The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Predestination

Good morning C.M.H, <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/coffee2.gif" alt="" />

The first thing to consider is the fact that God commands us to pray in His word. That is to say, we can rest assured that if God commands it, then is certainly has a purpose. Second, we can observe in Scripture how God is pleased to use so-called "secondary causes" to accomplish His purpose. Lets apply your question to praeching. Why preach to anyone if God has chosen His elect from before the foundation of the world? Number one, it's a command. Two, the Apostle Paul tells us:

. . . it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.

Could God draw His elect some other way if He wanted to do so? Sure, but He has determined to use a secondary cause like "the foolishness of preaching" to do the job. In the same way, God is pleased to use our prayers. For example, Abraham's prayers were used to save Lot and his family when God was about to destroy Sodom, (Gen. 18:22-33). Job's friends were told by God that Job will pray for them and He will accept his prayer on their behalf.

Job 42:8 Now therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

In every situation God ordains the "means" as well as the "ends." For us to insist that this just isn't logical is to exalt our wisdom over God's, (I know you're not doing this, I'm just trying to make a point).

I'm sure more could be said on this topic, but it's time for work.