The Only Hope


From March 31st, 2011 Posting

The_Only_HopeGod’s sovereignty – and praying for the salvation of others

Last of a 5-part teaching series

by Barb Kugle

You might find it difficult to understand the collective mindset of so many Americans against all things Christian. Opposition toward godly values and those like you who publicly profess those values seems to be ever-growing.

For that reason it’s more important than ever to pray, not only for those who are merely ignorant in their beliefs, but particularly for those personalities you almost love to hate…who seem to delight in their antagonism against a moral God.

The following teaching may challenge your way of thinking about the Lord – and that is why the study of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility is so difficult and even uncomfortable. Just as you accept the mystery that God is three persons in one, you must approach His complete sovereignty the same way.

Warning: Never accept this or any one teaching point blank until you have thoroughly studied it on your own – from His Word and through the power of His Spirit. God longs for you to dig harder and deeper as you search His truths. Just remember that there are limits to what God has revealed (Deuteronomy 29:29).

God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility

If you understand God’s sovereign election in salvation, you may wonder how God can hold man accountable. These two pillars of truth are clearly taught in Scripture, yet they seem irreconcilable to the finite mind.

God does the saving, man must do the believing. Those who are saved have only God to thank, while those who are lost have only themselves to blame. God receives the credit for man’s salvation, while the unsaved man must take full blame and responsibility for his eternal damnation. Your prayers may be the only hope of salvation for the lost in your sphere of influence.

You are to pray for people who are not Christians because:

  1. God wants all men to come to the knowledge of truth and be saved, especially those in authority (I Timothy 2:1-4).
  2. Heaven rejoices when a lost soul is saved (Luke 15:7).
  3. God is glorified (John 14:13).
  4. Because of a holy fear of eternal damnation for family and friends, “lest they also come into this place of torment.” (Luke 16:27-28)

Christ’s example

Jesus is the greatest intercessor of all time (Hebrews 7:25). Furthermore, He has commissioned and empowered you to follow His example: “Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38) While hanging on the cross Christ prayed for His enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Stephen followed the Lord’s example when he was stoned, begging the Lord to forgive his murderers, which included a zealous young man by the name of Saul of Tarsus who stood nearby. Saul’s conversion was an answer to Stephen’s prayer. Later Saul, as the apostle Paul, prayed earnestly for Israel’s salvation in Romans 9.

Use the following biblical outline to pray…

  1. that the Lord will draw them to Himself (John 6:44).
  2. that they will want and seek to know Him (Deuteronomy 4:29).
  3. and believe God’s Word (Romans 10:17).
  4. that God will not allow Satan to blind them (II Corinthians 4:4).
  5. for the Holy Spirit’s conviction (John 16:8,13).
  6. that they will believe (John 5:24).
  7. turn from sin (Acts 3:19).
  8. and confess Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9,10).

For further study: Meditate on the following attitudes while praying for those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord.

  • Believe what you pray (Mark 11:24).
  • Get beyond human limitations (Mark 10:27).
  • You are a holy priesthood with an obligation to pray (I Peter 2:5).
  • Your ultimate purpose in wanting that person saved is for God’s glory, not for your peace of mind or the satisfaction that you did your job (John 14:13).
  • Understand that it is Satan who prevents eyes from being opened, not God (II Corinthians 4:4).
  • Satan holds the lost captive (II Timothy 2:26).
  • Only the Holy Spirit can open eyes, remove blinders and tear down walls that separate the lost from the truth (II Corinthians 10:4).
  • Put your trust and faith in God (Luke 18:7-8).

Barb Kugle is a freelance writer and author who has a deep passion for prayer and for repentance and revival in the nation. A member of The Presidential Prayer Team’s devotional writing team, Barb lives in southern Colorado.