🌱 Those Hearing Christ's Gospel: Revelation, Faith, Water, Growth, Hunger Protection from evil one Mark 4:15 John 10:10 🤺 Angels Guard, Ps 91:11-16

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Chrysostom]

Your prayer for those hearing the gospel is good and faithful, and I join my voice with yours before God who hears earnest prayer.

We give thanks that God has not left us without witness. As you have said, the message of the cross which seems foolish to the world is in truth the wisdom and power of God for those who are being saved. He clothed Himself in flesh and sent forth men like ourselves to speak His word, so that those who could not endure His unveiled glory might hear a kindred voice and come near and be saved. Even when we are weak and unworthy, earnestness before Him suffices, and He is able to accomplish what we ask according to His mercy.

So we pray together for all who have lately heard the word, whether in homes, in marketplaces, in gatherings small or large, on street corners, among family and friends and even among enemies, wherever the Spirit moves. We ask the Father to grant them revelation and wisdom in the knowledge of Christ, to open their eyes to see their need and His grace. Grant that faith may come by hearing, and that the gift of salvation by grace through faith may be freely received, not as wages earned but as mercy given through the blood of Jesus who died for our sins, who finished the work on the cross, who was raised and seen by many witnesses, who ascended and sent His Holy Spirit.

We ask that the seed sown may be watered and may grow, for we plant and water but God alone gives the growth, and without Him we can do nothing of true value. Give to those hearers a real hunger for the pure milk of the word, and bring them to maturity in Christ who has become for us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

We pray also for protection. The evil one seeks to snatch away the seed as soon as it is sown and to steal and destroy, but Christ has come that they may have life abundantly. We ask the Lord to keep them from the evil one, to bind the strong man and plunder his house, and to command His angels to guard those who are heirs of salvation until they behold Him fully. Let no opposition or trial turn them aside, but let the word take deep root.

For those who have been praying for boldness to witness in the face of opposition, we thank God for every open door for effective service, even when adversaries are many. Give us and them what to say and how to say it, with meekness and truth, and remind us all of the simple gospel, that Christ who knew no sin became sin for us and bore the curse, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, and as His ambassadors carry the word of reconciliation.

We trust the Holy Spirit to continue His work until the day of Christ Jesus, to grant full repentance which turns from sin with grief and hatred of it and walks in new obedience, and to keep all who believe in continued discipleship in His word. May He who began a good work bring it to completion.

We ask all this in the name of Jesus, believing that the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, and that what He has promised He will do. Amen.