Renewal of Perspective

Yesterday I listened to a podcast by David Platt. Turns out, God knew that message was exactly the one I needed to hear. Not sure if anyone else needs to hear it, but you're gonna get to read my notes anyway, if you keep reading, that is.

Side note before he began the message:

There's a huge difference between intellectual belief in Christ and genuine knowledge/relationship/intimacy with Him. The demons believe in Christ, yet they're not going to be in heaven--ever! Does Christ truly have your heart? What matters on the day of your death is if Christ has your heart and life, not if you intellectually believe that He exists. He is worthy of your heart and life. Dying is ONLY gain when Christ is your life.

What is ultimate in our lives? There are people dying without Christ, yet we let ourselves get caught up in our schedules, our thoughts, our feelings, our circumstances. Don't lose sight of hwy we're here on earth and what our lives are to be about. What is ultimate THIS WEEK is leading people from death to life. Satan will contstanly distract us with thoughts, feelings, busy schedules, etc. to try to prevent that. Be aware!


That was bonus! Now for the real message:

2 Timothy 2:1-7

Prayer is the first step for your life to count. Want to be an influence? PRAY!

Is there diversity in your prayer life? Are you only praying for people who are like you? Or are you praying for all kinds of people groups scattered across the globe? For prostitutes? For children growing up in brothels? For presidents and rulers? For the UN? For tribes who have never heard the name of Jesus? For persecuted brothers and sisters? For their persecutors?

Pray for all people that they may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Do I pray as though I truly believe that my prayer will be heard and God will save these people?

Why do we pray like this?

1. Because God desires the salvation of all peoples
Our praying for the world is motivated by God's passion for the world.
When I pray for the peoples of the world to be saved, my heart is coming together with His heart.
Eze 33:1-20 STOP NOW AND READ IT!

2. Because God deserves the honor of all peoples
Worship is the fuel adn teh goal of praying for all peoples of the world. We're after worldwide worship of Christ, and it's coming!!

3. Because Christ died for the ransom of all peoples
Ransom was the price paid for the release or rescue of one in slavery.
The ransom price for us is death, a ransom price that we alone owed but that He alone could pay. Jesus became our Mediator, being able to represent both parties since He's both fully God and fully man.


As we pray for all peoples, we preach the gospel to all peoples. We are heralds of the gospel. A herald is one who makes a grand announcement. I'm a herald of the greatest news in the world! And so are you if you are a child of God! Let's shout it!

Let's keep Rev 5:8-10 always before us because THIS is what is ultimate! Nothing else in our lives means anything. This is what we were created for. Let's pray and preach with all boldness to all peoples because we know that one day, our mission will prevail and our Mediator will be praised!