Does God Listen?
© 07-08 Born-Again-Christian.info
When sinners pray
Q: Does God listen, and answer sinners, when they pray to Him? Angela
A: Wonderful question Angela!
I used to think, no, not until the sinner prays in sincere repentance to receive Christ as Saviour. Because only when they are born again is the barrier of sin destroyed (Eph. 2:14, Col. 2:13-15), and fellowship with Father commences. (Is. 59:2, Ps. 66:18, Eph. 2:11-19)
But the answer to your question is not as clear-cut as that. Sinners assuredly cannot fellowship with God, but He does graciously answer them occasionally.
Take, for example, Cornelius the Centurion in Acts 10.
The Holy Spirit describes him as devout, God-fearing, and that he prayed to God regularly. (Ac. 10:2) Verse 22 tells us that his envoys claimed he was "righteous" and respected by all the Jewish people.
He was not, of course, righteous before God; he was a sinner-man, unsaved. He was also a brutal Roman thug, so expert at killing people he was promoted by Emperor Caesar. If he had died the day before Peter visited, he'd be Hell-bound, despite all his praying and good deeds.
However, even though still in his sins, verse 30 confirms God did hear his prayers, and had noticed his generosity to the poor. Apparently he was a genuine seeker after Truth, and soon he and his household were saved and Spirit-filled.
There are other examples in the Word; for example, all the people Jesus healed during His Ministry were sinners. None of them was born again, they couldn't be until after He'd sealed the New Covenant with His Blood. This is a profound aspect of His Grace that is precious to meditate upon, especially if you are sick, weak in faith, or sin-bound. Come to Jesus now, He loves you, and He will heal you today.
Perhaps you can recall occasions when you prayed to God, before you knew Him personally, and He was sometimes gracious to answer you. He certainly helped me out several times, long before I was saved. I think because what I prayed for, did happen to coincide with His Plan for my life subsequent to being born again.
But, once we are saved, the situation is entirely different. We saints have an open Heaven, and the power to use the Name above all names. (Jn. 16:23-24) In return for this supreme blessing, and responsibility, God expects, nay demands, obedience from His children. Those who rebel forfeit fellowship (1 Jn. 1:6), and answered prayer. First John 3:18-24 is plain, that sin and disobedience make our prayers ineffective (v. 22).
Those who keep a tender heart towards God, remain sensitive to His leading, and obey Him from love. They allow Him to pour His Life through them, and receive whatever they ask in Jesus' Name. (Jn. 15:7)
Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Instantly obey, and you'll be blessed, and grow.
It is vital to remain sensitive to your conscience, the leading of the Spirit, and His conviction, in order to remain in the light, and not stray into the shadows of sin.
When divers get the bends?
Q: What does divers temptations mean?
A: It's James 1 verse 2 KJV;
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
The phrase divers temptations is old English. Temptations means trials, testing (not temptation to sin, as in modern usage), and divers means of various types. So it means simply, "various trials and testings".
Read Smith Wigglesworth teaching on temptations. What you read there was refined in the crucible, and is more precious than gold.
What should a Christian do if they become sick?
Go to the Lord or a doctor?
