Prayer

 Praying Hands Albrecht Dürer, 1508.¹

After Evangelist Franklin Graham and Vice President Mike Pence and a plethora of others weighed in on criticism of House Speaker Paul Ryan's Sutherland Springs comment, it is time to review "prayer" fundamentals. 

God the Father does not listen to those who are not "His own," "God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth" (cf. John 9:31) — with one "exception" "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). God will hear that petition, and will not refuse!

The apostle Paul further explains, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). 

"... I declare unto you the gospel... By which also you are saved... first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

If you believe Christ died for your sins as described in the Scriptures, "and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day" as described in the Scriptures, and have called on Him — God the Father, through the indwelling Spirit, in the name of his Son will hear your prayer!

Now, back to Ryan, "if" he has not believed and called on the Lord, he may think prayer is appropriate, but he is just talking to the wind. Furthermore, "He that is of God heareth God's words" (cf. John 8:47).



¹By Albrecht Dürer - gallery.euroweb.hu, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=263190

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