What is the first thing you can do so that non-Christians will believe in Jesus?

I remember my son and daughter’s baptisms. I’ve always loved baptisms because of the promise God gives us that through baptism. He will give us saving faith. It’s a victory over satan! God has brought another person into His kingdom!

That’s Awesome!!

The Scriptures tell us that faith is not something we achieve, but rather it is a gift, a work of the Holy Spirit. That’s one reason we baptize infants. Since the gift of faith is God’s act, He can give faith to a child just as well as an adult.

God Gives Faith To Adults, Too
Interestingly, when thinking about evangelism and adults, we tend to forget that it’s God who creates the faith. We get all worked up about saying the right thing as though if we say this word instead of another, it will determine whether the person receives faith.

Even in adults, it’s still all the work of the Holy Spirit which is why you don’t have to get so worried about saying every right word. It’s also why it makes perfect sense for us to start with prayer.

In our passage from Ephesians, Paul is saying that he is praying that the “eyes of [their] heart[s] would be enlightened”. In other words, he is praying that they would receive faith so that they would know the hope of Christ.

Since it is God who gives faith, shouldn’t we pray for those who don’t know Him to receive faith?

Absolutely!

This doesn’t mean that we don’t need to bother talking with the people about Jesus. After all, the Holy Spirit works through the hearing of the Word. However, we begin with praying for the people. Then we share the Gospel. Then we keep praying.

Who do you know that you could be praying for?

I encourage you to pick 5 people who you know that do not believe in Jesus and start praying for them every day that God would open the eyes of their hearts to receive faith.

If you need some help, how about praying for the people who live in your neighborhood. One way you can do this is with the help of BlessEveryHome.com. You can sign-up for free and they will give you neighbors to pray for.

Heavenly Father,

You are our source of life and salvation. Thank you for the gift of faith. I know several people that do not believe in You. I pray that You would give them faith. I pray for these five people in particular…

(Pray for the 5+ people on your list.)

Please give them faith and please give me the opportunity and boldness to share the Gospel with them.

Amen.