SINNERS AND PRAYER

John 9:

Introduction:

1. The setting - healing on sabbath

2. The question about Jesus -- 'of God' -- or a sinner. (cp. 16)

3. OF GOD - for a) He demonstrated the power of God and b) God hears not a sinner.

4. The problem of application.

A. Mourner's bench and prayer for salvation…

B. Today, the 4 spiritual laws, 'just say this prayer' ….

1. Problem of 'sinner' --

a. ALL are sinners - Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8; Eccl. 7:20; 1 Kgs. 8:46;

b. Some are forgiven and some are not -

c. Some are in fellowship with God and some are not --

2. This man's statement -- based upon common understanding of OT teaching …

a. a Jew arguing with Jews about a Jew…

b. WHICH scriptures?

Isa. 1:15f

15 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.

Prov. 28:9

9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

Even his prayer is an abomination.

Ps. 66:18

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart,

The Lord will not hear.

Zech. 7:13

13 “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.

Dan. 10:12 --

12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

1 Peter 3:12 -

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their prayers;

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

LESSONS

I. Applied to the concept of conversion / salvation.

a. No example of such 'praying through' -

b. Example of one praying -- Saul, Acts 9:10-12, Acts 22:11-16

c. Example of one praying -- Cornelius - Acts 10:1-6, 47-48

d. OTHERS -- Acts 2: Lydia - Acts 16; Jailor - Acts 16; Samaritans - Acts 8; Eunuch - Acts 8

II. Applied to common situations today --

a. Adulterer praying that his wife doesn't find out --

b. "Religions' of today that deny Jesus / Bible / Godliness -- yet 'pray' --

c. Believers -- who continue to live in sin and yet pray…

III. Prayer is a privilege -- but it is NOT a substitute for obedience….

a. NOT substitute prayer for repentance and baptism …

b. NOT substitute prayer for righteousness

c. HENCE -- our teaching geared to getting people to repent -- to be the type of people that God WILL listen to…

IV. Not practical difference in the end between the above and one who doesn't pray!