Can You Hear Me God?

Message Text: Psalm 66:18

A Soldier’s Prayer I asked God for strength, that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do great things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy, I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men, most richly blessed.3

3 Prayer of an unknown Confederate soldier.  G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 298–299.

CAN GOD HEAR ME?

In , the psalmist David wrote: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” The Hebrew verse could also be translated, “If I had iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have heard.”

The Hebrew verse can be translated, “If I had iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have heard.”

David is laying down a condition under which his prayer not only would be ineffective but unheard. Does this mean that if sin is present in our lives, God refuses to hear our prayers? No. If this were so, all prayer would be futile. However, if our hearts are hardened in a spirit of impenitence, our prayers are not only futile but a mockery of God. In , David reminds himself that there is a time when prayer is a presumptuous, arrogant, detestable, and obnoxious deed perpetrated upon the Almighty. This psalm opens with seventeen verses of joy and praise to God for His mighty deeds. Then, suddenly, there appears in verse 18 the grim reminder of how the entire story could have been drastically different. We are alerted to the importance of properly approaching God in prayer. If there is anything worse than not praying, it is praying in an unworthy manner.

David is laying down a condition under which his prayer not only would be ineffective but unheard. Does this mean that if sin is present in our lives, God refuses to hear our prayers? No. If this were so, all prayer would be futile. However, if our hearts are hardened in a spirit of impenitence, our prayers are not only futile but a mockery of God. In , David reminds himself that there is a time when prayer is a presumptuous, arrogant, detestable, and obnoxious deed perpetrated upon the Almighty. This psalm opens with seventeen verses of joy and praise to God for His mighty deeds. Then, suddenly, there appears in verse 18 the grim reminder of how the entire story could have been drastically different. We are alerted to the importance of properly approaching God in prayer. If there is anything worse than not praying, it is praying in an unworthy manner.

Other Scripture references reflect this attitude. suggests that the prayers of wicked men should be counted as sin. specifically states that the Lord does not hear sinners. says, “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” says that the prayer of the disobedient or rebellious is an “abomination” to the Lord. It is disgusting or loathsome to Him. James, however, tells us that the prayers of righteous men accomplish much (5:16). But we are not righteous in our daily lives. Yes, we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, so that as far as our position before God is concerned, we are righteous. But the practical manifestation of what we are in Christ is sadly inconsistent and woefully inadequate.

The Question Is, Can You Hear God? (1) , (2) , (3) ,

(NKJV)

13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

(NKJV)

7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

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22And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

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The Importance of Hearing (1) , (2) , (3)

14Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

The Importance of Hearing (1) , (2) , (3)

(1) (NKJV)

13In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

(2) (NKJV)

24“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

(3) (NKJV)

17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Gospel Must Not Only Be Heard but Accepted and Acted On (1) Hebrew 4:2 , (2) , (3)

(NKJV)

2For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

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24“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

(NKJV)

22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

24for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Some People Refuse to Hear God’s Word (1) , (2)

(NKJV)

51“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

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4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

God Denies the Effective Hearing of His Word to Those Who Stubbornly Resist Him (1) ; (2) ; (3)

(1) (NKJV)

9And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

10“Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.”

(2) (NKJV)

43Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

(3) (NKJV)

26saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;

27For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’