Bible passage:
Hearing God directly - Acts 9:3-5 Now as he [Saul] went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting".
Hearing God through a friend/ brother - John 1: 40-42a One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus.
Hearing God's word through a stranger - Acts 8:26-31 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Hearing God's word through a missionary - Parts of Acts 17: 16-32 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. And they [Epicurean and Stoic philosophers ] took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? [Paul preached the gospel] Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
As we await the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we know that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord is saved. There is an urgency and utmost importance that the good news of salvation is heard by everyone around us.
Let us pray that the seed of God's word is sown in all hearts. Let us pray then that God prepares the soil ahead, such that the soil isn't hard, that the seed isn't taken away by the tempter, and that the cares of the world don't choke the seed. Through God's grace, may the seed grow to be abundantly fruitful.
Prayer points:
Pray that the gospel would make inroads in new places where the people haven't heard the name of Jesus. Pray that through wonders, signs, and miracles, the name of the Lord is glorified. Pray that the missionaries are empowered with the Holy Spirit every day and that they persevere in the mission to which God has called them.
In urban settings, we assume everyone has access to the internet and all the information they need (like the Eunuch we read out). Pray that in such areas people can hear the good news explained and defended, guiding them to God's path, even by strangers and acquaintances.
Pray that everyone who has a Christian friend or relative gets to hear them testify 'We have found the Messiah'.
Pray that God Himself would directly shine His light on those who have misunderstood the truth of the gospel. Pray that those who need such a strong call because they need to further suffer more for Christ would be graciously granted such a divine intervention.
If you can, try memorizing Romans 10:13-15.
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