Praying for the lost

[TwinMommy]

Forgive me if I starting posting a lot. I feel my eyes have been opened and the more I am reading God's Word and reading as much as I can about Calvinism, it is making sense. I still have questions and foresee that list growing.

In all the churches I have been in(a few Independent Baptist, currently non-dem and might be going back to Baptist) praying for those who have not yet come to God has been a very big thing. My question is, does praying those people do any good? God has already decided who he will call. I would think in that case no matter how many times we pray for someone, it will not effect the situation because that is one thing that God decided so long ago.

Hope that I put that ok. I have a million things floating around in my head. Info overload but in a very good way.

 

[toolmanjantzi]

Forgive me if I starting posting a lot. I feel my eyes have been opened and the more I am reading God's Word and reading as much as I can about Calvinism, it is making sense. I still have questions and foresee that list growing.

In all the churches I have been in(a few Independent Baptist, currently non-dem and might be going back to Baptist) praying for those who have not yet come to God has been a very big thing. My question is, does praying those people do any good? God has already decided who he will call. I would think in that case no matter how many times we pray for someone, it will not effect the situation because that is one thing that God decided so long ago.

Hope that I put that ok. I have a million things floating around in my head. Info overload but in a very good way.

Yes it does, DO NOT STOP. Gods will I'd for us to preach the gospel.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:14-17 KJV)

It's by hearing the gospel truth that God had chosen as the way of salvation.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44 KJV)

Pray for them.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44 KJV)

Let God do the regenerating, you just share the truth.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

The truth is the word(Jesus).

We are commanded to go out and preach the gospel.

 

[TwinMommy]

Yes preaching the gospel is what all are called to do. No doubt in that.
Thank you for the scripture references. I really appreciate it.

 

[toolmanjantzi]

Yes preaching the gospel is what all are called to do. No doubt in that.
Thank you for the scripture references. I really appreciate it.

Calvinism has its extremes, and waiting to talk to a person with a big "ELECT" written on them is not going to happen. Don't be like those who take it to the extreme. Great to hear you've found truth.

 

[Shulamite]

Forgive me if I starting posting a lot. I feel my eyes have been opened and the more I am reading God's Word and reading as much as I can about Calvinism, it is making sense. I still have questions and foresee that list growing.

In all the churches I have been in(a few Independent Baptist, currently non-dem and might be going back to Baptist) praying for those who have not yet come to God has been a very big thing. My question is, does praying those people do any good? God has already decided who he will call. I would think in that case no matter how many times we pray for someone, it will not effect the situation because that is one thing that God decided so long ago.

Hope that I put that ok. I have a million things floating around in my head. Info overload but in a very good way.

Glad you're here! I remember when the Lord opend my eyes and heart to this too. It's very exciting and I know what you are feeling. The Lord takes us away from the doctrines of "men" that have been taught to us by well-meaning people all of our lives, and then reveals the truth of His heart.
When He first showed me Election and predestination of His own, I didn't belong to the forums and never even heard the words "Calvinism" or "Arminianism" yet! LOL It was when I joined the forms and came across the Soteriology threads and these Reformed threads that I met people who had seen this too. The Lord has already taught me and so when I joined the boards and found out what the word "Calvinism" was, it only confirmed what the Lord had been teaching me all along.

 

[TwinMommy]

Calvinism has its extremes, and waiting to talk to a person with a big "ELECT" written on them is not going to happen. Don't be like those who take it to the extreme. Great to hear you've found truth.

In what way would it be taken to the extreme?

 

[TwinMommy]

Glad you're here! I remember when the Lord opend my eyes and heart to this too. It's very exciting and I know what you are feeling. The Lord takes us away from the doctrines of "men" that have been taught to us by well-meaning people all of our lives, and then reveals the truth of His heart.
When He first showed me Election and predestination of His own, I didn't belong to the forums and never even heard the words "Calvinism" or "Arminianism" yet! LOL It was when I joined the forms and came across the Soteriology threads and these Reformed threads that I met people who had seen this too. The Lord has already taught me and so when I joined the boards and found out what the word "Calvinism" was, it only confirmed what the Lord had been teaching me all along.

It is beyond amazing when you start seeing the truth. I love listening to Paul Washer, John Piper and John MacArthur and that is when I started questioning what I know to be the truth and needed to dig in and see what the truth really is. As I read and listen online resources and go to God about the truth being revealed, it is getting very hard to deny that it is the truth.

We are moving in about a month and I have been searching for churches I have been in contact with a Pastor and his wife. I will admit that I glanced over the beliefs that the church holds and didn't dig into it. As I have been studying Calvinism I have realized that the church holds to Calvinism beliefs.
That makes me very excited. Was thinking about posting the beliefs of the church to see if they do fully line up. There is a lot of information and it is somewhat overwhelming.

I am in a sense stuck right now or at least feel that way as I don't feel right now I could clearly state to someone what the beliefs are, what it means and how the Bible backs it all up. I think since I am in a learning process that I don't need to worry about it too much.

I have been with my church for about a year and half, and the thought of leaving my church home was really bothering me, but God brought me peace about it and I see why He is calling me out of it. I could still go but I will be about 45 minutes away. Community is very important to me. I don't want to just be going to church on Sunday. I feel we are to come together with our brothers and sister as often as we can. I do have a few friends giving a really hard time about it. I have totally rambled here. Sorry about that lol It is really nice having a place to turn to.

That is great that once you came here you could see why. It is an amazing journey that we are taken on.

 

[Shulamite]

It is beyond amazing when you start seeing the truth. I love listening to Paul Washer, John Piper and John MacArthur and that is when I started questioning what I know to be the truth and needed to dig in and see what the truth really is. As I read and listen online resources and go to God about the truth being revealed, it is getting very hard to deny that it is the truth.

We are moving in about a month and I have been searching for churches I have been in contact with a Pastor and his wife. I will admit that I glanced over the beliefs that the church holds and didn't dig into it. As I have been studying Calvinism I have realized that the church holds to Calvinism beliefs.
That makes me very excited. Was thinking about posting the beliefs of the church to see if they do fully line up. There is a lot of information and it is somewhat overwhelming.

I am in a sense stuck right now or at least feel that way as I don't feel right now I could clearly state to someone what the beliefs are, what it means and how the Bible backs it all up. I think since I am in a learning process that I don't need to worry about it too much.

I have been with my church for about a year and half, and the thought of leaving my church home was really bothering me, but God brought me peace about it and I see why He is calling me out of it. I could still go but I will be about 45 minutes away. Community is very important to me. I don't want to just be going to church on Sunday. I feel we are to come together with our brothers and sister as often as we can. I do have a few friends giving a really hard time about it. I have totally rambled here. Sorry about that lol It is really nice having a place to turn to.

That is great that once you came here you could see why. It is an amazing journey that we are taken on.

Thanks for sharing. I have asked the Lord if it's His will to move my husband and I to a Reformed church, and as of yet, He has not moved us. I always get strange looks and responses from the members of our church too about Calvinism and Election, they truly love the Lord and are wonderful people and have rallied around me in love whenever I have needed them, but when I even remotely try to discuss Election with them, it's like I'm speaking a foreign language. I feel the Lord must open anyone's undertanding to this otherwise it will not be understood. I love coming to the Reformed threads and fellowshipping because the Lord confirms all the more what He's given to me to see.

I'm glad the Lord is taking you into understanding this. Just be warned/prepared: you WILL be challenged a lot by people and sometimes even opposed vehemently for speaking about Election. Just stick to what you know the Lord has convinced you of and rest in Him alone, praying that if it's His will, He will grant them knowledge of the truth. But, you can expect that reaction from others who don't yet see this.

 

[TwinMommy]

Thanks for sharing. I have asked the Lord if it's His will to move my husband and I to a Reformed church, and as of yet, He has not moved us. I always get strange looks and responses from the members of our church too about Calvinism and Election, they truly love the Lord and are wonderful people and have rallied around me in love whenever I have needed them, but when I even remotely try to discuss Election with them, it's like I'm speaking a foreign language. I feel the Lord must open anyone's undertanding to this otherwise it will not be understood. I love coming to the Reformed threads and fellowshipping because the Lord confirms all the more what He's given to me to see.

I'm glad the Lord is taking you into understanding this. Just be warned/prepared: you WILL be challenged a lot by people and sometimes even opposed vehemently for speaking about Election. Just stick to what you know the Lord has convinced you of and rest in Him alone, praying that if it's His will, He will grant them knowledge of the truth. But, you can expect that reaction from others who don't yet see this.

How long has it been since you saw what the truth is? It is always nice to talk with others who have the same beliefs. I have been reading tons of information online and searching the scripture and I think what will help me keep it all in my heart and mind is writing it all out, so I will be doing that today. I think that will also help me see what I need more information on for better understanding.

I know that my current Pastor is very much against it. I told him the other week that I was studying it and his response wasn't very good. I was too naive for too long and would let someone who was a Pastor or someone who was a Christian longer than me, shape the way I saw God's word. I do not let that happen now, and it will not happen in the future. Only God can truly show me what His word means.

 

[Shulamite]

How long has it been since you saw what the truth is? It is always nice to talk with others who have the same beliefs. I have been reading tons of information online and searching the scripture and I think what will help me keep it all in my heart and mind is writing it all out, so I will be doing that today. I think that will also help me see what I need more information on for better understanding.

I know that my current Pastor is very much against it. I told him the other week that I was studying it and his response wasn't very good. I was too naive for too long and would let someone who was a Pastor or someone who was a Christian longer than me, shape the way I saw God's word. I do not let that happen now, and it will not happen in the future. Only God can truly show me what His word means.

Amen! Never let any man/woman be the primary teacher to you of God's Word. Only the One who wrote it can open your heart to it. Jesus was very emphatic when He said, "Call no one else teacher, for you have one teacher, The Christ"...and "When He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into ALL truth." In Galations, Paul says that what he understood did not come from man, nor was he taught it, it was given by revelation from Jesus Christ. Be warned: one you start sharing what Jesus has revealed to you and He's opened your heart, it will offend others who have not received this and they will opppose it. He taught me the same, that He alone is my Teacher, not pastors, books, seminars or others who have "degrees" on their walls. The book of Acts says that Jesus chose men who "were uneducated and untrained men, but people knew they had been with Jesus."

Jesus revealed the truth of Election to me several years ago. I'd say about 5-7 years ago. But He's progressively taken me deeper and deeper with each passing year, stripping away layer after layer, like a treasure, revealing more and more as time goes on!

 

[TwinMommy]

Amen! Never let any man/woman be the primary teacher to you of God's Word. Only the One who wrote it can open your heart to it. Jesus was very emphatic when He said, "Call no one else teacher, for you have one teacher, The Christ"...and "When He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into ALL truth." In Galations, Paul says that what he understood did not come from man, nor was he taught it, it was given by revelation from Jesus Christ. Be warned: one you start sharing what Jesus has revealed to you and He's opened your heart, it will offend others who have not received this and they will opppose it. He taught me the same, that He alone is my Teacher, not pastors, books, seminars or others who have "degrees" on their walls. The book of Acts says that Jesus chose men who "were uneducated and untrained men, but people knew they had been with Jesus."

Jesus revealed the truth of Election to me several years ago. I'd say about 5-7 years ago. But He's progressively taken me deeper and deeper with each passing year, stripping away layer after layer, like a treasure, revealing more and more as time goes on!

I feel God is our number 1 teacher and scripture is the tool He uses. Maybe tool isn't the right word, but I need more coffee LOL

I am so glad I came here because I feel this another tool to use. I love getting to know other Christians and love digging into scripture with them.

I like to use the symbolism of an onion. You peel layer after layer off and get to the part that powerful that moves something in you.

 

[toolmanjantzi]

In what way would it be taken to the extreme?

I also love to hear Paul Washer, John MacArthur, Charles Spurgeon, Vodie Baucham, and others.

Todd Freil also nice for a change.

I have a friend that grew up in a Strict Reformed Church, he has left Calvinism due to the lack of need for the gospel to be preached to the lost. Their reasoning is because they feel the Elect will just become converted without hearing the gospel. From a human perspective that makes sense. From a biblical point, it is not the way that God has chosen for the chosen to come. He tells us to preach the word, so they might hear.

I have slowly explained to my friend that it was a bad form of Calvinism.

John MacArthur, Charles Spurgeon have had a good sermon discussing the need to preach to the unsaved; but more importantly expositing the scriptures to the believers.

 

[TwinMommy]

I also love to hear Paul Washer, John MacArthur, Charles Spurgeon, Vodie Baucham, and others.

Todd Freil also nice for a change.

I have a friend that grew up in a Strict Reformed Church, he has left Calvinism due to the lack of need for the gospel to be preached to the lost. Their reasoning is because they feel the Elect will just become converted without hearing the gospel. From a human perspective that makes sense. From a biblical point, it is not the way that God has chosen for the chosen to come. He tells us to preach the word, so they might hear.

I have slowly explained to my friend that it was a bad form of Calvinism.

John MacArthur, Charles Spurgeon have had a good sermon discussing the need to preach to the unsaved; but more importantly expositing the scriptures to the believers.

Todd Freil is great. I didn't know he is a Calvinist. I am not familiar with Vodie Bauchman. Will have to see what I can find.

We can't leave out the gospel, that is made beyond clear.

I have read a few things written by Spurgeon over the last week and plan on reading a lot more.