Transcript
Speaker: Hello everyone and welcome to Grace Talk, a podcast developed by Grace Temple Church Global to shed godly devotionals and interviews to help save the lost and encourage the saved. Let's go down to our presenter and listen with an open heart and an open mind.
Speaker: Hello, welcome to Grace Talk. I'm Elder D. Anthony Ray, and I'd like to thank you for coming in and sharing with us on today. It's my hope that by the end of this, you are encouraged and enlightened.
Speaker: as you endeavor to strengthen and develop your relationship with God. One of the blessings and gifts that God has provided for us in growing our relationship with Him is the opportunity to communicate with Him through prayer. Many of you may take careful consideration and contemplate the things that you
Speaker: pray about or even pray for. But today, I want to think about or even put before you a question that many may or may not have. And that question is, does God really hear our prayers?
Speaker: Growing up, I thought and understood that regardless of my life, whether I was in or outside of the will of God, that no matter what I did or who I was, that God
Speaker: would hear my prayers. However, if we are going to allow the Bible to color our thinking and allow it to guide us, then the Scriptures themselves provide for us a definitive answer and actually give us a clear distinction as to what prayers or whose prayers, rather, God hears and those He does not acknowledge.
Speaker: In fact, the Bible says in John chapter nine, verse 31, now we know that God hereth not sinners.
Speaker: but if any man be a worshipper of God and do with his will him, he heareth. So we clearly see here that sinners, those who transgressed the law, those who are outside of the will of God, those who have rejected his way, the scriptures clearly let us know that he does not hear those prayers. However, the worshipper, those who would seek to do the will of God
Speaker: The scriptures tell us that it is those prayers that God hears. It also picks it up in Proverbs chapter 1 verse 24 through 29, and it says this, because I have called and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded, but ye have said it not all my counsel and with none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear cometh.
Speaker: When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you, then shall they call upon me. But I will not answer.
Speaker: They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me, for that they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord." It also says in Proverbs chapter 28 and 9, "...he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."
Speaker: Wow, that's really something to think about. That's really something to consider. Where do you find yourself on today?
Speaker: I would challenge you to do a self -inventory and really look at yourself to see if you are someone who is in the will of God, or are you truly a worshipper, one who is seeking and desiring to do the will of God, or do you find yourself rejecting the counsel of the Lord? Do you find yourself one who does not submit to his will?
Speaker: If you are someone who is doing the will of God, then today we can take courage today. We can have hope because the Bible says this in first Peter chapter three, verse 12, for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. It also says in Psalm 34, stanza 17 and 18, the righteous cry and the Lord heareth.
Speaker: and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and save it such as be of a contrite spirit." I don't know about you today, but I want to know, I want to have confidence that when I pray, God hears me.
Speaker: I want to know that when I call out to him, that he will turn his ear and his face towards me. The truth of the matter is that today I want to encourage you to evaluate your life. What do you find in yourself? Where are you in the will of God?
Speaker: You know, we serve a God who is compassionate. We serve a God who's full of mercy. We serve a God who's full of grace. And today, if you find yourself outside of the will of God, if you find yourself not committing to be a true disciple, become one today. Do the will of God. Be who he has called you to be. Because the truth still stands, not only does God hear,
Speaker: but he is also a God that will answer. Be blessed in Jesus' name. This concludes our segment. We pray and hope that what you just heard blesses and encourages you. Please join us next time on Grace Talk. Until then, grace and peace.
