Can God Hear Me? (ATP)
Today I came across some Christian songs with some country singers I like featured in them, and in reading the comments that people post, one particular stood out to me… They referenced John 9:31. “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears them.” I got a little confused as my first reaction was “God hears everybody”. I got to thinking, what if a sinner wants to repent his/her sins and get away from evil-doing? Aren’t we all sinners, born that way because of Adam & Eve? (Romans 3:23) I understand this as God turns away from evil people, but again, what if they want God to turn around and help them get away from evil and sin? I think I found the answer in 1 John 1:9 but I’d really like to hear your answer and take it further.
Many of us have had these same sorts of questions over the years and this is multifaceted so let’s see if we can tie it all together here. Let’s look first at John 9:31-33, “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” In context, what was expressed here is that God does not use sinners to heal the eyes of the blind and if He were not of God He could do nothing. In John we see a Pharisee named Nicodemus who came to Jesus and said in John 3:2-3, “…Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In this passage we see a key truth of scripture, that our access to Heaven is a born again spirit. We have been promised power, healing, authority and deliverance as born again believers. We have been commissioned to do His work on the earth, but those who do not know God, and aren’t His children and His co-laborers, won’t be used to bring His gospel or His power to this world.
Look at the first part of 1 Peter 3:12 Amplified,
“For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer.“ We see again and again in scriptures like 1 John 1:7 that if we walk in light He is in that light or 1 Thessalonians 5:5 that says we as born again believers are children of light. Matthew 4:16 says, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” And we see in Luke that that light brings revelation to the gentiles, AKA sinners. It is in light that God dwells and it is where God dwells that we communicate with Him.
Now look at Deuteronomy 30:14, “…the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” Romans 10:8-10, reiterates this, “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” God is listening for the sinner’s repentant prayer. He’s not willing any should perish.
Remember in Genesis when Adam and Eve sinned and God came to them and couldn’t find them? Sin had separated them and it broke the heart of the Father. It’s the same today, sin separates us from God because God is light and can’t dwell with darkness. John 12:46, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” The same is found in John 8:12, “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 2 Corinthians 6:14 asks, “…For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” Of course, the answer is no fellowship at all. Light and dark are opposite so if we want to walk in light, we need to access that light, which is the Lord and His Word of truth.
Finally, Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” You also mentioned, 1 John 1:9-10 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” We have all done things that make our communication with God and our walk with God a bit blurry so to speak. We have all fallen short of walking in perfect light, but the Word says He is faithful and just to forgive. His mercies are new every morning. Our hearts should continually be searching to be in His perfect will and in His light.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Renée
