Empowered Prayer and Action for the Lost

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of the Gospel

The gospel is not just a message; it is a transformative force that has the power to change lives. When shared, it bears fruit and brings about profound change in individuals and communities. This confidence in the gospel's power should drive our prayers and actions as we seek to share the message of Jesus with others. We are reminded that just as the gospel has changed our lives, it can do the same for others. Our role is to be faithful in sharing it, trusting in its inherent power to bring about transformation. [34:52]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the transformative message of the gospel? How can you share it with them this week?

Day 2: Seizing Opportunities to Share

Being ready with the gospel means being prepared to seize opportunities to share our faith. Our conversations should be full of grace and seasoned with salt, making them compelling and attractive. This involves knowing the gospel well and being able to articulate it clearly, as well as engaging in apologetics to address any questions or objections people may have. By being prepared, we can make the most of every opportunity to share the hope we have in Christ. [43:10]

"Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you could have shared your faith. How can you prepare yourself to seize similar opportunities in the future?

Day 3: Praying for More Workers

Jesus calls us to pray for more workers in the harvest field, recognizing the urgency and abundance of the spiritual harvest. This involves not only praying for more workers but also being willing to be part of the solution ourselves. We are called to trust in God's orchestration of the harvest and to partner with others in this mission. By praying for more workers, we align ourselves with God's heart for the lost and become active participants in His work. [57:06]

"And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" (Luke 10:2, ESV)

Reflection: Are you willing to be an answer to your own prayer for more workers? What steps can you take to actively participate in the harvest?

Day 4: Trusting in God's Orchestration

The harvest is ultimately God's, and while we have a part in the work, it is He who orchestrates it. We must trust in His plan and be faithful in our prayers and actions, knowing that He is more invested in His harvest than we are. This trust allows us to rest in His sovereignty and be confident that He is working all things together for His purposes. By trusting in God's orchestration, we can be assured that our efforts are not in vain. [01:00:19]

"For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." (1 Corinthians 3:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust more in God's orchestration? How can you surrender these areas to Him today?

Day 5: Partnership in the Gospel

Evangelism and outreach require partnership and collaboration. We must invest in the next generation of leaders within our church, ensuring the continuity of gospel work. Our commitment to prayer and action reflects our desire for not yet Christians to become Christians. By partnering with others, we can multiply our efforts and have a greater impact for the kingdom of God. This partnership is essential for the ongoing work of the gospel. [01:07:19]

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Who can you partner with in your church or community to further the work of the gospel? How can you support and invest in the next generation of leaders?

Sermon Summary

In our gathering today, we explored the profound need for prayer, particularly focusing on praying for those who have not yet come to know Christ. We began by acknowledging the power of collective action, as illustrated by the story of commuters who united to free a man trapped by a train. This serves as a metaphor for the Christian call to action in sharing the gospel. We are reminded that people need Jesus, and it is our responsibility to share His message of salvation with them. The gospel is powerful and transformative, bearing fruit wherever it is shared, and we can be confident in its ability to change lives.

We discussed the importance of being ready with the gospel, emphasizing the need to seize opportunities to share our faith. This involves being wise in our interactions and ensuring our conversations are full of grace and seasoned with salt, making them compelling and attractive. We are encouraged to know the gospel well, to be able to articulate it clearly, and to engage in apologetics to address the questions and objections people may have.

Furthermore, we reflected on Jesus' call to pray for more workers in the harvest field, recognizing the urgency and abundance of the spiritual harvest. This involves not only praying for more workers but also being willing to be part of the solution ourselves. We are called to trust in God's orchestration of the harvest and to partner with others in this mission. This partnership extends to investing in the next generation of leaders within our church, ensuring the continuity of gospel work.

Ultimately, our prayer and action are driven by the understanding that the greatest need of every person is salvation and a restored relationship with God. As we pray for the lost, we are reminded to be confident in the gospel, ready to speak it, and active in the Lord's harvest. Our commitment to prayer and action reflects our desire for not yet Christians to become Christians, knowing that prayer is an essential part of this mission.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of the Gospel: The gospel is transformative and bears fruit wherever it is shared. We can be confident in its ability to change lives, just as it has changed ours. This confidence should fuel our prayers and actions as we seek to share the message of Jesus with others. [34:52]
2. Readiness to Share: Being ready with the gospel means seizing opportunities to share our faith. Our conversations should be full of grace and seasoned with salt, making them compelling and attractive. Knowing the gospel well and engaging in apologetics can help us articulate our faith clearly. [43:10]
3. Praying for Workers: Jesus calls us to pray for more workers in the harvest field, recognizing the urgency and abundance of the spiritual harvest. This involves not only praying for more workers but also being willing to be part of the solution ourselves. [57:06]
4. Trusting in God's Orchestration: The harvest is God's, and while we have a part in the work, it is ultimately God who orchestrates it. We must trust in His plan and be faithful in our prayers and actions, knowing that He is more invested in His harvest than we are. [60:19]
5. Partnership in the Gospel: Evangelism and outreach require partnership and collaboration. We must invest in the next generation of leaders within our church, ensuring the continuity of gospel work. Our commitment to prayer and action reflects our desire for not yet Christians to become Christians. [01:07:19]
** [67:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Announcements and Events
[03:45] - Introduction to the Sermon
[05:20] - The Power of Collective Action
[10:15] - The Need for Jesus
[15:00] - Confidence in the Gospel
[20:30] - Being Ready with the Gospel
[25:45] - Praying for Opportunities
[30:10] - Divine Appointments
[35:00] - Trusting God's Orchestration
[40:00] - Partnership in the Gospel
[45:30] - Investing in Future Leaders
[50:00] - The Greatest Need: Salvation
[55:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
[60:00] - Q&A Session

Sermon Clips

We have a great gospel and the truth about Jesus does save people. Listen to Colossians chapter 1 verse 6. In the same way the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace. [00:37:06]

The gospel is like that. It grows, it saves people, it bears the fruit of salvation and notice verse 6, it does the same thing all over the world. Wherever the gospel goes, it bears the fruit of salvation. [00:38:04]

The Colossians were having a worry that they hadn't heard the true gospel or they just heard a bit of the gospel and they were considering moving from the gospel to something else and this letter affirms for them that they have the true gospel and they shouldn't move away from it and they certainly shouldn't move on to something else. [00:38:54]

The gospel bears fruit. It saves people all over the world and we can have confidence in it. Here in Perth, here in North Beach, the gospel does the same thing it does everywhere. We can be confident in it. [00:40:29]

If the gospel can change you, it can change your friend too. The gospel bears fruit and what it did for you, it will do for others. Sometimes when we pray for our lost friends, we can feel the need and we can feel the worry and we can feel the difficulty and we can feel like they're too hard. [00:41:35]

The second thing I want to say tonight is we need to be ready with the gospel. Listen to Colossians chapter 4. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, and pray for us too that God might open a door for our message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains. [00:43:18]

We're to pray for the proclamation of the gospel the spread of the gospel should fill our prayers and now Paul moves from what he wants for himself to what he wants for the Colossians listen to verse 4 pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should be wise in the way you act towards outsiders make the most of every opportunity. [00:43:59]

When we pray for not yet Christians that we know of we can ask God for God moments and God does that there are many times in your day where God is creating opportunities for you to speak for him some people call them divine appointments you know meetings that God puts in your day in your diary if you like where you can witness for him. [00:48:28]

And as we pray for the lost, we really do need to think and learn how to answer people well. I remember the week we met Edith. She came down from Carnarvon, she came to study at uni and she came to a country students barbecue at our house and so she was a Christian starting uni and Edith said of herself that she didn't read and she didn't like theology. [00:53:21]

But the third thing I want to say is we are to see the need and we're to be part of the work of the gospel. Listen to what Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 9. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [00:55:27]

The second action is involvement and joining the work. If there is an abundant harvest, there's this pressing need on the farm, because we're part of the farm, we'll say, let's go. Like Jesus, we should notice the spiritual needs around us. Like Jesus, we should have compassion on them and it should cause us to pray, wanting more workers to meet the need. [00:57:40]

Evangelism and outreach won't be an individual Lone Ranger deal. There's a great need for workers and labourers who get into the task. And as we think about getting the work done, we need to think about raising up people who can do the work. And as we need to think about our church, we need to ask ourselves, well, who will do that work in 20 years' time? [01:00:32]

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