Praying “G.O.D.’S. H.E.A.R.T.” for Unsaved People
G = Pray believers, beginning with yourself, will appreciate GOD’S GRACE. When we really appreciate what God has done for us, we will increasingly want to tell others about Him. We can stop sharing the Good News of Jesus when we take grace for granted.
O = Pray for all of us believers to live in OBEDIENCE to God. We can’t change another person’s heart. Only God can do that. If we’re not walking in obedience to God, though, our disobedience hinders our prayers (Isaiah 59:1-2). Abiding in Christ really does matter when we pray (John 15:7).
D = Pray the we believers will DECIDE to tell others. Evangelism doesn’t just happen. Telling the story of Jesus is a choice . . . an action . . . a decision. Too many of us Christians know we should do evangelism but decide not to do it. Pray that we will decide to regularly share Jesus with others.
S = Pray that believers will SPEAK the Gospel fearlessly and clearly in love. In fact, that’s the way Paul taught us to pray in Ephesians 6:19-20, 4:15 and Colossians 4:2-4. If Paul – the extraordinary apostle– needed others praying for him to do evangelism, how much more do we need that kind of supernatural, spiritual support?
H = Pray for nonbelievers to have a receptive HEART to the Gospel. Separate from Christ, all people are dead in their sin (Ephesians 2:1) and held under the devil’s power (Acts 26:18). Only God can make our hearts open to the Good News.
E = Pray their spiritual EYES will be opened. Non-believers are blinded to the truth of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), and the “god of this age” does all he can to keep them in darkness. Nothing we do separate from the power of God can open their blinded minds.
A = Pray they will gain God’s ATTITUDE toward sin. Understanding God’s remedy for sin begins with understanding our sickness. We’re all sinners (Romans 3:23), and we must see our sin as God sees it – as wrong against a holy God.
R = Pray non-believers will RESPOND in faith to the Good News of Jesus by repenting of sins, confessing Jesus as Lord and being baptized into Christ. The message of Christ is clear: we must turn from our sin and trust Christ for salvation (Acts 3:19). We put on Christ in baptism (Galatians 3:26-28). God gets the glory as He frees nonbelievers from the domain of darkness (Colossians 1:13).
T = Pray their lives will be TRANSFORMED. God has promised to transform all of us step-by-step into being more like Jesus! (2 Corinthians 3:18). When God does that, the non-believing world takes note.
Coming November 21st – Praying Evangelism – How to Talk with God in Behalf of Our Unsaved Family, Friends, and Acquaintances – Sunday AM Sermons at Central