Odd Thing I've Noticed About Praying For Unbelievers...

**Meg** · July-14th-2012, 11:28 AM

I have noticed that when I pray for unbelievers, the sin in them seems to get stronger and matters get worse! Intellectually I know this is satan, but I guess I thought praying for the lost would have the opposite effect, that they would find a growing peace in their hearts. This is very confusing and a little intimidating. Does anyone have any insights or ideas on this matter?

**mattfivefour** · July-14th-2012, 11:40 AM

People cannot come to Christ until they know they NEED Him. Not intellectually, but deep down spiritually. Many people do not have that deep spiritual awareness of their sin. So, when we pray for people, God allows them to be brought to a place where finally their sin becomes so obvious to themselves that they are brought to that place of true need of Christ.

**Meg** · July-14th-2012, 12:18 PM

Maybe, but in the case of really hardened sinners, they seem to try to solve it with yet more sin... The visible effect is that they just go from bad to worse, which is why I find this kind of intimidating... They can sin themselves into some very serious trouble when they go that route.

**Robert** · July-14th-2012, 12:42 PM

Yes, they are brought to a place where their sin becomes obvious; that's when many rebel:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (John 3:16-21, NASB, emphasis mine)

When we pray for someone, the Lord indeed works to bring them to a place where they can see themselves and their sin. But the Lord can only show them; He's not going to force a person against their will to choose Him. Because of this, if someone doesn't want to repent of their sin, they are going to become angry and spiteful when their deeds are shown by the Light of the World. They will resist and insist on being the first one in their lives, and often do not want to relinquish control to anyone.

Additionally, the Adversary will whisper accusations and ideas into the minds of the lost. If he can help it, Satan is not going to let anyone go from his grasp and will try to plant his thoughts through suggesting them to unbelievers. He knows his time is short, and is using all the tools at his disposal (unbelievers are included in this) to work his plans. Then when he is finished with them, he drops them, broken and spent, on the floor and moves on.

This is why it often takes a person coming "to the end of themselves" (when everything is a hopeless wreck and they have nothing and nowhere left to go) before they finally turn to the Lord. They have to see that the Light that they hated for showing them their sin is the only thing that can save them from that sin.

In short: they have to see firsthand that SIN FAILS.

**mattfivefour** · July-14th-2012, 01:45 PM

And that, Robert, is indeed the point!

**Meg** · July-14th-2012, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Robert

Yes, they are brought to a place where their sin becomes obvious; that's when many rebel:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (John 3:16-21, NASB, emphasis mine)

When we pray for someone, the Lord indeed works to bring them to a place where they can see themselves and their sin. But the Lord can only show them; He's not going to force a person against their will to choose Him. Because of this, if someone doesn't want to repent of their sin, they are going to become angry and spiteful when their deeds are shown by the Light of the World. They will resist and insist on being the first one in their lives, and often do not want to relinquish control to anyone.

Additionally, the Adversary will whisper accusations and ideas into the minds of the lost. If he can help it, Satan is not going to let anyone go from his grasp and will try to plant his thoughts through suggesting them to unbelievers. He knows his time is short, and is using all the tools at his disposal (unbelievers are included in this) to work his plans. Then when he is finished with them, he drops them, broken and spent, on the floor and moves on.

This is why it often takes a person coming "to the end of themselves" (when everything is a hopeless wreck and they have nothing and nowhere left to go) before they finally turn to the Lord. They have to see that the Light that they hated for showing them their sin is the only thing that can save them from that sin.

In short: they have to see firsthand that SIN FAILS.

Oh thank you Robert! This, my dear husband, is why I married you (well, the main reason among so many others...)

To the Parents and young people everywhere, this is why the Lord warned His people to not be unequally yoked in marriage to an unbeliever. To those who are already married to an unbeliever, in times of doubt, pray deeply, then share with your spouse what the Lord has taught you. Hopefully they will come to understand the value of your faith.

May all the Earth praise the Lord our God. His ways are good, filled with peace and goodness. I know the difference, I have tried all manner of sin, and I would much rather be a Christian!

**anath** · July-18th-2012, 04:29 PM

Satan already has them(the world) in his snare where he has pulled out all the stops to deceive through trickery. Indeed they are just like sheep heading to the slaughter. Wanted to add that there are all kinds of addictions to keep one in their sins, too.
My neighbors are so entrenched in darkness

Lord, bring these desperate poor souls to a place they will see their need for You. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

**LibertyBelle** · July-18th-2012, 06:01 PM

John 6:44 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.

Try praying for God to draw whoever it is, and see if you notice anything different. Interesting experiment....

ETA: I like the ... well, amplification of the Amplified version:

No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

**Meg** · July-18th-2012, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by LibertyBelle

John 6:44 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.

Try praying for God to draw whoever it is, and see if you notice anything different. Interesting experiment....

ETA: I like the ... well, amplification of the Amplified version:

No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

You are exactly right, LibertyBelle. (Or rather Scripture is

)