when we pray for non-belivers

[triangle]

when i pray for my friends that do not belive in God i pray that God will show himslef to them and that he will help me be a good witness to them. But if i pray for example a prayer like "i pray you will be with he/she and help them with this or that" would God answer a prayer like this. does God look after or help a non-christian in any situation if we ask for it?

[snoochface]

I think so. We can be intercessors for non-Christians, I believe. God only hears one prayer from them - the salvation prayer - but he hears all prayers from us, and I don't see why he wouldn't look out for them especially if we are praying for it (unless he has his own reasons, of course).

[DawnTillery]

I 100% believe God hears our prayers for NonChristians.
WHen I was praying and asked my church to pray for my husband prior to his salvation.
I spent time everynight witnessing and then 3 times on Sundays, the pastor would preach on what I witnessed to him about. (That was God answering prayers)
God was working through people to get my husband saved.

I got a question. Do you think God hears prayers from Children prior to salvation? I mean like little kids 5, 6,7 8, 9 (where they really do believe in God, but they dont understand everything)

[snoochface]

I got a question. Do you think God hears prayers from Children prior to salvation? I mean like little kids 5, 6,7 8, 9 (where they really do believe in God, but they dont understand everything)

Absolutely I think he does. He said we were to be like the little children, I think their innocence and absolute trust and belief give them a special place with God, and I think he does listen and respond to their prayers.

[Simonline]

when i pray for my friends that do not belive in God i pray that God will show himslef to them and that he will help me be a good witness to them. But if i pray for example a prayer like "i pray you will be with he/she and help them with this or that" would God answer a prayer like this. does God look after or help a non-christian in any situation if we ask for it?

Jas.5:13-20

Simonline.

[Simonline]

I got a question. Do you think God hears prayers from Children prior to salvation? I mean like little kids 5, 6,7 8, 9 (where they really do believe in God, but they dont understand everything)


Doesn't that apply to all children between the ages of 12 months to 120 years old [the more I know, the more I realize that I don't know]?!

Simonline.

[DawnTillery]

Absolutely I think he does. He said we were to be like the little children, I think their innocence and absolute trust and belief give them a special place with God, and I think he does listen and respond to their prayers.

The reason I ask is i did a youth group lesson with the kids and they are 4,-10 in that class and my daughter which is 14 and saved.
I was reading the verses about how people called out to Jesus as He walked by and He healed them because they believed. and I was explaining to them that they could call out to Jesus anytime (just not time of trouble) but anytime and the lady that was there with me, said yes if you believe.. I thought, well i think all these kids do believe, may not 100% understand, but they do believe. Then I thought the same way you do snoochface, but I wasnt sure.. She may of been making the comment for my daughters benefit cause she is 14. (i dont know)
I wanted to do these 6 lessons with them that teaches them about prayer and how God listens and answers prayers when its His will..

I just wasnt sure and didnt want to be teaching something, cause I thought it was fine. i wil just have to ask her why she said that.

[vinc]

When we pray for non-believers, God does hear our prayers and acts accordingly if it fits into His Divine Eternal Plan too.

We are to live as a good witness for Christ on earth. We are not to live "as a show" to the non-believers but are to live as a good witness on earth spontaneously for the love of Christ itself (and not expecting any reward on earth or in heaven). Because love does everything for the sake of love and love does not expect anything in return.

If we pray to God to help non-christians, then, He is bound to help them as long as it does not disturb His Divine Eternal Plan. If we pray for others (both christians and non-christians) only because of love and concern for others then we are blessed by our Lord.

I think that our Lord God, who is God of all Creation, will surely listen to the prayers of the non-christians also (even though they may be praying to their own deities and not referring to the real God) and help them. Because the Bible says in Matthew 5:45 "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust".

[snoochface]

I think that our Lord God, who is God of all Creation, will surely listen to the prayers of the non-christians also (even though they may be praying to their own deities and not referring to the real God) and help them. Because the Bible says in Matthew 5:45 "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust".

I disagree with this. I do not believe that God hears the prayers of non-Christians, other than the prayer for salvation.

john 9:31

James 1:6-7

Isaiah 59:2

Jeremiah 14:10-12

Proverbs 28:9

These two proverbs verses go together.

Proverbs 1:24-25
Proverbs 1:28

Zechariah 7:11-13

I also don't think he will hear prayers directed toward other "gods".

Jeremiah 11:11-14

Ezekiel 8:15-18

[Valerie090101]

snoochface - I never knew that God did not hear non-Christian prayers, except for prayers of Salvation. I just wanted to let you know, your post really hit home for me. Thanks for putting all the quotes from the Bible that you did. I have learned 2 things today, and one of the two is that I really need to start reading the Bible. :)

[vinc]

Snoochface :- Let us study your first quote of John 9:31. Thank you for quoting this. It clearly says, that God heareth not sinners (this can include both christians and non-christians also). It also says that if anyone be a worshipper of God (the Divine Supreme Being of the Universe) and does His Will (of living a life of good, righteousness and justice), such a person is heard by God. Again this can include both christians as well as non-christians.

And the rest all quotes which you have quoted holds good for both christians and non-christians too because we are all sinners equally. As christians, we are only sinners saved by His grace.

Romans 3:9 - What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

Romans 3:29 - Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

We must remember that we are a little better-off than the non-christians in the thing that we worship the True Messiah, True Saviour and True Lord of Heaven and Earth. Apart from that we are all struggling with our sins just like any sincere non-christian would struggle in his/her life to live a morally good life.

We also need to remember that our God is a God of Love i.e Divine Love which is superior to human love. Our God is also the God of All Creation (not only the God of Christians alone) and that Lord Jesus Christ has died for the entire human race and not for Jews or Christians alone.

John 12:32 - And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

The above verse clearly indicates the desire and divine plan of the Lord to save all human beings (as many as possible showering His abundant grace and mercy).

Matthew 12:18 - Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Matthew 12:21 - And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Luke 2:32 - A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Acts 11:18 - When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

In all the above verse, it is very clear that Lord Jesus Christ is also equally for the Gentiles (non-christians).

Matthew 19:30 - But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

The above verse indicates that those whom we may think that they will go first to Heaven may be the ones who go last to Heaven i.e the First shall be Last. And those whom we may think will never go to Heaven may end up in Heaven i.e the Last shall be First. We have to take this verse very seriously because we may think that we (Christians) and Christian Leaders would be the First to go to heaven but surprisingly some of us may be the Last. So, there are going to be a lot of surprises in heaven when we get there.

John 3:17 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The above verse indicates that Lord Jesus Christ did not come to condemn the world but His intention was and is to save the world (the entire world i.e the entire human race).

1 Timothy 2:1-4 :- I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

The above verse in 1 Timothy 2 exhorts us to pray for others (both christians and non-christians) as this would be good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will want all humans to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The Bible also says that God is not a respector of persons and He sees everyone alike. He punished King David for the sin he committed towards Uriah the Hittite. He punished Moses so that he could not see the land of canaan. He troubled and taught lessons to Jonah in order to reach and save the people of Nineveh. So, you see all the time God has concern for every Creature of His Creation and He judges each one according to the life s(he) has lived.

We should never be under the impression, that we are much better than the non-christians and that is why God will hear only our prayers and not hear the cries and prayers of non-christians.

The Bible says that it is God who feeds the birds and grows the lilies as per below verse -

Matthew 6:26 - Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

There may be sinful and wicked non-christians just like there could be sinful and wicked religious christians whom God may not listen to because of their sins. But, God may be definitely listening to the prayers of morally good, sincere christians and non-christians (who are not knowing the Real Truth but yet are sincere-hearted).

The Old Testament standard is different (i.e Laws and Commandments) and the New Testament standard is different (i.e Love and Grace). After Lord Jesus Christ came the entire human race is under grace. And we who know the Truth now live a life which is love-based and not rule-based.

I sincerely urge you to read the following books whose Authors have been blessed and permitted to see Heaven, Hell and the World of Spirits -

Heaven And Its Wonders And Hell written by Emanuel Swedenborg - http://swedenborg.newearth.org/hh/hh.html (http://swedenborg.newearth.org/hh/hh.html)

Visions of the Spiritual World by Sadhu Sundar Singh - http://www.eaglevision.com.my/ssvisions.htm

At the Master's Feet by Sadhu Sundar Singh - http://www.sadhusundarsingh.homestead.com/files/feet.html

The above 3 books will help us to understand the Bible and God in a better and true way. I have read the above books and have been blessed by reading them. I have formed my opinions based on them. Both Emanuel Swedenborg and Sadhu Sundar Singh have lived exceptional christian lives.

More than this i would not like to say anything else as there is no direct verse in the Bible apart from John 9:31 (which supports that God would hear some of the morally sincere non-christians also seeing their faith only and overlooking their ignorance in His abundant mercy).

That was my honest and sincere opinion. And i know most christians may not agree with my opinion. Lord bless you.

[snoochface]

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, Vinc.

Everything you posted seems to be a clear indication to me that Jesus came to save us all (Jews and Gentiles alike) and God wants us all to be saved. I totally agree with that. And yes, he wants us to pray as intercessors for non-Christians. And yes, he wants to hear non-Christians cry out to him for salvation. And yes, he takes care of even the birds and little creatures of the world. I agree with all of that.

But I don't think you posted anything that indicates God hears the prayers of non-Christians, other than their prayers for salvation.

I do not say this in thinking that we as Christians are any better than non-Christians. On the contrary! I know good, moral, upstanding people who are not Christians and who are "better" people than some Christians I know. But the only way that God sees us as perfect is when we are seen through the love of Jesus. And that is only after we are saved. No one has the ability to be good, moral, and upstanding in God's eyes, unless we are seen through Jesus. That doesn't mean I think we are better than non-Christians. It just means that we have been saved and they have not, yet.

As for the books you posted, I think it's great that they have given you understanding. But I do not want to base my opinions on books written by men - I only want to base my opinions, beliefs, and understanding on the Bible.

As I said, I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one. :)

[snoochface]

Two quick things I forgot to mention in my last post.

In all the above verse, it is very clear that Lord Jesus Christ is also equally for the Gentiles (non-christians).

Gentiles, the way it was used in the Bible, does not mean non-Christians. It means non-Jew. There were Jews and there were Gentiles. Those were the two "classes" of people at the time. Many Jews of the time were non-Christians. Many were Christians. Many Gentiles also were non-Christians, and many were Christians.

G1672
Ἕλλην
Hellēn
hel'-lane
From G1671; a Hellen (Grecian) or inhabitant of Hellas; by extension a Greek speaking person, especially a non-Jew: - Gentile, Greek.

G1484
ἔθνος
ethnos
eth'-nos
Probably from G1486; a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan): - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.


After Lord Jesus Christ came the entire human race is under grace.

Again I disagree with this. The entire human race is not under grace since the death and resurrection of Jesus. Those who choose to follow Jesus, have faith in Jesus, and accept the forgiveness that came with Jesus' suffering for our sins - those are the people who are now under grace and are no longer under the law of the Old Testament. Everyone in all of humanity is not under grace.

[vinc]

Yes Snoochface. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. The Real & Complete Truth will be known to all in Heaven. :)

[TheListener]

when i pray for my friends that do not belive in God i pray that God will show himslef to them and that he will help me be a good witness to them. But if i pray for example a prayer like "i pray you will be with he/she and help them with this or that" would God answer a prayer like this. does God look after or help a non-christian in any situation if we ask for it?

Yes! I've seen some miraculous answered prayers.