God Only Listens to Those of Faith
3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”
What a blessing to have God listen to our prayers. Prayer is probably the most underused, under appreciated and under cultivated gift we have in Christ. Note what the New Testament writers say about prayer:
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
We simply, as modern day believers, don’t pray. In the above text about Saul we see what happens when a man used by God, turns away from God. Saul wanted wisdom from God, but, because of his sins, God turned away from him. Note what we later read when Saul conjures up Samuel through a medium:
16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.
God is not obligated to hear and respond to those who reject Him. But, He will answer those who follow Him and seek Him. The power of prayer is unmatched in the blessings of God to believers. We ought to use it to the fullest. Having God not listen to our prayers is terrible experience.
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