Prayer Guides | Vol 6, Days 1 -10

    May 29, 2020 | Prayer Guides by Various Authors

    Love God In Our Witness

    Day 1 - What is the Gospel?

    Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

    Good news is hard to come by lately. COVID, unemployment, and a divided country dominate the headlines. While you may not find good news in the media, there is good news in God’s Word. As a matter of fact, the word “gospel” means good news.

    The gospel is the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ. The Bible depicts human beings, all human beings (Romans 3:23), as in revolt against God, and therefore under His judgment. The Bible calls this revolt sin. Sin is rejecting or ignoring God. All people sin in their words, deeds, and motivations (1 John 1:10). Sin separates mankind from God because it breaks fellowship with our creator God. Despite our efforts to restore fellowship with God on our own we cannot (Ephesians 2:8–9). 

    The Bible tells us the punishment for sin is death. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death...” But although God stands against us in judgment because of our sin, God also offers us forgiveness and eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). Christ bore our sin on the cross—in our place. What God requires, as payment for sin, God provides in His Son Jesus. Moreover, Jesus is raised from the dead on the third day and has conquered sin and death. 

    What must we do to be saved from sin, death and eternal separation from God? Jesus’ offer of salvation is received by faith as we repent of our sins and turn to Jesus. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we repent and trust in Christ, relationship with God is reestablished. This free gift of salvation is available to all who will call upon the name of Jesus. 

    Questions to Consider: Do you believe Christ is who the Bible says He is (Mark 16:16)? Have you trusted in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection as the payment for your sin? Who do you know that doesn’t know this good news? 

    Prayer Prompts:

    • Father, open my eyes and ears to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Give me an open and repentant heart to believe the gospel and receive Christ as Lord and Savior. 
    • Pray for God to free lost friends and family from the slavery of sin. Begin praying for opportunities to share with them what God has done in Christ. 
    Day 2 - What is Our Witness?

    1 John 5:10 –12 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself….And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

    The Christian witness testifies to the truth of the gospel. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1, we were “dead in the trespasses and sins.” But now God has “made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:5). 

    Our witness centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ. 

    One example of a witness is found in John chapter 9. It is the story of a blind man healed by Jesus. To be sure, there is more here to the story than just physical healing. Physical blindness is representative of spiritual blindness. Thus, the blind man was not only physically blind, but spiritually blind as well. Moreover, the miracle here is not limited to Jesus restoring only the man’s physical sight but also his spiritual sight (understanding who Christ is). He initially calls Jesus “the man called Jesus,” then “a prophet,” later he refers to Jesus as being “of God,” and finally “Lord.” We’re literally watching the birth of this man’s faith and salvation. 

    In the midst of the narrative is this man’s simple witness: “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). Indeed, the blind man knows what many do not: Jesus is God (John 9:38). And what He does is to declare or profess what He knows to be true about the One who has healed him. This is what a witness is—sharing the truth of the gospel which we now can see but once could not. We, who have declared Jesus as Lord and Savior, bear witness to the One who has saved us from sin and death. 

    Questions to Consider: Are you cultivating a relationship with anyone in order to be a witness to the gospel truth? When was the last time you shared your witness for Christ with someone?

    Prayer Prompts:

    • Father, I pray for boldness to speak the truth in love with those in my life who don’t know you.
    • Help me be purposeful in connecting with people to share the gospel. Let me see topics, themes and ideas in conversations that can be turned into gospel discussions. 
    Day 3 - The Goal of Our Witness

    1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

    Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

    Think on something profound that you have personally witnessed before. Maybe a car accident, a dream so vivid that it seemed real, or even the outcome of a tied, nail biter of a ballgame that went into overtime? When we experience these things, we tend to retell our account of the event in great, specific detail to others. 

    Webster’s dictionary defines the word “witness” as: “to testify to, affirm to be true and one who has personal knowledge of something.” 

    If we apply this definition in a biblical sense, as in yesterday’s prayer prompt, the Christian witness testifies to the truth of the gospel. We have a personal knowledge of the gospel and believe it to be true! Therefore, the goal of our witness is simply to share the gospel—not only with our words but also with our actions in how we live our lives each day. Through the saving work of Jesus Christ, our eyes have been opened to testify to this work personally in our lives. 

    1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are set apart, chosen by God as His very own, to reflect Him in our witness as we tell others. Stay here for a moment—meditate on these words. You were set apart and chosen by GOD to reflect Him to a lost and dying world. You. The power of this statement should drive us to great conviction in our Christian witness. Our Holy, Almighty God is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise in our witness!

    Questions to Consider: Do you reflect Christ in your witness in both word and action? Do you have humble adoration and faithful obedience to the One who set you apart and chose you as His very own? 

    Prayer Prompt: 

    • Lord, help me to be faithful in my Christian witness to those around me so that the gospel will go forth.  

    Day 4 - Obstacles in Our Witness

    Acts 1:8 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 

    Why is it that Christians do not share the gospel of Christ? A straw poll reveals the number one reason Christians do not share their faith is FEAR. While there are other compelling reasons, most Christians state they are afraid to open their mouths to proclaim the good news of Christ. Fear springs from various forms: fear of ‘what to say,’ fear of rejection, fear they will ‘mess-up’ and fear of sending someone to hell. While these are concerns for people, they are NOT a free pass. All of these, along with any other reason for lack of evangelism, must be put to rest. And the solution is simple.

    The solution is in the focus. You see, in all of the fear excuses, the focus is on either the hearer or the speaker. In order to overcome obstacles in our witness, we must focus on the gospel. Focus on the message, not the messenger—nor the recipient. The power for salvation is in the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins according the Scriptures; he was buried and he rose on the third day according to the Scriptures; and all who place their faith in Jesus will be saved.

    How can one overcome any and all obstacles in their witness? Learn a simple gospel presentation (see tomorrow’s journal entry), practice it (see Day 8 of this journal), and share it with someone who is living in constant fear due to Covid19, or illness, or loss. Share with someone in great need of a relationship with the One who brings life, healing, and hope in the midst of crisis. Focus on the gospel to overcome any obstacle of sharing your faith.

    Questions to Consider: Do you believe that the power of salvation is in the gospel? Do you know how to share a brief gospel presentation? Do you know a lost person who needs to hear this good news?

    Prayer Prompts:

    • God, I pray that I would not be ashamed of the gospel for it is Your power for salvation to all who believe.
    • Please give me opportunities and boldness to share the good news of salvation.

    Day 5 - How to Share the Gospel

    1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

    How do you begin a gospel conversation? Here is a good lead question, “May I share with you where I find hope?” Then, imagine a road map of the gospel. The starting point and destination are God. The path includes knowledge that all have sinned and are separated from God. The only road to God is faith in Jesus’ virgin birth, perfect life, death, burial, and resurrection.

    Equipping Evangelism, a resource provided by our church, is a road map of truth.

    • We believe the Bible is true. 
    • The Bible says there is one true living God who has created everything, including us. 
    • He created us in His image to have a relationship with Him forever.
    •  The Bible says that because of our thoughts, motivations, and deeds, which are against God, we have broken our relationship with Him. 
    • Because we are the ones who broke the relationship, we cannot fix it; we have no hope in a relationship with God by our deeds. We need someone to pay for our sin. 
    • Because God loves us so much, He made a way for us to have a relationship with Him.
    • He sent His Son who was all God and all man, who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died an atoning death, and three days later He rose again in a faithful resurrection; and offers us salvation as a free gift. 
    • The Bible says that if we place our trust in Jesus to pay for our sin, we can be reconciled to God forever.

    After sharing the above ask, “Has anything like that ever happened to you? What prevents you from receiving this free gift right now?”

    Other gospel resources to help you share your faith: Four Spiritual Laws; Romans Road, Apps: The Story, God Tools. Check out several resources and use the one with which you are most comfortable. One final reminder, share with gentleness and respect.  

    Question to Consider: Are you prepared to make a defense for the reason for the hope that is within you? 

    Prayer Prompt:

    • God, I pray words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.
    • Help me speak clearly so that the message is easily understood. 
    Day 6 - Pray about Sharing the Gospel

     Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

    We know that the number one reason Christians give for not sharing the gospel is FEAR and the accompanying anxiety. In our daily prayer time, we should focus on several topics concerning our witness and alleviating or minimizing this fear.

    First, we should pray for wisdom. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Next, we should pray for boldness and clarity when sharing the gospel. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:19 when he’s asking others for prayers for his witness “and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”

    Lastly, we should pray for opportunities to share the gospel. This can look a little different during a pandemic. We can certainly pray that the Holy Spirit will convict non-believers and give them a yearning to know God. Pray bold prayers! We can also take advantage of opportunities to reach out to friends and acquaintances who are not saved and offer encouragement and prayer. Drop a note in the mail with some Scripture on it. Share the Sunday morning worship service on social media. There are endless opportunities to share the gospel if we just look for them.

    Most importantly, just get on your knees and pray for the lost. Bill Bright, the co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ states, 

    “Prayer is really the place that people are won to Christ;                                          sharing the Good News is just gathering in the fruit.” 

    Leave the results to God.

    Questions to Consider:  If Paul the great apostle asked for prayers for boldness in his witness, don’t you think you should, too? Who can you lift up in prayer today as they share the gospel? Who can you ask to pray for you as you witness?

    Prayer Prompts:

    • Ask God to give you wisdom, boldness, and clarity when sharing the gospel.
    • Pray for the Holy Spirit to provide opportunities to share the gospel and also prepare the hearts of non-believers to receive this good news.
    Day 7 - Prepare to Share the Gospel

    1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

    Think of all the important things in life you have had to prepare for. During my lifetime, I have prepared for graduation, my wedding, the birth of my children, their weddings, job interviews, my retirement, and the list goes on and on. However, I can think of nothing more critical in the lives of believers than being prepared to share the gospel.

    In fact, 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to always be prepared to speak up for Jesus. How do we prepare to share the gospel?

    1. We need to spend time in prayer. Confess to God your fears about sharing. Ask Him for wisdom in what to say. Thank Him for His redeeming work on the cross.

    2. Meditate on Scriptures that offer the hope of salvation. Here are just a few:  John 3:16; Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4.

    3. Write out what you would like to say and read it over and over. Include the gospel truths from Day 5 of this journal: Equipping Evangelism: The Road Map of Truth.

    4. Practice, practice, practice. See tomorrow’s journal entry for more on practicing your gospel presentation. Without a doubt, the more you practice saying what you’ve written, the more natural it will become and the more prepared you will be to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

    Question to Consider: If you were to engage in a conversation right now with an unbeliever, would you be prepared to give an answer for the hope you have in Jesus?

    Prayer Prompts:

    • Lord, I can think of nothing in my life that I need to be more prepared for than to offer the hope of the gospel to a lost and dying world.
    • Thank you for my salvation. I pray for your guidance as I prepare to share.

    Day 8 - Practice Sharing the Gospel

    1 Timothy 4:15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

    During the COVID quarantine, I have been taking an online lesson in calligraphy. At first, the class seemed daunting. My first thought was, “Why did I sign up for this? I will never be able to do it.” Now that I’m a few lessons in I can see where I’m making progress. While I’m still far from great at it, with daily practice, the pen strokes are getting better; my understanding of what the instructor is saying is growing. I am gaining confidence that I lacked during the first class.

    Before I started sharing the gospel, I had all those same feelings. It seemed so daunting; I had no confidence that I could do it and didn’t fully understand what I should say. I began by writing a script and reading it over and over. Then I began saying it out loud without my script. The more I practiced, the more I realized it was not as scary as I initially thought. Through Bible verses I had in my script I began having a better understanding of what the gospel message was all about. It became even easier when I realized I was sharing the best news I could give someone. 

    A great way to practice sharing the gospel is to enlist the help of family members. Children especially are willing to help. Have them be the person you are sharing the gospel with. If they hear you practice it enough, they will also begin to share. This is the beginning of disciples making disciples. 

    Another way to practice is to ask co-workers, neighbors or friends to listen to you. Tell them you are practicing and need an audience. This is a great way for them to feel like they are helping you but also for them to hear the gospel. Also, try recording yourself on your phone and then listen to this recording over and over. It will help with remembering your presentation. We practice for almost everything else we do, so why should this be any different? 

    Questions to Consider: We rush to tell others about the good things that have happened to us. Our salvation should be the very best news we have to share if we truly love God. What is stopping you from doing that? 

    Do you need to practice? We have men and women that would love to be your “practice buddies.” Call the front office (919-556-9292) and ask to speak to Pastor Jim. 

    Prayer Prompts:

    • Lord, the Spirit You gave me does not make me timid but gives me power, love, and self-discipline. Help me to call on You for that power in those times when sharing the gospel seems like an overwhelming task. 
    • Meditate on 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is all you need. My power will rest on you when you are weak.”
    Day 9 - Plan to Share the Gospel  

    Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

    Now that you are prepared and you have practiced sharing the gospel (see previous entries), it’s time to make a plan and put that practice into action. If you are like me, things just don’t get done without a plan. You need to put feet to what you have learned.

    Here are some ways to develop that plan and begin to be obedient to what God has called us to do.

    1. Pray. Admit to God your fears about sharing. Ask Him to make you a bold witness. Tell Him that you are not ashamed of the gospel, and you are willing to proclaim it. Ask Him to begin giving you opportunities to share.

    2. Make a list of family, friends, co-workers, etc. that you know need to hear the good news about Jesus. Reach out to them and begin a dialogue about the gospel. Because of the technology we have available, even with the pandemic, there are so many ways to connect with people.

    3. As you are walking around your neighborhood, plan to speak to your neighbors who are out.

    4. As we anticipate the re-opening of the church, plan to attend events where you will have the opportunity to share. The first time I ever shared the gospel I was manning a bounce house at one of our festivals. Pair up with a member of the church who is already sharing the gospel and learn from them. Call the church office or talk to Pastor Jim, and they will get you plugged in with someone. 

    Questions to Consider: Are you merely a hearer of the Word or a doer of the Word? (James 1:22) What is stopping you from sharing the best news you’ve ever received?Meditate on 2 Timothy 1:7, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”

    Prayer Prompts:

    • Lord, I want to put feet to my words, but I confess I’m scared. Replace my fear with boldness.Bring people to mind that I need to talk to about you.
    • Give me the confidence to reach out to them. 
    Day 10 - Pair the Gospel Witness

    1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

    People love a good story. It has been said that stories are the most powerful form of communication. Stories draw people in, capture our interest, and connect us to one another. Many times we find common ground in the details and experiences of others. For that reason, stories are powerful. To be sure pairing our story (our testimony) with the gospel can serve to connect with others while restating the gospel truth. 

    Pastor Jim writes in the Equipping Evangelism resource                   (https://richlandcreek.com/article/equipping-evangelism/), 

    “When possible our next step after having shared the gospel should be to tell people how God saved us and changed us through the gospel. God has commanded us to “declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). We should declare this every time we have the opportunity. Our story is really repeating the gospel in the context of who                  we were, what happened, and who we are now.” 

    Days eleven through twenty of this prayer journal will focus on the Christian testimony. We hope you will learn more about its importance and how to share your testimony with others. 

    Remember, God gave you your story to tell about His story.

    Questions to Consider: If someone asks you about the hope that is in you, are you prepared to give your testimony? Are you willing to invest time and effort to prepare your testimony?

    Prayer Prompts:

    • Father, thank you that I have a testimony of salvation. Grant me wisdom, understanding, and patience as I prepare a gospel statement and write my testimony. 
    • Pray for opportunities with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to tell your story about what God has done in your life through Christ.