Reaching the Unchurched Christian

Reaching the Un-churched Christian

Does God still hear me when I pray?

Last Sunday we talked about reaching the un-churched Christian by dealing with offenses. We must add that when people get hurt with other people they often get hurt with God. We will once again look this week at Samson who seems to be a good example of the un-churched Christian. He is not the model “choir boy”. He is somewhat of a rebel and a hard head. He against his parent’s wishes as well as against the law of God continues to seek gentile women as his companions. And this eventually leads to his demise. After several great victories by his hand he wonders into the lap of Delilah. The story continues as Delilah constantly asks him of the source of his great strength. He giving her several answers but the truth causes discouragement from her. She finally coaxes the truth from him and then betrays him to the Philistines.

Samson is taken, blinded, imprisoned, and worked as a slave! Then came a day when the Philistines were drunk with wine and they called for Samson to be brought to them for his humiliation and their humor. Just like Samson, many un-churched Christians were once “mighty warriors” for God but are now trapped in a dungeon of slavery to the enemy. Samson then mustered up the faith to call upon God for one final request.

Jud.16:28. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

This was the moment of truth. Would God hear his prayer? Had Samson gone so far in rebellion against God that even God would turn his back on Samson. Surely Samson had been away from the word of God, other believers, and worship. He had been in hard bondage. This bondage had come because he had yielded himself to it. He had no one to blame but himself. It must have taken all he could do to pray what he did pray. He must have felt like the Psalmist who wrote Psa.143:1-7. What would God do?

God shows through Solomon’s prayer that he is ready to hear our prayers.

1. If a man sin against his neighbor.

2. If Israel are defeated in battle.

3. If there is no rain.

4. If there is dearth.

5. If the stranger prays.

6. If they sin against you.

God answered in 2Chr.7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God did answer Samson despite Samson’s past sins and failures.

Jud.16: 29-30 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

Pastor Johnny Fortune