Debbie Asks:
Is it right to say that a sinner cannot have relationship with God.
And only those that have relationship with God will have their prayers answered?
My Reply:
This is a complex issue and needs to be dealt with meticulously.
The Bible does say, “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.” John 9:31
What this means, is that God is not in Covenant with unsaved people, and so, is not under any obligation to hear and answer their prayers but this does not mean that He literally does not ever hear nor answer the prayers of sinners.
Of course not!
If that were the case, nobody would get saved because God would never hear a sinner’s prayer of repentance.
The Bible says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
The Bible also says, “Come on now, let’s discuss this!” says the LORD.
“Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow.
Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18
God encourages sinners to repent which involves praying and receiving an answer to that prayer.
Acts Chapter 10 gives a detailed record of one sinner’s interaction with God and his subsequent repentance before God.
The Bible says, “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and PRAYED continually to God.
About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?”
And he said to him, “Your PRAYERS and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
POINTS TO NOTE:
- Over the years Cornelius must have prayed for much, but God was primarily concerned with one thing… he and his family’s Salvation.
- Getting a sinner saved will always be God’s chief priority in answering any prayer from a sinner.
- That’s why when Peter came to Cornelius’ house he was focused on one thing… preaching salvation to him and his household.
IN ADDITION:
As Christians, we need to be mindful that there are circumstances that will hinder even the prayers of those who are in Covenant with God.
The Bible says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:3
God will always hear your prayer as a Covenant Child of God but that does not mean you will always get the answer you want or when you want it.
The Bible says, “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together.
She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7
The Bible doesn’t specifically say so, but obviously this goes BOTH ways.
A woman cannot be disrespectful to her husband, giving place to the enemy and not expect opposition from that same enemy.
That’s what “giving place to the enemy” means… you give him the right to oppose you.
The Bible also says, “But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:6-7
As a Christian, God always hears your prayers but His response is based on your faith… not your prayers.
As an analogy, the purpose of your prayers is to transport your faith from Earth to Heaven.
It is is your faith God actually works with to create the answer you need.
Faith is the substance of what you’re hoping for.
In a practical sense, faith is simply trusting God above all else, to do what He promised.
Most people have the mistaken notion that the Christian Life is only about “BELIEF” as opposed to “KNOWLEDGE” and they are dead wrong.
God Himself is a limitless revelation!
Psalms 138:2 says, “Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” which means God has put Himself under the authority of His own word to fulfill it.
and distance himself from God as much as possible.
Romans 1:20 in the New Living Translation reads, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
The Bible says, He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
to save us.
If we did not actually have the power to influence others to accept God’s free gift of salvation why would God command us to go into all the world and be witnesses?
Suppose there is a child who was abandoned at birth and adopted by people other than their birth parents who both disappeared without a trace.
family and friends, instead of seeing it as something positive, they begin to feel uncomfortable themselves and because their minds are not yet renewed they react like a natural human being to this uncomfortable feeling.
This is because their testimony might have been the only thing to draw that unsaved loved one into the kingdom of God.
others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.” Jude 1:23 (NLT)
deliberately think and speak and act… with purpose!
The point is… You matter!!! Your decisions affect other people!
It began with a simple Sunday School Teacher named Edward Kimball who personally led D.L. Moody to Christ in the shoe store where Moody worked.
Both of them will be given exactly the same reward for fulfilling their respective tasks.
humans with free will and will not violate our right to choose even when disobeying Him creates serious problems for us!
The Bible was recorded in 3 ancient languages, Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek by people who lived 2,000-4,000 years ago in Middle-Eastern Lands saturated in Middle-Eastern Culture.
masters and slaves has to do with understanding and applying the correct culture and times to the issue under discussion.
But when you free a slave you must not feel bad, for remember that for six years he has cost you less than half the price of a hired hand! And the Lord your God will prosper all you do because you have released him!” Deuteronomy 15:11-18 (The Living Bible)
who had borrowed money and could not repay the loan or who had become indebted for some other reason and couldn’t pay so this was their way of paying off a debt.
When 21st century people hear the words “Master” and “Slave” it automatically conjures up images of Alex Haley’s “Roots” or the more recent “12 Years a Slave” movie and the reality of the atrocious treatment of black people by white slave owners.
treatment of African slaves under white slave owners of the last several centuries? I think not!
Israel failed to fulfill God’s will and even in this present age God’s will for the Human Race is still to form a holy kingdom of Believers through faith in Christ Jesus.
ideology.
On the other hand, when you’re carrying around the burden of the memory of what white people did to our ancestors and the present experience of what they’re still doing to us today and having those memories and experiences taint every interaction with white people… THAT’S SLAVERY!
serve, the gods of our African ancestors or adopt New Age Ideologies, as for me and my family … WE WILL WORSHIP JESUS CHRIST!
Everest John Alexander 
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