it. Praise the Lord, I did!
According to Pastor Jack, “We would ask God to reveal what strongholds the devil held the lost in, such as immorality, delusion, procrastination, and others. We would then claim that the weapons of our warfare were mighty through God to the pulling down of that stronghold and thank God for doing it right then! We would claim the binding of the strong man and the strength to spoil his goods. . . As far as I was concerned, we had discovered a SECRET WEAPON OF EVANGELISM. I have practiced that kind of praying ever since and am now convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that when we claim our authority in praying and plead the blood of Jesus Christ in intercession the foes of hell must retreat” (p. 97-98, Much More).
I highly recommend that you print out this tract, “How I Learned to Pray for the Lost“, from the Sermon Index. I have added this tract to my
Family Photo Prayer Journal to use when praying for the lost. You might also wish to read Jack Taylor’s book, Much More. In this book, he will teach you how to walk the Spirit-filled life, pray and to live a victorious Christian life.
If you would like to have an outline of this tract for your Prayer Journal click below:
How I Learned to Pray for the Lost
Taylor, Jack R. (1972) Much More. Broadman Press, 97-98.
Prayer In Every City 
I am blessed to have found this website, and this article in particular. I had the privilege years ago to hear Jack Taylor tell about his experience in praying for God’s revelation about how to pray for the lost, about the tract “How I Learned to Pray for the Lost” being found in a parking lot, and how it changed the way he and his friend prayed for the lost, and about the results. He said the tract was printed by Back to the Bible. I called them and ordered a supply and began praying according to the directions in the tract. It has been a tremendous blessing to me to be able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a number of people individually (some in juvenile delinquency / prison type setting) and witness their repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Savior and Lord. This tract had taught me how to pray for them and claim their redemption.
At the present, I am attending a class taught by my pastor at Palmerdale United Methodist Church in Alabama, using a book by William Fay, SHARE YOUR FAITH WITHOUT FEAR. (This book gives a simple method for witnessing.) The lesson tonight is about praying for the lost, and since I do not have enough tracts on hand to share with everyone in the class, I began searching the internet and found your website. I shall pass it on, along with your website.
Thanks for the work you are doing.
Blessings in the Name of Jesus!
Charlotte at Pinson, Alabama
Wow Charlotte! Thank you for commenting on my post. I had the privilege of interviewing Jack about 8 years ago. I spent 3 years researching the Shantung Revival in China. Jack knew Bertha Smith very well. I pray we will have a revival some day in America. Keep praying for the lost.
I appreciate this information more than I can tell you. I was pondering a specific need in this area, this evening, and suddenly remembered I had taken notes from Jack Hayford, I think in the mid ’80’s, not sure, about a prayer including 4 important points regarding the lost, His was specifically aimed at family, extended family and even those of the same surname. He pointed to some issues where one MAY have more authorization with family, but I have always believed anyone praying IN JESUS’S NAME and by His Blood has plenty of Authority in the Lord to at least make an effective start, where there is yet Hope. Your contribution to this subject is very powerful, and I was not yet thinking along those lines, this evening, and should have been, as it is something I do notice in the situation. Just not getting any Divine Revelation, precisely what I need to pray. I’ve done too much interfering, even though I do know better, and that is leaving me sort of, well, I want to pray effectively and keep my mouth shut, That God will send others who have His unction what to say or do when they cross paths.
God bless you and thank you so much, You are a great blessing to me, tonight.
Rose, from South West Texas
Rose, I am so glad I can be if help to you. It can be frustrating to pray for the lost, but we have to remember that we are only the vessel God uses to deliver His message. We are not the Holy Spirit. Prayer is our greatest tool for the lost besides the Gospel message itself.