Prayer

[Salty]

I am sure we have all heard a preacher say "God does not hear the prayer of an unsaved person, except for the prayer of salvation.

Do you believe that this is actual theology.

If this is true, than why are there some prayers that seem to have been anwered for the unsaved.

 

[SBCPreacher]

First off, I believe that this is true.

To answer your question, my salty friend, maybe it's because some saved person somewhere has prayed for the same thing and God answered their prayer.

 

[matt wade]

Or maybe the unsaved person's will and God's will just happen to coincide?

 

[ktn4eg]

It'd be interesting to hear these preachers explain the events in Acts 10 concerning Cornelius, especially 10:31, "And said [Peter], Cornelius, thy prayer is heard...."

 

[jrscott]

There is definately a difference between the way God hears the prayers of the unsaved and the way in which God hears the prayers of the saved. Obviously, God hears and knows all. I do not think that God has obligated Himself to answer the prayers of the unsaved, but He may in His grace (common) answer a prayer for them from time to time and I do not believe that in any way does injustice to His character.

Even the prayers of the saved are still met with different essentials. ie. unconfessed sin, harboring anger and bitterness, wrong motives, etc can all be hindrances to effective prayer.

One of the most horrifying prayers I have ever heard was when a church leader, who was in the midst of attacking me (his pastor) prayed in a meeting to the effect that he knew what he was doing was sin but he knew God would forgive him later on when he finally confessed! I definately would think this would be a prayer that God is not honored by, and am horrified that a person calling themselves a Christian would even pray it!

One of the most helpful resources on Christian prayer that I have read is "The Hour That Changes the World" by Dick Eastman.

Hope this helps.

 

[freeatlast]

I am sure we have all heard a preacher say "God does not hear the prayer of an unsaved person, except for the prayer of salvation.

Do you believe that this is actual theology.

If this is true, than why are there some prayers that seem to have been anwered for the unsaved.

Unfortunately preachers say a lot of things that they cannot back up. No I do not believe it. God can answer any prayer He so chooses. While He has not obligated Himself to the lost as He has the saved no one can biblically state that the lost are never heard except in the time of praying for salvation.
I do however feel that their prayers are seldom answered and most likely limited only to those which point them to the true and living God, but even that is speculation.

 

[Amy.G]

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 

[kyredneck]

It'd be interesting to hear these preachers explain the events in Acts 10 concerning Cornelius, especially 10:31, "And said [Peter], Cornelius, thy prayer is heard...."

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

The first two verses of Acts 10 give a proper description of Cornelius:

.......Cornelius ......a devout man.....that feared God .....who gave much .....and prayed .....Acts 10:1,2

Cornelius was born of the Spirit, he had the law written in his heart, before he ever heard the gospel from Peter.

But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God. Jn 3:21

 

[ktn4eg]

The first two verses of Acts 10 give a proper description of Cornelius:

Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. Acts 10:1,2

Cornelius was born of the Spirit before he ever heard the gospel from Peter.

Are you then saying that it is possible to be born again apart from hearing the word of God? (Romans 10:17)

 

[kyredneck]

Are you then saying that it is possible to be born again apart from hearing the word of God? (Romans 10:17)

Absolutely yes. Jn 3:8, the wind blows where it wills. And Romans 10 is explicitly referring to JEWS:

But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. Ro 10:18

Romans 10 is actually CONTRARY to the point you're trying to make.

 

[ktn4eg]

So why then preach the Gospel in the first place?

 

[freeatlast]

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Yes Amy, but that does not say that He never answers their prayers. We all have done evil and He was against us but He also was willing to save us. The bible also says that God hates everyone who does iniquity. But He is willing to love also. Psalm 5:5

 

[freeatlast]

So why then preach the Gospel in the first place?

Because it is a command.

 

[ktn4eg]

Because it is a command.

Unless I've thorougly misunderstood kyredneck's posts, it seems as if he's telling me that it isn't necessary for us to hear about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

To me it would seem that what he is trying to tell me that as far as regeneration is concerned, the Holy Spirit can and does operate independently of the preaching of the Gospel.

If that is, in fact, true, wouldn't it be rather redundant for Jesus Christ to say, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"? (Mark 16:15)

 

[freeatlast]

Unless I've thorougly misunderstood kyredneck's posts, it seems as if he's telling me that it isn't necessary for us to hear about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

To me it would seem that what he is trying to tell me that as far as regeneration is concerned, the Holy Spirit can and does operate independently of the preaching of the Gospel.

If that is, in fact, true, wouldn't it be rather redundant for Jesus Christ to say, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"? (Mark 16:15)

You are correct. It would be a waste of time to preach if one could get saved wihtout hearing the truth, but they cannot so the command to go and tell.

 

[freeatlast]

Absolutely yes. Jn 3:8, the wind blows where it wills. And Romans 10 is explicitly referring to JEWS:

But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. Ro 10:18

Romans 10 is actually CONTRARY to the point you're trying to make.

Jesus did not think so. I think i will believe Him instead of you.:laugh:

 

[kyredneck]

So why then preach the Gospel in the first place?

I suppose to you the mission of the Church is to populate heaven, and the preaching of the gospel is the means by which you populate heaven.

 

[ktn4eg]

I suppose to you the mission of the Church is to populate heaven, and the preaching of the gospel is the means by which you populate heaven.

That is not the sole mission of the church. Jesus also tells us to baptize those who have received Him as their Savior and teach them to observe His commandments.

One of His commandments is rather clearly stately in Mark 16:15.

I'm curious to read what you think was the purpose behind what Jesus making that command in Mark 16:15.

 

[kyredneck]

....I'm curious to read what you think was the purpose behind what Jesus making that command in Mark 16:15.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Mk 16:15

First off, don't get the idea that I'm anti-preaching the gospel. I absolutely love to hear the gospel preached. It is a lifeline to me; it saves/delivers me from much error in this time world. Mine, or yours, [timely] salvation is not a 'one time event'; we will be working it out with our Lord until the day we die. You or I are no different from Timothy or those that heard him:

Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee. 1 Tim 4:16

Our salvation is an ongoing affair, not a one time event.

It is you that has to ask yourself if that Greek word 'sozo', translated 'save' [read deliver] is synonymous with the birth from above, or the acquiring of eternal life. I suggest to you that only those that have first been born of the Spirit are capable of believing the gospel in order to be saved [delivered].

[edit] To go into Mk 16:15 we need to create another thread concerning what 'you people' call 'The Great Commision'. If you wish, do it. I'm game.

 

[ktn4eg]

Before we go any further, please tell me exactly to what you are referring when you assigned me to the class of 'you people.'