This is another word that was suggested by a member of the church. There have been many volumes written on the subject. But based upon the conversation with the member, I will limit the subject to “whose prayers does God answer?”
1. God answers the prayers of Christ followers. Jesus is the mediator between God and man. It is only through Jesus Christ that anyone has access to living God. “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and humanity, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2.5) And so we have confidence in Christ when we pray. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us— whatever we ask— we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5.13-15) Therefore, everyone who is a true Christ followers will have their prayers heard and answered. God hears our prayers in every situation that we find ourselves in and will answer those prayers. “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.” (Psalm 35.15)
2. Some hindrances in a Christ follower for prayer. There are situations and conditions, however, for which a prayer may not be heard and answered. Here are some examples.
a. Ongoing sin: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66.18)
b. Disobedience to God’s law: “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears…‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah 7.11.13)
c. Neglect the poor: “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” (Proverbs 21.13)
In all of these and more, repentance is crucial for prayers to be fully effective. God hears prayers of confession. Repentance opens the way for communication with God and opens the way for his response. “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51.9-10)
3. What about the unbeliever? The blind man who was healed by Jesus got it right. “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.” (John 9.31) One definition of prayer is the act of aligning our will with the will of God. Prayers prayed according to the will of God are answered. Unbelievers are not interested in doing that.
There is one prayer of the unbeliever that God is guaranteed to hear and answer, and this is the prayer of humble repentance. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29.13) God will always answer this prayer with forgiveness and restoration, because it was while we were enemies of God, Christ died for us. Regarding other prayers by the unbeliever, out of his compassion and mercy God may answer a prayer but is under no obligation to do so. One reason he might is to bring that person to repentance and salvation which only happens…
In Christ Alone
Pastor Gary
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