Comments on: Do You Pray for the Lost? http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/ A Ministry of Shepherds' Fellowship Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:54:00 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: lisa http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-48751 lisa Sat, 18 Aug 2007 14:47:51 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/#comment-48751 This was good and timely and convicting.. I think that is why it was so hard for me when someone I dearly love recently died without any evidence of being a believer. I rarely prayed for them. How wretched of me... but then, let this be a lesson learned and not just a regret. Not that my prayers would have saved them. No. I think I would have more peace knowing that I did as my Father commanded me to do, instead of turmoil knowing that I did not. But then... even if I did pray for them as I should have, I would still have much grief... but not the guilt. This was good and timely and convicting.. I think that is why it was so hard for me when someone I dearly love recently died without any evidence of being a believer. I rarely prayed for them. How wretched of me… but then, let this be a lesson learned and not just a regret.

Not that my prayers would have saved them. No. I think I would have more peace knowing that I did as my Father commanded me to do, instead of turmoil knowing that I did not. But then… even if I did pray for them as I should have, I would still have much grief… but not the guilt.

]]> By: Kelvin http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-48461 Kelvin Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:33:42 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/#comment-48461 "Our prayers do not conflict with the doctrine of election. Rather, they fit perfectly within God’s sovereign plan — being a means which God Himself chooses to use in the fulfillment of His eternal purposes." Once again, thanks Nate :) “Our prayers do not conflict with the doctrine of election. Rather, they fit perfectly within God’s sovereign plan — being a means which God Himself chooses to use in the fulfillment of His eternal purposes.”

Once again, thanks Nate :)

]]> By: Nate B. http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-48398 Nate B. Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:09:40 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/#comment-48398 Kelvin, In keeping with Matt Waymeyer's 4-part series, this article is making the point that we should never use the doctrine of God's sovereign, electing choice as an excuse to not pray for the lost. In fact, just the opposite should be true. One of the greatest examples of this in Scripture comes from Romans 9 and 10. In Romans 9, Paul extols the electing choice of God. His discussion of divine sovereignty is one of the most explicit in all of his letters. But does the reality of God's election temper Paul's evangelistic zeal? Not at all. Romans 10 describes Paul's personal response to the sovereignty of God -- his understanding of God's sovereignty motivates Paul to do everything in his power to reach the lost with the Gospel. Because God is sovereign, we can be confident that He will perfectly accomplish His plan for this world, including the salvation of those whom He has chosen. Yet, in His infinite grace, He allows us to be part of what He is doing in this world. It is our privilege, then, to participate in the advancement of the kingdom -- through the means which He has preordained (such as prayer and evangelism). Our prayers do not conflict with the doctrine of election. Rather, they fit perfectly within God's sovereign plan -- being a means which God Himself chooses to use in the fulfillment of His eternal purposes. I believe the apostle Paul understood this, which is why the sovereignty of God (Rom. 9) was a primary motivation for his evangelism (Rom. 10), not a hinderance to it. Hope that helps. NB Kelvin,

In keeping with Matt Waymeyer’s 4-part series, this article is making the point that we should never use the doctrine of God’s sovereign, electing choice as an excuse to not pray for the lost. In fact, just the opposite should be true.

One of the greatest examples of this in Scripture comes from Romans 9 and 10. In Romans 9, Paul extols the electing choice of God. His discussion of divine sovereignty is one of the most explicit in all of his letters.

But does the reality of God’s election temper Paul’s evangelistic zeal? Not at all. Romans 10 describes Paul’s personal response to the sovereignty of God — his understanding of God’s sovereignty motivates Paul to do everything in his power to reach the lost with the Gospel.

Because God is sovereign, we can be confident that He will perfectly accomplish His plan for this world, including the salvation of those whom He has chosen. Yet, in His infinite grace, He allows us to be part of what He is doing in this world. It is our privilege, then, to participate in the advancement of the kingdom — through the means which He has preordained (such as prayer and evangelism). Our prayers do not conflict with the doctrine of election. Rather, they fit perfectly within God’s sovereign plan — being a means which God Himself chooses to use in the fulfillment of His eternal purposes.

I believe the apostle Paul understood this, which is why the sovereignty of God (Rom. 9) was a primary motivation for his evangelism (Rom. 10), not a hinderance to it.

Hope that helps.
NB

]]> By: Kelvin http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-48392 Kelvin Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:42:02 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/#comment-48392 I agree with Victoria that these articles have been "most encouraging." However, in light of what we learned last week about the doctrine of Election, is this article saying that in addition to God's elect, He will also save those that we earnestly pray for? Again, my questions stem from my desire to have the best grip I can possibly have on God's Word when I am applying it to my life and sharing it with others Thanks, Kelvin I agree with Victoria that these articles have been “most encouraging.”

However, in light of what we learned last week about the doctrine of Election, is this article saying that in addition to God’s elect, He will also save those that we earnestly pray for?

Again, my questions stem from my desire to have the best grip I can possibly have on God’s Word when I am applying it to my life and sharing it with others

Thanks,
Kelvin

]]> By: Victoria Lynch http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-48299 Victoria Lynch Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:56:28 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/08/17/do-you-pray-for-the-lost/#comment-48299 These articles on prayer have been some of the most encouraging and helpful that Pulpit Magazine has ever done. Thank you so much for these excellent and convincing articles on the power and passion of true prayer in the believer's life. I know that they have been helpful to us all! These articles on prayer have been some of the most encouraging and helpful that Pulpit Magazine has ever done. Thank you so much for these excellent and convincing articles on the power and passion of true prayer in the believer’s life. I know that they have been helpful to us all!

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