Praying for Those Who Resist Spiritual Truth and Conviction
Praying for those who resist spiritual truth and conviction is a practice rooted in biblical teaching and Christian tradition. Jesus himself instructed his followers to "Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you" [2]. This command extends to those who actively oppose or resist spiritual truth.
The New Testament provides examples and exhortations for such prayers. Jesus prayed for his enemies, even while on the cross [7]. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, suggests that those who oppose themselves to the truth should be instructed with meekness, "If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" [9]. This implies that repentance and acknowledgment of truth are gifts from God, for which believers can pray on behalf of others.
Augustine of Hippo extensively discussed the role of prayer in the conversion of wills. He argued that if faith were solely a matter of free will and not given by God, then praying for unbelievers to believe would be "absolutely useless" [10]. Instead, Augustine maintained that "Almighty God is able to turn to belief wills that are perverse and opposed to faith" [10]. He also noted that God has prepared some things to be given only to those who pray for them, even if God knows what is needed before it is asked [11]. This perspective underscores the belief that prayer can be instrumental in God's work of softening hardened hearts and bringing individuals to spiritual understanding.
Charles Hodge, one theologian, similarly emphasized the importance of praying for the Holy Spirit to make the Word effectual in those who hear it [8]. He pointed to biblical examples, such as David's prayer in Psalm 51:11, "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me," and the Apostle Paul's prayers for the Ephesians to receive the Holy Spirit for knowledge and understanding [8]. This highlights the understanding that spiritual conviction is not merely a human intellectual assent but a work of the Holy Spirit.
The resistance to spiritual truth can manifest in various forms, including rebellion against God [5], reviling and reproaching [3], and persecution [4]. Despite such opposition, the Christian tradition encourages prayer for those who resist, not only for their conversion but also for their protection from evil [1] and for God's mercy to be extended to them [6]. Clement of Rome also exhorted believers to "pray for those who have fallen into any sin, that meekness and humility may be given to them" [12]. This demonstrates a consistent theme throughout Christian history: prayer is a vital means by which believers intercede for those who are spiritually resistant, trusting in God's power to bring about change.
Sources
- John “I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. -- John 17:15”
- Matthew “Matthew 5:44 (BBE) — But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Reviling and Reproaching — Forbidden -- 1Pe 3:9. Of rulers specially forbidden -- Ex 22:28; Ac 23:4,5. The wicked utter, against God. -- Ps 74:22; 79:12. God, by opposing the poor. -- Pr 14:31. Christ. -- Mt 27:39; Lu 7:34. Saints. -- Ps 102:8; Zep 2:8. Rulers. -- 2Pe 2:10,11; Jude 1:8,9. Of Christ, predicted -- Ps 69:9; Ro 15:3; Ps 89:51. The conduct of Christ under -- 1Pe 2:23. Saints Endure. -- 1Ti 4:10; Heb 10:33. Endure for God's sake. -- Ps 69:7. Endure for Christ's sake. -- Lu 6:22. Should expect. -- Mt 10:25. Should not fear. -- Isa 51:7. Sometimes depressed ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger of God, The — Averted by Christ -- Lu 2:11,14; Ro 5:9; 2Co 5:18,19; Eph 2:14,17; Col 1:20; 1Th 1:10. Is averted from them that believe -- Joh 3:14-18; Ro 3:25; 5:1. Is averted upon confession of sin and repentance -- Job 33:27,28; Ps 106:43-45; Jer 3:12,13; 18:7,8; 31:18-20; Joe 2:12-14; Lu 15:18-20. Is slow -- Ps 103:8; Isa 48:9; Jon 4:2; Na 1:3. Is righteous -- Ps 58:10,11; La 1:18; Ro 2:6,8; 3:5,6; Re 16:6,7. The justice of, not to be questioned -- Ro 9:18,20,22. Manifested in terrors -- Ex 14:24; Ps 76:6-8; Jer 10:10; La 2:20-22. Manifested in judgments and”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Enemies — Christ prayed for his -- Lu 23:34. The lives of, to be spared -- 1Sa 24:10; 2Sa 16:10,11. The goods of, to be taken care of -- Ex 23:4,5. Should be Loved. -- Mt 5:44. Prayed for. -- Ac 7:60. Assisted. -- Pr 25:21; Ro 12:20. Overcome by kindness. -- 1Sa 26:21. Rejoice not at the misfortunes of -- Job 31:29. Rejoice not at the failings of -- Pr 24:17. Desire not the death of -- 1Ki 3:11. Curse them not -- Job 31:30. Be affectionately concerned for -- Ps 35:13. The friendship of, deceitful -- 2Sa 20:9,10; Pr 26:26; 27:6; Mt 26:48,49. God defends against -- Ps ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 138: of the truth either in the Lutheran or Remonstrant view, is that those who have the knowledge of the Word as read or heard, are directed to pray for the gift of the Spirit to render that Word effectual. Of such prayers we have many examples in the Sacred Scriptures. David, in Psalm li. 11 , prays,” Take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” The Apostle prays in behalf of the Ephesians to whom for more than two years he had been preaching the Gospel, that God would give them the Holy Spirit, that they might have the knowledge of Him, that their e”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 2:25: In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves,.... To the truth; resist it and deny it; or contradict some other tenets and principles of theirs, or the Scriptures, which they themselves allowed to be the word of God, and the rule of faith and practice, and so are self-convinced and self-condemned. These are to be instructed, being ignorant, and in a tender and gentle manner, though very perverse and obstinate. If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth: repentance here designs a repentance of errors in principle, a cha”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 29. -- GOD IS ABLE TO CONVERT OPPOSING WILLS, AND TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE HEART ITS HARDNESS.: Now if faith is simply of free will, and is not given by God, why do we pray for those who will not believe, that they may believe ? This it would be absolutely useless to do, unless we believe, with perfect propriety, that Almighty God is able to turn to belief wills that are perverse and opposed to faith. Man's free will is addressed when it is said, "Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts."[9] But if God were not able to remove from th”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 39 [XVI]--PRAYER AND EXHORTATION.: There are some, moreover, who either do not pray at all, or pray coldly, because, from the Lord's words, they have learnt that God knows what is necessary for us before we ask it of Him. Must the truth of this declaration be given up, or shall we think that it should be erased from the gospel because of such people? Nay, since it is manifest that God has prepared some things to be given even to those who do not pray for them, such as the beginning of faith, and other things not to be given except to those who pra”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. LVI.--LET US ADMONISH AND CORRECT ONE ANOTHER.: Let us then also pray for those who have fallen into any sin, that meekness and humility may be given to them, so that they may submit, not unto us, but to the will of God. For in this way they shall secure a fruitful and perfect remembrance from us, with sympathy for them, both in our prayers to God, and our mention of them to the saints.(4) Let us receive correction, beloved, on account of which no one should feel displeased. Those exhortations by which we”