1. Lesson 7: Providence When the Lost Is Seeking Truth Lesson 7: Providence When the Lost Is Seeking Truth

2. God’s Providence Is Working Today He created all things He sustains all things Divine providence concerns: –God’s support, preservation, care, supervision and government which He exercises over everything He has created (from the moment of His first creation to His foreseeable future into eternity) that He might accomplish the purpose for which all things were created God’s providence is exercised today when one who is lost desires to find the truth. He created all things He sustains all things Divine providence concerns: –God’s support, preservation, care, supervision and government which He exercises over everything He has created (from the moment of His first creation to His foreseeable future into eternity) that He might accomplish the purpose for which all things were created God’s providence is exercised today when one who is lost desires to find the truth.

3. Through providence, God opens doors of opportunity for the gospel. “Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27). “Continue earnestly in prayer…praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains” (Col. 4:2-3). “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:8-9). “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Mt. 7:7). “Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27). “Continue earnestly in prayer…praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains” (Col. 4:2-3). “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:8-9). “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Mt. 7:7).

4. Through providence, God opens men’s hearts to the gospel. God opens doors for the gospel to go into nations, cities & communities. Would He open “individual’s doors”? “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14). Luke 24:45; Acts 26:18; Matt. 13:13-15 Acts 2:37-41 ~ 2 Cor. 3:15-16 Why pray for “hearts to be opened” if God does not work in this way? God opens doors for the gospel to go into nations, cities & communities. Would He open “individual’s doors”? “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14). Luke 24:45; Acts 26:18; Matt. 13:13-15 Acts 2:37-41 ~ 2 Cor. 3:15-16 Why pray for “hearts to be opened” if God does not work in this way?

5. Through providence, God gets the gospel to those who want to obey Him. He helps arrange circumstances so that those who want the truth can find it. –“If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17). Have you ever known of circumstances where (by “coincidence,” we say/think) a seeker of truth and a follower/teacher of truth come together? He helps arrange circumstances so that those who want the truth can find it. –“If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17). Have you ever known of circumstances where (by “coincidence,” we say/think) a seeker of truth and a follower/teacher of truth come together?

6. Does God hear a sinner’s prayer? Does God hear a non-Christian’s prayer? –Ever? –Never? Is God aware or unaware of the non-Christian? –His life? –His heart? –His needs & desires? If a non-Christian was searching for the truth… –Would God know about it? –Would God care about it? –Would God do anything about it? Does God hear a non-Christian’s prayer? –Ever? –Never? Is God aware or unaware of the non-Christian? –His life? –His heart? –His needs & desires? If a non-Christian was searching for the truth… –Would God know about it? –Would God care about it? –Would God do anything about it?

7. God, sin & hearing prayers The Lord is far from the wicked & against those who do evil. –“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight…The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Prov. 15:8, 29). –“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (Psa. 34:15-16). The Lord is far from the wicked & against those who do evil. –“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight…The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Prov. 15:8, 29). –“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (Psa. 34:15-16).

8. God, sin & hearing prayers The Lord will not hear His own people when they practice sin & rebellion. –“If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear” (Psa. 66:18). –“…you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the LORD, and presumptuously went up…Then you returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD would not listen to your voice nor give ear to you” (Deut. 1:43-45). –“…Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood…” (Isa. 1:15-18; cf. Jer. 14:12; Micah 3:4; Ezek. 8:18). –Isaiah 59:1-2 The Lord will not hear His own people when they practice sin & rebellion. –“If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear” (Psa. 66:18). –“…you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the LORD, and presumptuously went up…Then you returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD would not listen to your voice nor give ear to you” (Deut. 1:43-45). –“…Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood…” (Isa. 1:15-18; cf. Jer. 14:12; Micah 3:4; Ezek. 8:18). –Isaiah 59:1-2

9. God, sin & hearing prayers The principle is simple: If you won’t hear God, God won’t hear you. –“One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination” (Prov. 28:9). –“‘But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear…refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Zech. 7:11-13). –Job 42:8 The principle is simple: If you won’t hear God, God won’t hear you. –“One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination” (Prov. 28:9). –“‘But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear…refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Zech. 7:11-13). –Job 42:8 But, what if you do want to “hear” God?

10. God, sin & hearing prayers At the very most, O.T. teachings such as these may have been in mind when the uninspired blind man who Jesus healed said, “We know that God does not hear sinners” (John 9:31). –But, what sinners would he be talking about? –All sinners? Any sinners? –Was this man speaking for God? –Were his comments based on Biblical teachings or on his own presumptions? Notice that the passages looked at in the O.T. were individuals or nations who were practicing sin and rebellion as a lifestyle. At the very most, O.T. teachings such as these may have been in mind when the uninspired blind man who Jesus healed said, “We know that God does not hear sinners” (John 9:31). –But, what sinners would he be talking about? –All sinners? Any sinners? –Was this man speaking for God? –Were his comments based on Biblical teachings or on his own presumptions? Notice that the passages looked at in the O.T. were individuals or nations who were practicing sin and rebellion as a lifestyle.

11. God, sin & hearing prayers Is it completely outside the realm of Scriptural possibility that God could and does hear a sinner’s/non-Christian’s prayer? –There’s a difference between hearing and heeding/answering. –Even for Christians, God’s hearing and God’s answering are conditional. –God is under no obligation to answer a sinner’s prayer, as He is not their Father. But does that mean He’s not aware of their needs & desires? Is it completely outside the realm of Scriptural possibility that God could and does hear a sinner’s/non-Christian’s prayer? –There’s a difference between hearing and heeding/answering. –Even for Christians, God’s hearing and God’s answering are conditional. –God is under no obligation to answer a sinner’s prayer, as He is not their Father. But does that mean He’s not aware of their needs & desires?

12. God, sin & hearing prayers Two examples of sinners God heard: –Saul of Tarsus: “Behold, he is praying” (Acts 9:11) –Cornelius: “Prayed to God always” (Acts 10:3) “Your prayers…have come up…before God” (Acts 10:4) “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard…” (Acts 10:31) “Send men…Peter…tell you [how to] be saved” (Acts 10:5; 11:14) How did God know they were praying & what they were praying for & where their heart was if He never sees, hears or knows the heart and life of a sinner/non- Christian? Two examples of sinners God heard: –Saul of Tarsus: “Behold, he is praying” (Acts 9:11) –Cornelius: “Prayed to God always” (Acts 10:3) “Your prayers…have come up…before God” (Acts 10:4) “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard…” (Acts 10:31) “Send men…Peter…tell you [how to] be saved” (Acts 10:5; 11:14) How did God know they were praying & what they were praying for & where their heart was if He never sees, hears or knows the heart and life of a sinner/non- Christian?

13. Biblical principles about honest seekers God providentially used wicked/sinful kings and nations to carry out His tasks. Would He not work providentially to save an honest seeker who is a sinner? If a man wanted to find God/truth, should he NOT pray, “God, help”? God is omniscient, all-knowing, knowing everything there is to know (1 Sam. 2:3; Psa. 147:5; 1 John 3:20; Heb. 4:12-13; Psa. 139:1-6). Man is to look for God (Acts 17:27). God is not far from any man (Acts 17:27). God wants all men to find Him, to find truth & to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 4:8; Eph. 2:4). His love/desire was so intense that He sacrificed His own Son for sinful man (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). God looks upon men’s hearts (1 Sam. 16:7). If a man wants to find the truth, hearing his heart’s cry is the least that God will do (cf. Acts 16:6-9, Macedonian man “pleading”). God will assist that genuinely searching man in finding truth if he truly desires it (John 7:17; Matt. 5:6; 7:7ff; 2 Thess. 2:10). God providentially used wicked/sinful kings and nations to carry out His tasks. Would He not work providentially to save an honest seeker who is a sinner? If a man wanted to find God/truth, should he NOT pray, “God, help”? God is omniscient, all-knowing, knowing everything there is to know (1 Sam. 2:3; Psa. 147:5; 1 John 3:20; Heb. 4:12-13; Psa. 139:1-6). Man is to look for God (Acts 17:27). God is not far from any man (Acts 17:27). God wants all men to find Him, to find truth & to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 4:8; Eph. 2:4). His love/desire was so intense that He sacrificed His own Son for sinful man (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). God looks upon men’s hearts (1 Sam. 16:7). If a man wants to find the truth, hearing his heart’s cry is the least that God will do (cf. Acts 16:6-9, Macedonian man “pleading”). God will assist that genuinely searching man in finding truth if he truly desires it (John 7:17; Matt. 5:6; 7:7ff; 2 Thess. 2:10).

14. God, sin & hearing prayers Yet, prayer cannot take the place of obedience! –The idea that God “hears” someone when they pray does not mean He saves them through prayer. –Prayer is completely ineffective in saving the alien sinner. God’s terms of pardon are universal, unchanging and unalterable to any person or circumstances. –The “sinner’s prayer” as a means of salvation is false doctrine giving false hope and is not found in any form in the New Testament (command or example). –Everyone must meet God’s conditions of pardon to be pardoned (ex: Saul & Cornelius). –There’s no reason to deny that God hears the prayer of a non-Christian to prove He doesn’t save by prayer. –God is under no obligation to answer a sinner’s prayer. Yet, prayer cannot take the place of obedience! –The idea that God “hears” someone when they pray does not mean He saves them through prayer. –Prayer is completely ineffective in saving the alien sinner. God’s terms of pardon are universal, unchanging and unalterable to any person or circumstances. –The “sinner’s prayer” as a means of salvation is false doctrine giving false hope and is not found in any form in the New Testament (command or example). –Everyone must meet God’s conditions of pardon to be pardoned (ex: Saul & Cornelius). –There’s no reason to deny that God hears the prayer of a non-Christian to prove He doesn’t save by prayer. –God is under no obligation to answer a sinner’s prayer.