Prayer Is A Privilege (Part Two) Let us not take it for granted.

Introduction When we realize what a privilege prayer is, we like the disciples of old will plead, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). I am afraid that many of us take prayer for granted. We are not as prayerful as we ought to be simply because we have forgotten what a grand privilege it is.

Introduction In our last lesson, we saw several things about prayer. We answered the question: “What is Prayer?” We looked at some of the reasons we need to pray. These include: It is a command. Children want to talk to their Father. God is concerned with our wants and needs.

Introduction We need to find grace to help. God is the Almighty. God is willing to grant us good things. We need to express our love and adoration. We need forgiveness. We must pray to follow the example of Christ. Prayer does good.

Who Should Pray? Not everyone has that grand privilege to approach the Almighty, for God does not hear the prayer of sinners. When the man whom Jesus had healed of his blindness was questioned he replied, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth” (John 9:31). Though this man was not inspired, he stated a truth. Note that he did not say “I think” or “we think” or even “I know”, rather he said “we know”. It wasn’t denied.

Who Should Pray? His statement was based upon some Old Testament passages: “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save, Neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:1-2); “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the LORD will not hear” (Psalm 66:18); “He who turns away his ear from listening to the Law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).

Who Should Pray? “Depart from evil and do good, seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evil doers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles”(Psalm 34:14-17);

Who Should Pray? The children of God have the privilege of prayer all the time. Notice again John 9:31. God hears one that is “a worshipper of God, and doeth his will”. This is descriptive of a Christian. Prayer must be offered in faith “But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind”(James 1:6). and addressed to “our Father” (Matthew 6:9-13).

Who Should Pray? We are assured that God hears our prayers when we “keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). Peter said, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Peter 3:12,). “The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29).

What Can The Sinner Pray For? Did not God hear and answer the prayers of Cornelius and Saul? “and he (Peter) said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God’” (Acts 10:31); Cornelius was to hear words that instructed him in things he must do to be saved (Acts 10:33; 11:14). “And the Lord said to him; ‘arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying’” (Acts 9:11). In the case of Saul he was told to quit praying and “arise and be baptized and wash away his sins” (Acts 9:11; 22:16).

What Can The Sinner Pray For? The problem is that everyone is a sinner before they obey the gospel. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) So how can God hear their prayers? Even after they obey the gospel we all continue to sin. The privilege of the faithful even though they sin from time to time is that they can receive forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sin” (1 John 1:9).

What Can The Sinner Pray For? God may “hear” the prayer. That we wouldn’t argue. I’m sure that God is aware of what the sinner says. God may even respond somehow as he did in the case of Cornelius and Saul. But that is not answering the prayer. His ears are not open unto their prayers (1 Peter 3:12) unless... If a willful, unforgiven sinner (alien or saint) has the privilege to pray, it seems that all of the passages mentioned earlier are meaningless.

What Can The Sinner Pray For? Certainly the alien could not pray for salvation and obtain it by prayer (e.g. at the mourner’s bench). The “sinners prayer” is made up by man for it is certainly not in the Bible. Neither is it possible, for the Bible gives us everything we need (2 Peter 1:3), and that avenue of salvation is not listed anywhere in Scripture. Once again, what could he/she pray for?

What Can The Sinner Pray For? Who ever heard of a convicted sinner praying for anything but pardon anyway? “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). “And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). God wants us to do those things that are His will. Any other prayer a sinner prays will be rejected by God.

Conclusion We have seen that prayer is a privilege. We have seen that prayer puts us into the presence of God. We have seen why we should pray. We have seen that only in one case can the sinner pray to God and be heard. Do you enjoy and take advantage of the privilege of prayer?