1. Lesson 6: Providence in Evangelism & Conversion Lesson 6: Providence in Evangelism & Conversion

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 in our evangelism efforts and the conversion of the lost. 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 in our evangelism efforts and the conversion of the lost.

3. Through providence, God prepares men to serve Him. “…it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…” (Gal. 1:15- 16). “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations’” (Jer. 1:4-5). “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest’” (Matt. 9:37-38). “…it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…” (Gal. 1:15- 16). “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations’” (Jer. 1:4-5). “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest’” (Matt. 9:37-38).

4. 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).

5. 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?

6. Does God hear a sinner’s prayer? Does God hear a non-Christian’s prayer? Does God ever hear a prayer of a non-Christian? Is God aware or unaware of the life & heart of a non-Christian? Does God not hear any sinner’s prayer? Does God hear every Christian’s prayer? Does God hear a non-Christian’s prayer? Does God ever hear a prayer of a non-Christian? Is God aware or unaware of the life & heart of a non-Christian? Does God not hear any sinner’s prayer? Does God hear every Christian’s prayer?

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). –“So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the LORD, and presumptuously went up into the mountain. And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah. 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). 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). –“So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the LORD, and presumptuously went up into the mountain. And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah. 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).

9. God, sin & hearing prayers The Lord will not hear His own people when they practice sin & rebellion. –“When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD…” (Isa. 1:15-18). –Cf. Jer. 14:12; Micah 3:4; Ezek. 8:18 The Lord will not hear His own people when they practice sin & rebellion. –“When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the LORD…” (Isa. 1:15-18). –Cf. Jer. 14:12; Micah 3:4; Ezek. 8:18

10. God, sin & hearing prayers The Lord will not hear His own people when they practice sin & rebellion. –“Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2). The Lord will not hear His own people when they practice sin & rebellion. –“Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2).

11. 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. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, 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). –“Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has” (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. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, 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). –“Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has” (Job 42:8).

12. God, sin & hearing prayers It is likely from O.T. teachings such as these that 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? Notice that the passages looked at in the O.T. were individuals or nations who were practicing sin and rebellion as a lifestyle. It is likely from O.T. teachings such as these that 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? Notice that the passages looked at in the O.T. were individuals or nations who were practicing sin and rebellion as a lifestyle.

13. 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 is conditional. –God is under no obligation to answer a sinner’s prayer. 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 is conditional. –God is under no obligation to answer a sinner’s prayer.

14. 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) “Have come up…before God” (Acts 10:4) “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 hears a sinner/non-Christian pray? Two examples of sinners God heard: –Saul of Tarsus: “Behold, he is praying” (Acts 9:11) –Cornelius: “Prayed to God always” (Acts 10:3) “Have come up…before God” (Acts 10:4) “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 hears a sinner/non-Christian pray?

15. God, sin & hearing prayers Biblical principles: –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 (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). –God will assist that genuinely searching man in finding truth (John 7:17; Matt. 7:7ff). Biblical principles: –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 (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). –God will assist that genuinely searching man in finding truth (John 7:17; Matt. 7:7ff).

16. 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. –The “sinner’s prayer” as a means of salvation is false doctrine giving false hope. –Everyone must meet God’s conditions of pardon to be pardoned (ex: Saul & Cornelius). –There’s no reason to deny that 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. –The “sinner’s prayer” as a means of salvation is false doctrine giving false hope. –Everyone must meet God’s conditions of pardon to be pardoned (ex: Saul & Cornelius). –There’s no reason to deny that 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.