Does God Answer Prayers of the Unsaved?

Let's define "unsaved"

Unsaved - "In danger of the eternal punishment of Hell"  (thefreedictionary.com)
Someone who is unsaved, has not asked God for forgiveness of their sins and believed Jesus died for them.

Does God answer prayers of the unsaved?


John 9:31 "Now we know that God hears not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and does His will, him He hears." (King James)


Proverbs 1:27-29 "When calamity overtakes you like storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord," (NIV '84)


Our job as believers is to pray on behalf of the unbelievers (unsaved). 


Do you want to be saved?

You can go to www.theprayerpeople.org and learn how, OR you can pray this:

Jesus, I know that I have sinned against You and this separates me from You. I am sorry and I want to turn away from my sinful ways and turn to You. Please forgive me. I believe that You died for me and my sins, that You rose from the dead, and are alive and hear my prayers. I'm asking You to become my Savior and the Lord of my life from this day forward. Amen.


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Gifts From God

Are you viewing your possessions in the right prospective?

They are all gifts from God! You must realize, they aren't the source of your joy, but they are a reason to rejoice! Every good thing comes from God!

Have you ever heard of "focusing more on the giver than the gift? Well God is the Giver! We can be content when we realize that with Him, we are well cared for and have what we need.

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 "And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life - this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past."

Do You Need Healing?

Are you sick? Is a family member ill? 

We (as Christians) have a lot of power at our fingertips, but we don't know how to use it!

Matthew 17:20 "...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Healing is directly associated with faith. 

Matthew 15:28 "'Dear woman,' Jesus said to her, 'your faith is great. Your request is granted' And her daughter was instantly healed."

Matthew 8:5 "When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 'Lord,' he said, 'my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.'  

Jesus said to him, 'I will go and heal him.'    

The centurion replied, 'Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, "Go," and he goes; and that one, "Come," and he comes. I say to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.'

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, 'I tell you the trust, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.' And his servant was healed at that very hour.'

Think Before Speaking!

Proverbs 15:28 "The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words."


Do you carefully plan what words you say and weigh the impacts? Or do you just spill out your words with no regard to the impact they may bring?

Do You Believe In Prayer?

Mark 11:22-25  "In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!' 
'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. 'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.'"  (NIV)


God has given us a remarkable amount of power. The only thing we have to do is truly believe it will happen! That is easier said than done, but as we continue our walk with Christ and allow Him to prove himself over and over, our faith will grow and we will then realize that through prayer and believing, WE CAN DO ANYTHING.

Can God Make My Wrongs Right?

Short answer: YES

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." (NIV)

Time Is In God's Hands

Are you worried about a relationship and longing for someone to contact you?
Have you been looking for a job for months and are still unemployed?
Is the business you are starting taking a long time to get established?
Did your spouse in the military just get reassigned for another 6 months?

This list could go on and on...

The fact is, time is in God's hands. For things we desire, our human nature is impatient. We say, "Why God? Why hasn't he called me? Why can't I find a job? What's wrong with my business? Why did my spouse just get reassigned?"

As a Chist-follower, we can know that God is in control. And He is our heavenly "FATHER" who wants the BEST for us. We think we know what is best for us, but we don't know the whole picture! God sees our life from beginning to the end! He helps lead us to our full potential!

Rather than worrying, PRAY! And stay passionate about your life! Jesus died so you can live! LIVE TO THE FULLEST!

God, Our Father?

God is our heavenly father.

Ever feel like no one is on our side? Just remember, if He is our heavenly father, than we are his son or daughter!

It feels good to know that through Jesus, we can  be saved! And if we really think about the phrase, "I am God's son or daughter", it gives us confidence that God will take care of us just as a parent cares for their children.

Prayers for the New Year 2012

What are your resolutions for the new year? Are they God-centered?

This year, try giving God a portion of your day in prayer. Whether it be two minutes or two hours, prayer changes lives!

We all have our own specific needs for ourselves and loved ones, but lets not forget about everyone else who is also going through difficult times!

Here are some examples of situations people are facing AS YOU READ THIS:
-Marital problems
-Infidelity
-Cancer
-Broken heart
-Health
-Legal battles
-Finances
-Jobs
-Temptation
-Chronic pain
-Addictions
-etc.

Please remember to pray daily for all those facing these struggles.

How Should We Pray?

Are our prayers filled with requests from God to help and rescue us?

In the Bible, David not only prayed for rescue, but he also prayed for achievement and victory!

We should recognize God is not going to grant our every wish. He is GOD, and we should worship Him, love Him, and love His people. When we look at praying as a way of communication (2-way), it helps us ask questions rather than make requests.

"How can God give me victory over this situation?"

Psalm 108:13  - "With God's help we will do mighty things, for He will trample down our foes."

Why Be Generous?

Ever heard of the phrase, "more money, more problems"?

Being generous helps cure these problems. It not only keeps your attitude in check, but also helps other people!

Keep this in mind as you begin the new year! And remember to always keep God first in every aspect of your life, including finances! 

Who Gets the Praise?

We ask God for a lot of help...
Help me do well on my presentation. Help me get an A in College Algebra.  Help me impress my boss so I can get a raise. The list goes on and on.

Before you ask God...
Consider who will get the praise and credit, if these prayers are answered? If God answers our prayers and we do well on the presentation, make an A in math class, and finally get a raise; are we going to give God the credit, or are we going to say:
"The presentation wasn't too bad, I did great with no help from anyone!"
"That math test was a lot easier than I thought it would be."
"It's about time my boss realized how important I am."

The truth...
Is that you obviously need to put forth a reasonable amount of effort in everything you do, but we need to realize, every good thing comes from God.
-He is the one who helped you with the presentation.
-He is the one that gave you the knowledge and ability to successfully study for the math test.
-He is the one who put you in the position to receive the bonus or raise.

Our response...
Should be gratitude towards God. He should receive the credit for these things He did for us! In everything we do, give thanks to God! He is around us every moment of every day.

Bible Verses:

1 Thessalonians 5:18   "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (King James - Cambridge Edition)

James 1:17  "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..."  (New International Version)

Show Thanks to God

If we take a look at our lives, we realize God has done a LOT for us! We should at least show thanks for what He has done and  tell others about His goodness!

Psalm 107:1 says "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."

What has God done for you this past week? Is there something you can tell others about?

Remember, "Every good and perfect gift is from God our Father..." - James 1:17

Why is Christmas Important?

This holiday season, remember why Christmas is even being celebrated.

Running through the mall and buying presents is important to a lot of people, but just remember Jesus Christ is the one who deserves our attention the most.  He is the reason Christmas is a holiday!


Christmas falls on a Sunday this year (2011) and I encourage you all to attend a local church service!

Enjoy your time with friends and family!

Greed

Luke 12:15 - "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."  (NIV)

We need to be careful when it comes to greed, the Bible clearly tells us the results:

1 Timothy 6:9 - "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction."

It seems like a lot of times, we make excuses for our greed and ultimately deny it. Greed is a sin just like any other, and at some point, we all struggle with it. In fact, we might say, "I'm not greedy, I tithe my 10% and support a missionary!" We sometimes make these excuses of what the underlying issue might be. We all have some sort of greed in us, it's our sin nature.

The Solution:

Well the only solution to sin is Jesus Christ, but even after He becomes our Lord and Savior, we will still sin. The best way to help with your struggles in greed is to read about what the Bible says about it! There are many more verses that talk about money and possessions; after reading some of these verses, you will be able to quickly point out greed so you can take steps to avoid it!

Become Like a Servant

In our relationships with one another, we should have the same mindset as Jesus:

   He was in the same nature as God, but did not consider His equality with God to be used for His own advantage. Instead, He made Himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant, but He was still humble and obedient.  - Philippians 2:5-8

When we look at our own life and relationships with God and others, are we acting as a servant?
Are we humble in our life situation?
Are we obedient to God and those in authority over us?

Sin and Forgiveness

Ever feel like you sin too much for God to forgive you?

Or maybe, that your sins are too big and God will choose not to forgive you?

The truth is that God can forgive you, no matter how much you sin or how big the sin is. He not only CAN forgive you, but He also WILL forgive you. All you have to do is ask! Everyone is capable of receiving God's forgiveness.

Psalm 65:3 "Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, You forgive them all."

Feel Like You Aren't "Good Enough"?

Do you feel like you just aren't good enough? Feel like no matter what you do, it doesn't measure up?

Jesus addresses this feeling!

Mark 2:15-17 says, "While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: "Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Jesus CHOSE to be with the ones who weren't "good enough". And now, since Jesus died for our sins, we ARE "good enough" and if we believe on Jesus Christ, we have His Holy Spirit with us always. 

This week, choose to believe in yourself - YOU are God's creation. With Jesus Christ, YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH.

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, try to show everyone appreciation for what they do. Most jobs go unnoticed and unappreciated.

We should not only show thanks for this country and everyone around us, but also give thanks to God. He has blessed us tremendously.  James 1:17 says, "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow" (NLT).

Everything good in your life is from God. Remember this as you enjoy your holiday.

God's Will for YOU

As you walk down the street or watch tv, look around at how much everyone needs God. Our country is not only walking away from God, we're pretty much running from God. If you want to know God's will for your life, it is stated ALL throughout the Bible! God's will for your life is to live for Him and tell others about the gospel!

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."  -  Mark 16:15-16 

We face other issues in life, such as: Do I keep this job? Should I date this girl? Where do I go to college? Etc.  How do we know God's will for these type of questions??? I'll break this section into two parts:

Part 1: We must understand, God only shows His will in small doses. It doesn't make sense for someone who is cheating on their husband to say, "Jesus, show me Your will for my life!"  They aren't even doing God's current will for their life, but expect Him to tell them more???  This also clutters our mind and makes it very hard to hear from God...

Part 2: God's will for YOUR big questions.

Example 1: Do I keep this job?
You have to answer these questions to yourself: Does this job glorify God?  Am I using my talents for God's benefit or for MY benefit?  Is this job causing me to sin?  Does this job bring me closer to God, or farther from Him?  Am i respected at this job?
We should all be thankful for what we have already been given, but if this job is causing you to stumble in your walk with Christ and your family, maybe you should begin to think "Is there any possible way to bring God back into my job? If not, it may be a wise decision to look elsewhere? The best thing to do is PRAY!

Example 2: Should I date this woman/man?
Is this person a Christian? If not, 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"
Also, before jumping into a relationship, PRAY ABOUT IT! And I mean genuinely seek God's advice and LISTEN! Give the relationship TIME, and GUARD YOUR HEART.
Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

Example 3: Where do I go to college?
Would attending this college cause you to make a lot of bad decisions? Or would it cause you to grow as a Christ-follower? What is this college known for? Is there a campus church you can attend? Does it fit your personality? 
This decision is difficult to make because there are so many colleges to choose from.  Just remember to keep God involved in your decision process and obey Him! He knows what is best for you!

Trust in God with every decision you make; from the smallest decision to the largest!  The more you invite God to be a part of your life and decision process, the easier the decisions will be to make. The cool part: These will be the BEST decisions possible, but only because you had God on your side!