Prayers from non-believers

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Angel

Prayers from non-believers

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Post by Angel »

Does or would God answer a prayer from non-believer?

Would God answer the prayer or request of some form from a believer esp. when it doesn't involve them being saved? An example would maybe be Satan asking God for something? (and we all know from Scripture the Devil is already condemned).

naz
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Re: Prayers from non-believers

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Angel wrote:Does or would God answer a prayer from non-believer?

Would God answer the prayer or request of some form from a believer esp. when it doesn't involve them being saved? An example would maybe be Satan asking God for something? (and we all know from Scripture the Devil is already condemned).
I don’t see why a non-believer would feel the need to pray if they don’t feel there is a need for god in their life. If they think they are above god or can do without god then I don’t see how god would communicate with them through prayer unless they slowly changed their outlook on god and life.

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ChaosBorders
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Re: Prayers from non-believers

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Angel wrote:Does or would God answer a prayer from non-believer?

Would God answer the prayer or request of some form from a believer esp. when it doesn't involve them being saved? An example would maybe be Satan asking God for something? (and we all know from Scripture the Devil is already condemned).
I'd say God probably isn't any less likely to answer a prayer from a non-believer than he is from a believer, but how many non-believers do you know who pray?

Angel

Re: Prayers from non-believers

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ChaosBorders wrote:
Angel wrote:Does or would God answer a prayer from non-believer?

Would God answer the prayer or request of some form from a believer esp. when it doesn't involve them being saved? An example would maybe be Satan asking God for something? (and we all know from Scripture the Devil is already condemned).
I'd say God probably isn't any less likely to answer a prayer from a non-believer than he is from a believer, but how many non-believers do you know who pray?
I don't know of many. My question was more of a hypothetical one. The few times I've seen some non-believers pray are in times of great calamity, like floods, Sept. 11, 2001, etc.

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Re: Prayers from non-believers

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Angel wrote:Does or would God answer a prayer from non-believer?

Would God answer the prayer or request of some form from a believer esp. when it doesn't involve them being saved? An example would maybe be Satan asking God for something? (and we all know from Scripture the Devil is already condemned).
"We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will."-John 9:31.

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Post by JoeyKnothead »

Does God answer prayers from non-believers?

Yes, but the answer is no.
I might be Teddy Roosevelt, but I ain't.
-Punkinhead Martin

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Re: Prayers from non-believers

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Angel wrote:Does or would God answer a prayer from non-believer?

Would God answer the prayer or request of some form from a believer esp. when it doesn't involve them being saved? An example would maybe be Satan asking God for something? (and we all know from Scripture the Devil is already condemned).
Jesus taught us that God LOVES his enemies, and sends his blessings upon the righteous and the wicked. He judges no man, but if he does judge, he has judged all men worthy of hearing and receiving the truth.

God is AT LEAST as righteous as me, and I love all of my children. Even when they are misbehaving, I still serve them, feed them, clothe them, care for them, and protect them. If I, being evil, know how to give good gifts to my own children, how much more will God, who is good, give good gifts to his children?

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Re: Prayers from non-believers

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Angel wrote:Does or would God answer a prayer from non-believer?

Would God answer the prayer or request of some form from a believer esp. when it doesn't involve them being saved? An example would maybe be Satan asking God for something? (and we all know from Scripture the Devil is already condemned).
It depends how you understand the prayer/answer process.

a.) If you think God is a divine Santa Claus that grants everyone's wishes and gives presents to anyone who asks, then no -- it simply doesn't work that way.

b.) If you don't believe that God exists, what would be the purpose of praying?
Hebrews 11:6, NASB wrote:And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is[exists] and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Of course the above verse has been taken out of context and used to construct the "Health, wealth, and prosperity" doctrine -- which states that all true believers are blessed with earthly wealth, and all the poor and destitute are immoral and deserve it.

c.) If you aren't sure if you believe in a god or not but decide to exercise faith at the end of your capacity to know and prove -- then the prayer might be answered.

It really all depends on what's being asked. Obviously God's not gonna just violate the laws of space and time and grant magical wishes - nor would He violate man's ability to choose by stopping all crime and evil - of course this really widens the debate to many areas.

Prayer is mainly a spiritual matter.

That being said, I don't know for certain, but I do know that all prayers are heard -- simply based upon the idea of God's omniscience.

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