Does God Hear Sinners?

*John 9:1-34

            Everyone in this situation was confused because Jesus’ actions were in conflict with established ideas.  The Pharisees held the Sabbath to be a day in which no work of any kind could be conducted.  A man could not feed his animals, himself, or his family.  There were even restrictions as to how far one could walk on the Sabbath in order to attend worship.  But for Jesus, the Sabbath was created for man and not vice versa.  In His mind, it was perfectly okay to offer healing to anyone that needed it.

This formerly blind man had experienced the miracle of rebirth, but he didn’t know how to defend his faith.  Because of his blindness, he had never been allowed into the synagogue or Temple where he might have learned what the Pharisees wanted him to say.  We can see the process of growth as it occurs.  He was at first overjoyed at being able to see.  He then became introspective - wondering just Who Jesus was and with what power He had worked the miracle.  Next he showed his cunning by asking if the Pharisees were asking all these questions because they too wanted to be His disciples (vs. 27).  Finally, we begin to see the influence of the Holy Spirit as he teaches his betters (vs. 30-33).

We must always be careful not to speak without thinking.  Otherwise, it is possible we may take the Scriptures out of their proper context.   By doing so, it is possible to prove that God does not exist, “The fool has said in his heart there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1).  Some have used the Bible to prove that Jesus was a glutton and a drunkard, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber….’”  (Matthew 11:19)

I can even recall a man that used scripture to prove that women should not wear their hair pinned up, “Top not come down….” (Matthew 24:17).

            The passage I want to focus our attention on this morning is that found in verses 30 to 33 and with primary focus on verse 31.

I.                    “God Does Not Hear Sinners”

A.    If this were true there would be none saved

B.     God hears no one without the mediation of Jesus

1.      There is only one access to Heaven’s throne

2.      Every prayer follows a prescribed route

a.       The Holy Spirit gives rise to certain longings and expresses them to Christ Who then intercedes with the Father

b.      Prayer is neither a mental nor a verbal exercise.  It is a spiritual form of communication between believers and the Heavenly Father

C.    God’s hearing is selective

1.      He will not hear every prayer of a hypocrite

2.      He will not hear a prayer for pardon from

      one refusing to forgive

3.      He will not hear a sinner’s prayer for

       blessing or intercession

4.      He hears the sinner’s plea for mercy

5.      He hears the wayward saints cry for pardon

II.                 Attitude Is More Important Than Words

A.    The enquirer must be humble in God’s presence

1.      One never makes demands of God

2.      We must admit unworthiness and keep our place

B.     It is necessary to pray believing and expecting

1.      Faith is essential to belief

2.      Don’t be surprised when you get more than you asked!

Prayer is nothing but empty and meaningless words if it comes not from the wellspring of the human heart.  God reads the intent of the heart and not the words of our desires.  Prayer allows any and every saint to enter the throne room of Heaven, the presence of God at any moment of any given day!