Big Idea: How should we pray for unbelievers? We should pray that God would grant them understanding so that they might see their sin for what it is. And we pray that they would see Jesus as the true Son of God and give themselves over to Him.
How should we pray for unbelievers?
God would grant them _________________________________
1 John 5:20 (ESV) —20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us (believers) understanding…
What sets believers and unbelievers apart is that God has granted understanding to those who believe.
Ephesians 4:17–19 (ESV) — 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Unbelievers are; 1. ____________ in their minds, 2. ____________ in their understanding, 3. ______________ from the life of God, 4. ______________ ignorant, and 5. _____________________ in their hearts.
Paul does not speak of merely a “hard” heart, but a “hardened” heart. The word in Greek implies a certain stubbornness and reflects the consequences of opportunities being resisted. Repeatedly making wrong choices causes the heart to become callous, making it ever more insensitive to God’s will and ways. This sclerosis of the heart is the result of deliberate choices repeatedly made against the life ordained by God…
Romans 1:18–32 (ESV) — 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
They _________________________________ the trueness of Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:20 (ESV) —20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” -C.S. Lewis
Dianoia: to think through
John 6:44–45 (ESV) —44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
Questions to Consider
How should we pray for unbelievers?
Why cannot unbelievers see their sin for what it is? What does coming to Christ do for them?
Would you take a moment and pray for the unbelievers in your life?
