When God shares with us information about a person we could not naturally know, it creates a powerful moment when the person we are speaking with gets the opportunity to discover that God knows them. This is one way to share the gospel effectively.

During evangelistic moments, it is unhelpful to think we can argue someone into becoming a Christian. It is better if we demonstrate the power of the gospel so that people’s faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:5). For this to occur unbelievers need to see or experience the power of God.

When Peter preached at Pentecost, people “were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37) and ready to repent. Paul describes that when he brought the gospel to Thessalonica, it was not “simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

Paul describes how prophecy in a church meeting can impact an unbeliever. It can result in them being convicted of sin and “the secrets of their hearts are laid bare” (1 Corinthians 14:25). What if ‘the heart’ does not only relate to the conviction of sin but also to people’s identity, pain, needs, hopes, and dreams?

Strongs Concordance defines ‘the heart’ (kardia, G2588) as the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours, character, stirred in a good or bad way.

When people find out, through Christians bringing prophetic revelation, that God knows about their deepest desires, it can bring about the significant conviction that God is real. This story is about an evangelistic moment where God shares with Fiona, a specific phrase that results in an unbeliever encountering God’s love and compassion.

Are you regularly hearing God speak to you about unbelievers around you?