Prayer from non believer....

Funky Slippers said:

I have a question on Prayer and non-believers (unsaved).

We know that the prayers of the unbeliever (unsaved) will not be heard. If an unbeliever requests prayer from a believer does this prayer also go unheard?
John 9:31
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Read more: Does God Answer the Prayers of the Unsaved or Unbelievers?

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All the prayers of the faithful are heard by God.
The answer to the prayer is always God's will, so whatever the prayer was about, the answer will be God's will too.

The requester of the prayer has manifested that they "believe in God", (or they wouldn't have asked you), so it must be the "serving God" part of Christianity that they resist.
Work on that aspect of your "requester's" soul.

I think you assume way too much when you say that an unsaved person's prayer will not be heard. First off, the verse from John 9 refers to a worshiper of God and one could take that to mean the God of Abraham and this would include Jews and Muslims. Remember, there are no doubt many Muslims around the Earth who have not heard the Gospel message and some of them no doubt follow Jesus' two commandments of loving God and others. As for Jews, one could well make the case that though they are well aware of the Gospel message, they are blinded by the doctrine of "invincible ignorance", due to countless generations of discrimination laid against them by Christians and yes, the Christian Church.

Funky Slippers said:

I have a question on Prayer and non-believers (unsaved).

We know that the prayers of the unbeliever (unsaved) will not be heard. If an unbeliever requests prayer from a believer does this prayer also go unheard?
John 9:31
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Read more: Does God Answer the Prayers of the Unsaved or Unbelievers?

Click to expand...

I don't think that scripture relates to prayers. So yeah it's OK for believers to pray for non-believers.

That scripture relates to God not hearing sin, but he does hear righteousness, the acts, thoughts and hearts of both.

At least that's my decipher

Funky Slippers said:

Phil W said: ↑
All the prayers of the faithful are heard by God.
The answer to the prayer is always God's will, so whatever the prayer was about, the answer will be God's will too.

The requester of the prayer has manifested that they "believe in God", (or they wouldn't have asked you), so it must be the "serving God" part of Christianity that they resist.
Work on that aspect of your "requester's" soul.

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Thanks! Makes total sense.
Is it appropriate to ask a person requesting prayer if they have received Jesus into their life?

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It seems that the requester hasn't, or would do the praying themselves.
It is, however, always 'appropriate'.

Funky Slippers said:

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:2).

Because I [Wisdom] have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke.... Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me (Proverbs 1:24-25, 28).

So, does God answer the prayers of unbelievers? A strict yes or no answer is difficult without qualifying the answer in various ways. However, it is noteworthy that the above mentioned principles represent some of the key characteristics of an unbeliever. Thus we can safely say that, in general, God does not answer the prayers of an unbeliever.

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In this matter is there a difference between unbelievers destined for salvation and those who are not?

If God doesnt hear the prayer of anyone who isnt "saved" who, then, can be saved......for any prayer of repentance or salvation would, too, have to go unheard.....

RaymondG said:

If God doesnt hear the prayer of anyone who isnt "saved" who, then, can be saved......for any prayer of repentance or salvation would, too, have to go unheard.....

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If you go into the original text I think you will find that translation of " not hearing" to be more accurate if stated chooses to not hear. It's not that God doesn't hear the words but that He chooses to not act on them. I did a study on this once but it's not in front of me now. But the call out to God to save ones self He will act on IE "hear".

On the other note, I've seen prayers of mine be answered in non believers lives.....

Funky Slippers said:

I have a question on Prayer and non-believers (unsaved).

We know that the prayers of the unbeliever (unsaved) will not be heard. If an unbeliever requests prayer from a believer does this prayer also go unheard?
John 9:31
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Read more: Does God Answer the Prayers of the Unsaved or Unbelievers?

Click to expand...

Prayers prayed with faith are answered.

So, it would figure that prayers have been answered we can expect for people that hadn't yet gone further, hadn't yet progressed to that saving step of faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.

Being saved (to eternal life) is after one confesses that one is sinful and turns to Christ in repentance, with faith in Him, believing in Him (and thus also in all He says).

About prayers for others that haven't yet been saved -- they work by the same rules Christ gave for prayer. He gave about 4-6 rules depending on how you number them. If you pray as He said, the prayers are answered.

But we cannot expect to pray for something that is against God's will, and then believe it will be answered, against His will.

One of the things God specified in scripture for instance:

Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 29:23; Matthew 23:12; Luke 1:52; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5
-- "God gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud."

So, no matter how much faith one has, we can't expect to pray for God to go against His stated will, and favor the proud with grace....

Funky Slippers said:

I have a question on Prayer and non-believers (unsaved).

We know that the prayers of the unbeliever (unsaved) will not be heard. If an unbeliever requests prayer from a believer does this prayer also go unheard?
John 9:31
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Read more: Does God Answer the Prayers of the Unsaved or Unbelievers?

Click to expand...

There is only one prayer from an unbeliever that God will listen to: "Lord, forgive me, a sinner." An unbeliever can only come to the point where he can pray that prayer is when he believes the gospel and knows that Christ is the only way to salvation.

RaymondG said:

If God doesnt hear the prayer of anyone who isnt "saved" who, then, can be saved......for any prayer of repentance or salvation would, too, have to go unheard.....

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Where do you read of a "prayer of repentance"?
If one really turns from sin, permanently, they are no longer sinners: and God does hear them.

RaymondG said:

If God doesnt hear the prayer of anyone who isnt "saved" who, then, can be saved......for any prayer of repentance or salvation would, too, have to go unheard.....

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Jesus indicated quite clearly the prayer that God would hear instantly: "God, forgive me, a sinner". He said that prayer would bring instant justification and salvation.

Phil W said:

Where do you read of a "prayer of repentance"?
If one really turns from sin, permanently, they are no longer sinners: and God does hear them.

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So you believe that one can stop sinning on their own, without the help of God? And only after this can God hear them?

Oscarr said:

Jesus indicated quite clearly the prayer that God would hear instantly: "God, forgive me, a sinner". He said that prayer would bring instant justification and salvation.

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I read your indication of this fact quite clearly in your posts....and I find no fault in it...... I do not, however see any indication in scriptures that there are certain trigger words that open God's ears to hear.

How can we be held accountable for every idle word, if no words are heard before the ear-opening words you mentioned?

Oscarr said:

Jesus indicated quite clearly the prayer that God would hear instantly: "God, forgive me, a sinner". He said that prayer would bring instant justification and salvation.

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Scripture, please.

RaymondG said:

So you believe that one can stop sinning on their own, without the help of God? And only after this can God hear them?

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The chance of a totally obedient to God life is a gift from God...but we have to take the opportunity.
It is our choice in how we will live.