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Accepting the gift of faith
Message
#13 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
Paul said, in his first letter to the Thessalonians: "...We also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe." [1 Thessalonians 2:13]We often pray for the lost, that the Lord will send someone to bring them the truth of the Gospel, someone they will respect and understand. But when I read Paul’s comments, I feel led to add-- "Father, help this one I love receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in the hearts of those who believe." What is it we want the lost to hear and accept as the word of God? That they are sinners [Romans 3:23], and the wages of sin is death [Romans 6:23], that they will perish in their sins if they choose not to repent [Luke 13:3, 5] and believe [Mark 1:15]. Those are hard truths which we ask the Holy Spirit to convict them of.But we also want them to know that our holy, righteous God is a God of love [1 John 4:8], and that He sent His Son Jesus Christ [John 3:16] to die [1 John 3:16] in our place [Romans 3:25]--that even when we are dead in our sins, it is by God’s grace we are saved [Ephesians 2:5], through faith, not works, so that no one can boast; that this faith does not come from within ourselves, but is a gift from God [Ephesians 2:8-9].We ask our Father to give the lost we love His gift of faith, that they may accept the Gospel as a Word from Him, that they may repent and believe and be saved [Mark 1:15].
Pray with me now -- Father, we were not created for time, but for eternity. Give those we love the faith to accept truth and eternity with You, in Jesus’ name, amen.
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