1. Because of God's love
2. Because it's God's will
3. Because Jesus and Paul prayed for the lost
4. Because the prayer for the lost has great impact
1. Because of God's love
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"
God's love has reached out to us. Let us reach out to others with that same love.
I was from a very staunch Buddhist background. In Penang, I would go to the biggest temple with the sleeping Buddha and participate in the Buddhist rituals which included chanting and marching around the temple. Even the priest at the temple knew me and my family. During exam times, I would write my exam time table and place slips of paper behind the Buddha hoping for blessings.
I was also into the occult reading books like astral traveling and even writing to Lobsang Rampa, a Tibetan monk. He even replied my letters.
Now I realize that all these are lies, deceit and falsehood. However at that time I was genuinely searching for God. From my experience, I realize that those who seek Him will find Him when they search for Him with all their hearts.
In the University, a group of dedicated Christian sisters started what they call a buddy system, where a senior befriended a junior not just to tell us about Jesus but also to see how they can help us settle down to university life in anyway.
Gradually I saw the love that they had for me. It was a genuine love. One of them in particular had such gentleness of character that I really wanted to be like her. At that time I did not know it but she was reflecting the love of Christ to me!
I searched for God. One day while in church, I just prayed a prayer to this unknown God asking if there is such a God and if all these things that the Christians are saying to me are true, then please reveal yourself to me as I cannot reach you being so deep in idolatry and sin. Suddenly I felt a presence flood me from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. It was the awesome presence of God. I spoke in tongues for the first time.
I looked around and saw everyone with the love of God. I heard a voice telling me that everything I had heard was true and that God did die for my sins and that Jesus would come again for me one day. This was the love of God and it flooded my heart. I believed.
How did I receive the love of God? Who is the love of God? Is the love of God a person?
I received this love by faith and through prayer. The love of God is a person. He is the Holy Spirit and He is REAL.
Rom 5:5 "Because hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us"
It is because of this love that I am able to love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind. With this love which I love God with, I can love my neighbor - Matt 22:37-40
The word 'neighbor' means pleison in Greek. It means someone close by and refers to people we know. Using the prayer card write down the names of people to pray for their salvation.
In my card, I have 6 names, 3 of which have come to Christ and 2 have said they will think about what I have shared. I am waiting to witness to the last person!
There is no need to write down names of people whom we do not know but focus on those who are close by, those whom we know! Write their names in the prayer card and pray for them daily. God will move on our behalf!
"To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them" - John Calvin
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