If salvation is a free gift from Jesus, why won’t people believe? There are forces at work in people’s hearts that block their understanding. While we can’t make anyone choose one way or another, we can pray for them, and it helps to know what might be blocking obstacles. However, we should never pray in a judgmental way but always in humble love.
Obstacles to Faith
Here are a few things that people may need to overcome before they believe in Jesus.
- Pride. They may think they know better or be too proud to admit they are wrong.
- Satisfaction with life. They enjoy the lifestyle they are living and see no reason to change.
- Ignore their mortality. The young assume they will never get old and die. Others may use alcohol and drugs to forget. We don’t make good decisions until we realize how short life is.
- Demonic deception. Scripture tells us this is a real thing. 2 Corinthians 4: 3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.[1]
- Strong belief in lies about Christianity. They may have been part of a cult or seen examples of false Christians. Perhaps they adopted strong views against Jesus that they heard from others.
- Bitterness. This most often comes from an unforgiving spirit. If they refuse to forgive others, they will not be able to accept forgiveness from Jesus. Matthew 6: 14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.[2] A person may hang onto unforgiveness because of fear of further injury.
- Shame. People who feel shame consider they didn’t do something terrible, but they are terrible. They don’t think Jesus could forgive them because of who they are.
Examine Self, Pray for Others
Are any of the above obstacles preventing you from a deeper faith in Jesus? If so, pray that the Holy Spirit will help you overcome these. Then, as you pray for others to come to faith, ask the Holy Spirit what to pray. Listen for impressions of the possible problem and pray against those. Again, remember to do this in humble love. God desires to save all.
To learn why won’t people believe, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/believe-speak-it
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Ibid