Get Connected Through Prayer Hindrances To Prayer!

GET CONNECTED THROUGH PRAYER

HINDRANCES TO PRAYER!

INTRODUCTION:

If you would please, take your copy of the God’s Holy Word and find two passages of scripture with me. One is found in Luke 18:1 and the other is found in Isaiah 59:2.

Luke 18:1 (KJV) 1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Just last week we spoke about the importance of persistence in prayer. That is what this parable is about here in Luke 18.

We have been looking at Getting Connected through Prayer, God’s First and Worlds Best Wireless Connection. We have looked at The Principles of Prayer; The Power of Prayer; The practice of Prayer; and Persistence in Prayer. Now we are going to look at Hindrances to Prayer.

Have you ever been traveling and come to a road block? Maybe the town was having a parade; maybe the street was in need of repair; maybe a road was closed and a new one being built; perhaps even a bridge was out. But whatever the reason you could not get through.

Have you ever tried to get someone’s attention and no matter how hard you tried, they either could not hear you, maybe the sounds around them drown you out; or maybe you were just too far away; or perhaps they just ignored you, either way you couldn’t get through to them.

Maybe you were making a phone call to someone, and the line was busy, you had no signal or the signal was sketchy and breaking up, or maybe the phone was dead, but you could not complete your connection with the other person.

Perhaps you have felt a similar feeling when it comes to your prayer life. You feel like your prayers don’t get past the ceiling; or you think God must be preoccupied; or maybe you just don’t have the desire to pray, or you may even feel God is ignoring you. What ever the case, you just don’t feel connected to God through prayer and you are calling out as the old Verizon guy use to do…”Can You hear me now?

The truth is, sometimes we get discouraged in our prayer lives. It feels like you can’t connect with God.

The truth is, if you have felt this way, and most of us have at least once in our lives, you need to examine your life and see what may be killing your ability or desire to pray. In Partners in Prayer, Christian leader John Maxwell shares things that act as “prayer killers.” And tonight we are going to study Hindrances To Prayer.

Now Luke 18:1 tells us… men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Then in Isaiah 59:2 (KJV) we are told… 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

So why would God tell us to always pray but then also indicate that He may not hear us? Why do we run into these roadblocks if you will to prayer? Why does it at times seem we can’t get God’s attention or get a prayer to go through?

I. Well, obviously the bible is full of references to prayer which is communication with God.

Prayer is not just talking to God or talking at God it is communication with God and therefore involves a two way flow of communication.

By the way, Can anyone tell me when prayer is first mentioned in the bible? Genesis 4:26 (KJV) 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

II. The Bible shares many insights into prayer:

1. The Universal Need of Prayer.

Psalm 65:2 (KJV) 2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

Isaiah 56:7 (KJV) 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Jesus referred to this in the cleansing of the temple in Luke 11:2.

2. We have discussed the fact that the Holy Spirit aids in Prayer.

Romans 8:26-27 (KJV) 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

3. Rev. 5:8 reveals that the prayers of the saints is precious.