Why Pray for someone to get saved

[kross]

It has been said that GOD does not put special effort into saving anyone. The HOLY SPIRIT will woo and those who want, will choose.

If GOD were going to make a special effort to save someone, would HE make that effort based on HIS will or the will of a person?

Who should decide who is going to live with GOD for all eternity, us or HIM?

If it were my house, I would choose who comes in and who is left out. (LIke the man at the wedding feast)

So, if GOD is going to do something out of the ordinary, some special effort to save who we pray for, why not pray for everyone so GOD will do this for all men?

If GOD is doing all HE can to save all men, I gotta say HE is failing. If, on the other hand, HE is saving who HE wants, than HE probably has a perfect record. ("All that the FATHER gives ME will come to ME and of them I will loose none" Says JESUS)

IF GOD really wants "all men" to be saved, why doesn't HE do to everyone what HE did to Paul?

Just questions that run through my head.

[AnotherTraveler]

It has been said that GOD does not put special effort into saving anyone. The HOLY SPIRIT will woo and those who want, will choose.

If GOD were going to make a special effort to save someone, would HE make that effort based on HIS will or the will of a person?

Who should decide who is going to live with GOD for all eternity, us or HIM?

If it were my house, I would choose who comes in and who is left out. (LIke the man at the wedding feast)

So, if GOD is going to do something out of the ordinary, some special effort to save who we pray for, why not pray for everyone so GOD will do this for all men?

If GOD is doing all HE can to save all men, I gotta say HE is failing. If, on the other hand, HE is saving who HE wants, than HE probably has a perfect record. ("All that the FATHER gives ME will come to ME and of them I will loose none" Says JESUS)

IF GOD really wants "all men" to be saved, why doesn't HE do to everyone what HE did to Paul?

Just questions that run through my head.

Paul's response was to serve the Lord. Some might have blamed the Lord for blinding them, hated Him for knocking them off the horse, and might have dispised the gospel anyway. Some people don't want God at all.

[Poindexter]

It has been said that GOD does not put special effort into saving anyone. The HOLY SPIRIT will woo and those who want, will choose.

If GOD were going to make a special effort to save someone, would HE make that effort based on HIS will or the will of a person?

Who should decide who is going to live with GOD for all eternity, us or HIM?

If it were my house, I would choose who comes in and who is left out. (LIke the man at the wedding feast)

So, if GOD is going to do something out of the ordinary, some special effort to save who we pray for, why not pray for everyone so GOD will do this for all men?

If GOD is doing all HE can to save all men, I gotta say HE is failing. If, on the other hand, HE is saving who HE wants, than HE probably has a perfect record. ("All that the FATHER gives ME will come to ME and of them I will loose none" Says JESUS)

IF GOD really wants "all men" to be saved, why doesn't HE do to everyone what HE did to Paul?

Just questions that run through my head.

Paul's response was to serve the Lord. Some might have blamed the Lord for blinding them, hated Him for knocking them off the horse, and might have dispised the gospel anyway. Some people don't want God at all.

If very God showed up in the road and blinded me and spoke words of "Why persecutest thou me?" I expect I would be all ears also...a supernatural event has to be tops in response...for me I was spoken to and told to "Turn aside" three times and I knew I better listen and obey...my testimony starts there...I have also wondered why one person may get attention and some other may go a life time without intervention...I have been told several times that I am called to a great work. Yet I sit here looking all around at my natural.

[Rest is a weapon]

Interesting thoughts there friend. I have, I'm sure, I've wondered something like that at some time. A few thoughts come to mind as I read your post. One is the verses that say God's ways are above our ways. So that comparing our reasoning for how we would decide who is going to be chosen for heaven, almost surely, couldn't line up with God's.

God seems to have laid out the party (heaven) and sent invitations to everyone. The criteria for attending is to be perfect. That could be a problem, but knowing that he has Jesus prepare a way for all. So if we would like to come, they would love to have us. Just ask Jesus and he'll cover you for the perfection thing.

I think that we are to play a bigger role in the process of God's Kingdom than to be just get picked for heaven. I believe that God purposely holds back on 'road to Damascus' interventions in most people and instead moves when those in his kingdom (like me and you) pray. Then he gets more bang for his buck (so to speak) by having his children grow in knowledge and wisdom; while evoking God to move to save the world. God says through the word, that his will is that none would perish. So it's clear he would desire everyone to choose the life that Jesus has offered to provide.

You say... it has been said that God doesn't put special effort into saving anyone. Who said that? Most the christian friends I have tell stories of their lives being tragically lost and in huge crisis when God made some kind of 'special effort' on their behalf and they became christians. I would bet 95+% of christians would say God made a special effort for them to meet Jesus.

You also say...So, if GOD is going to do something out of the ordinary, some special effort to save who we pray for, why not pray for everyone so GOD will do this for all men?<<<<<<< That is a great idea and I think God is counting on us to do that for all the ones he makes us aware of. If each of us servants pray for as many as God gives us to pray for the whole world will get prayed for and God will bring them to that place of enlightenment. At which point they will then CHOOSE to accept the invitation of Jesus or reject it.

...If GOD is doing all HE can to save all men, I gotta say HE is failing.

I believe God's success rate is 100% He's paved the way into heaven and given only one criteria for it's entrance. We would need to choose. And for any that choose Jesus, 100% win that prize.

Thanks for the questions Kross, they got me thinking. God bless

[stormy612]

Sometimes, I pray just a general prayer-Father, open their eyes and hearts to You. Then there are those times when I try to seek out from God what He knows they need. If He reveals that to me, I then pray according to what He has revealed AND pray that He gives me the words to speak specifically to them. Jesus meets us where we are at, so I've gotta know where people are and then go there so God can speak to them. I've yet to have one person I've spoken to repent on the spot, but I do know when He's planted a seed in the good soil that is somewhere in them. After that, all I can do is continually pray that either I or someone else waters that seed, that God breathes life into the seed, and that I stand true as an example or proof that Jesus' salvation does what He says it does.

Romans 1:20-21 - For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as Go, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

These verses go on to explain that people chose NOT to follow God, even though He's made His presence known, so He let them go as they willed. So, do I pray that their eyes and heart be open? Or do I pray that He works something in them to turn their will back to Him?

[Guest Biblicist]

I pray for the lost because Christ did. He prayed for me. He is my example.

John 17

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name

[EricH]

Because in a way that we cannot understand God uses our prayers to accomplish His will. Not that He needs our prayers, but in grace He has given our prayers real significance

[Matthitjah]

Because in a way that we cannot understand God uses our prayers to accomplish His will. Not that He needs our prayers, but in grace He has given our prayers real significance

Amen Brother and that is part of the Mystery that Paul spoke about. The one that angels long to look into but cannot.

I would add that Job was asked to pray for his compatriotsand it was left entirely up to him by God. Yet it was also stated that God would not restore them or forgive them if Job didn't pray and ask Him. God has given us a wonderful blessing.

I think it has alot to do with God looking for a Friend and someone to partner with Him in His Glory.

Ex

[Abigailwc]

Because this is what God wants us to do. Our prayers are very important to Him, He made it so.

[Guest shiloh357]

If GOD is doing all HE can to save all men, I gotta say HE is failing.

Actually when Jesus died on the cross, that was God doing all He could do, and giving all He had to give. If a person rejects Christ, that is not a failure on God's part. Each of us is responsible for what we do with the truth that we have.

If, on the other hand, HE is saving who HE wants, than HE probably has a perfect record. ("All that the FATHER gives ME will come to ME and of them I will loose none" Says JESUS)

God has a perfect record of saving those who come to Him for salvation. No one is turned away, who truly believes on Christ.

The only way you could claim that God is failing is if God is unable to save all that He wants to save. The first person who comes to God who is so sinful and so vile that they are beyond salvation and God has to say, "sorry, I can't save you, you are too sinful," THEN you can start picking at God's track record.

IF GOD really wants "all men" to be saved, why doesn't HE do to everyone what HE did to Paul?

For the same reason God doesn't give everyone $1 Million. For some it would be a blessing and others a curse. Some people get a vision and it puffs them up and they would start prancing around like banny roosters and complete inflated with their own sense of importance. For some people, they would glorify the vision more than Christ, and for others, it would only incite their pride. God shows true visions to those He knows that He can trust with the correct response.