HINDRANCES TO PRAYER
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LESSON #3: UNBELIEF
TEXT: JAMES 1:5-7
REVIEW:
What was our lesson last week?
Stubbornness
What is stubbornness towards God?
When you close your ears to a message of truth and refuse to change.
Why do pastors have to preach the same message time and again?
Because we are a stubborn people.
What is the first step if you want God to hear your prayers?
Listen to him first
READ TEXT:
James 1:5-7
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
(KJV)
There is one thing that is a sure thing and that is,
The promises of God are unfailing
- He has promised to answer our prayers
- He has promised that He will hear us
But here in this scripture we find a condition
- We must ask God unwaveringly
- Without unbelief
- We have to ask Him believing that He will answer
The problem many times is that we ask in unbelief.
We don’t expect God to answer our prayers. Since we are not expecting an answer, we are not looking for one. When we are not looking for it we do not see the answer when it does come.
There must be no wavering, no staggering
If we ask in this fashion God will make good His promise.
This is the same condition Jesus insisted on when praying for the sick.
“Believest thou that I am able to do this”
He asked this question looking for a response.
He was looking for faith in those He prayed for.
- Looking for belief
- Looking for some sign of faith on their part
- Doesn’t have to be a lot
- Only a spark
- The size of a grain of mustard seed
He was looking for some small seed from which the miracle could grow.
Miracles always require a seed of faith.
1 Tim 2:8
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
(KJV)
“WITHOUT WRATH AND DOUBTING”
Heb 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(KJV)
“WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM”
How do you approach God in prayer?
Think about this for a moment
- How do you make your request known to Him?
- Is it in faith?
- Is it in belief?
- Or is it this begging, pleading type of prayer
I will be honest, there have been times when I have begged and pleaded with God. It was usually over something God was dealing with me to do and I was fighting with God about it.
Example: Jacob wrestling with God
Jesus in the garden
“Let this cup pass from me”
But many times people beg and plead in their prayers because
- They do not believe God will answer
- Some may even think He is unable
They will never say that out loud but their actions speak for them
- Or if they do believe God can and will do it, they don’t believe He will do it for them
So they beg and whine in their prayers trying to manipulate God
Many think that by begging and whining they can manipulate God into doing something they think He doesn’t want to do.
Example: Our kids beg and whine to try to get us to give in
(Expound)
The truth is God does desire to answer your prayers
- He wants to bless you
- He wants to give you wisdom
- He wants to save your family/friends
- He wants your marriage to work
- He wants you to be happy and your joy to be full
He desires to move greatly on our behalf if we will but believe.
Example: I have seen women pray for their husbands to come to salvation.
- Never believing it could really happen
- Never thinking it possible
They pray
- Put them on the prayer list every service
- But never believe it will really happen
And I know this because they say things like:
“That will be the day”
“Now that would be a real miracle”
They are praying the prayer, but in their hearts they never believe it will happen.
And, because they don’t think it will happen
- They no longer witness to them
- They no longer invite them to church
Eventually they stop praying for them altogether
Because they never believed God could save them to begin with.
Do you know what one of the most wonderful things about faith is? (You do not have to understand it)
Prov 3:5
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
(KJV)
This is one of the great blessings in serving God
- We don’t have to understand everything
- We don’t have to know how
- We don’t have to know why
- We don’t have to know when
All we have to do is believe God
Example: You exercised faith when you came in tonight.
You looked at that chair and sat in it believing it would hold you.
You didn’t need to know all.
- The laws of physics involved
- The algebra and math
- The laws of plastic adhesion
You engaged your faith and sat in that chair believing it would hold you.
You had faith that somebody knew what they were doing when they made the chair.
When we look to God in faith we are saying I believe that You know what you are doing.
Over the years I have known people to pray for many different things
- Jobs / Money
- Salvation for / Friends / Family
- Etc.
I have had them ask me
- How is God going to do this
- When is God going to do it
I have had to tell them all the same thing
“I don’t know where, when, or how, I just know He will”
It may not always be how we want it done or when we want it done. Sometimes, it may not even be the answer we want.
But He will answer our prayers when we ask in faith; expecting an answer.
Matt 21:22
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
(KJV)
The key is in the book of Mark
Mark 11:22-23
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Most prayers are not answered because we are not expecting an answer.
We are not looking for an answer
We say a few words, pray a prayer.
Then we forget about it because we never really believed He would answer anyway.
If you will begin to pray in faith
- Believing for an answer
- Looking for an answer
I believe you will see a major change in your prayer life.
Don’t just mumble something off to God to fill some space
- Pray believing
- Pray trusting
Many times we feel we have to pray 30 min. or an hour so we just mumble off any old thing just to fill time.
- Aim your prayers
- Don’t pray in general terms
- Be specific
- Aim for a mark
“Make your request known”
Matt 13:58
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
(KJV)
Do not let this be the story of your life
Believe God for the impossible
Believe for big things
Don’t limit God
Mark 9:23-24
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
(KJV)
Here is the story of a father who is desperate for his son to be delivered.
He had already been to the disciples but they were unable to cast out the spirit because of their unbelief.
Jesus rebukes them for their unbelief and then turned to the father of the child and said.
“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”
Listen: If we will but believe God I declare to you that God can and will move greatly in our behalf
You may even be like this father
Be honest with God
Ask him to help in your times of unbelief
HE IS FAITHFUL AND HE IS LOOKING FOR WAYS HE CAN HELP US. WHEN WE ASK IN FAITH HE WILL HOLD NOTHING BACK.
He is King of Kings
Lord of Lords
Creator of heaven and earth
And He is our Father
“Go to him in faith”
