For example if a non-christian has cancer from drinking too much alcohol and then he prays to God to help him and God heals him and then the non-christian is totally happy and first of all he starts drinking again and only weeks or months later he becomes a christian due to this incident. Do you think God would do something like this which causes the person to sin even more first of all but God sees he whole outcome?
Posted by: akabezalel
First of all... GOD DOES NOT MAKE PEOPLE SICK!
Number two... God does not hear the prayers of a non-believer.
The only prayer He hears from them is when they cry out to Him in repentance for Salvation through Jesus.
A non-believer must have believers praying for him in order to be healed by God while still in unbelief.
The wages of sin are death.
That means when we actively persue sin... drinking, drugs, smoking, etc... then our flesh (the part of us that actually craves and participates in the sin) is paid in death.
And YES, God would heal someone even though He knows that person will return to the sin.
He loves them.
Once that person becomes a Christian God can begin leading them to repentance and ceasation of the sin that is killing them.
And yes there is the possibility of them never turning that part over to God to be healed or removed and they will continue in it.
He STILL loves them!
When they ask forgiveness He is faithful and just to forgive them even though He knows they will continue but for that moment in time they are forgiven and healed once more.
Returning to sin is why we lose our healing sometimes.
We are creatures of habit and we do not like giving up things and turning away from sin.
Our fault, not God's!
Sin is not the only reason we lose our healing or receive no healing.
So don't go off the deep end and think that every one who is sick has some major sin in their life.
Posted by: Frederik
Quote:
Originally Posted by akabezalel
First of all... GOD DOES NOT MAKE PEOPLE SICK!
Number two... God does not hear the prayers of a non-believer.
I think you misinterpret this verse.
Why should God not answer a prayer of a non-believer if this answer will cause the non-believer to repent? Doesn't make much sense to me.
Joh 9:31 -
God heareth not sinners - I believe the word αμαρτωλων signifies heathens, or persons not proselyted to the Jewish religion; and therefore it is put in opposition to θεοσεβης, a worshipper of the true God. See the note on Luk_7:37. But in what sense may it be said, following our common version, that God heareth not sinners? When they regard iniquity in their heart - when they wish to be saved, and yet abide in their sins - when they will not separate themselves from the workers and works of iniquity. In all these cases, God heareth not sinners.
Posted by: Christian Commando
Ok... lets pull back on the reigns of our horses here a sec. We need to clarify a few things first-
1- Is the person a nonbeliever or just unsaved?
2- God can and does answer prayers of unsaved who truely believe in Him, otherwise, the servant of the centurion who saught Christ's healing power would not have been answered.
3- Heathens are most refered to as agnostics and athiests-(those who don't know if a God exists or plain don't believe in one).
4- As an unsaved, yet full believer in God, He did alot of miracles to people thru prayers I was asked to pray over them during those years. Besides, if God can't hear unsaved but believer's prayers, how could anyone get saved and reborn then?
Just realize, God did not do them thru me being unsaved then without the Holy Spirit dwelling within me.
Hope this helps- God Bless you both!!
Posted by: Frederik
I mean an unsaved person of course. A nonbeliever would not even pray, why should he? But I have heard of a case where a woman which was not a christian had a sick daughter and she prayed to God and said that if he heals her she'll become a christian and he healed her.
Posted by: Christian Commando
That can be one way, but mostly it has to do with faith. Jesus healed several unsaved or "pagan" people during His Ministry on earth.
Why? 1- To bring them and others to believe who and what He was. 2- To help those who were believers to be strengthened in faith.
God Bless!!
Posted by: Frederik
This means if a non-christian prays to God for help God can still help this person right?
Posted by: Christian Commando
To an extent, yes. You must realize, the main focus and purpose of helping unsaved by God, is in bringing lost souls to Salvation. As God wishes that none should perish. Yet, it will be, even with answered prayers, each unsaved person's choice as to believe how it came about.
God Bless!!
Posted by: MarkSentMe
Quote:
Do you think God would do something like this which causes the person to sin
God does not do anything to cause us to sin
We sin because of our sinful nature.
God hears the prayers of the unsaved. Non-believers usually do not pray.
God knows everything we do, say, want, feel before we do it. If God sends trouble to someone in order to put them on their face and cause him/her to turn to Him, then that was the vehicle He chose to use.
