Text: Luke 18:13 NKJV
Further Reading: Luke 18:9-14
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Luke 18:13 NKJV
MESSAGE
Since a sinner’s prayer is an abomination to God, what prayer then does God hear from a sinner? Does it mean that God does not listen to any prayer of a person who is unrepentant? The way God treat the prayer of His children who falls into sin will show you the seriousness of the matter.
David said, if I regard sin in my heart, God will not hear me (Psalms 66:18). What does that mean? If a child of God falls into sin, until such repents, God will listen to none of his prayers. No wonder the Bible says that if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
How then does God treat the prayer of those who continually live in sins? He will close his ears and push all their requests away, but for one prayer. That sinner’s prayer that will be answered is the one we read about in our text of the day. The humble repentant prayer of a sinner asking for mercy.
It is not a mere lips service or utterance that many people make today when they go to the altar. It is a prayer said from a broken and contrite heart that the Lord will not reject (Psalms 51:17). This requires godly sorrow, a sorrow for sin leading to repentance. When a sinner cries to God for mercy, He will answer and receive him as His child.
There was once a King in Judah, Manasseh who did wickedly in the sight of God. God’s judgment landed upon him and he was sent to captivity. When he repented and prayed, God forgave and restored him to his kingdom.
The terms and conditions for which God will hear and answer any sinner’s prayers is by first repenting and crying to God for mercy. The truth is that those who cover their sins will not prosper but anyone who confesses and forsakes their sin will find mercy (Proverbs 28:13)
Just ask God for mercy and He will answer you. It is not a prayer that someone will tell you to pray but that which comes from a repentant heart. You must acknowledge your sins and then confess them to God today just as that publican saw himself as a sinner in need of mercy – so you must pray.
REFLECTION
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Psalms 51:1 NKJV
When a sinner prays for mercy, God hears and answer. God delights in such prayer because a new child is born into the family or a prodigal son is back.
PRAYER
Father, Please help sinners to come to repentance today and have mercy on them.
