HINDRANCES TO PRAYER
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LESSON #8 IDOLITRY
TEXT: EZEK. 14:3
REVIEW:
What was our lesson last week?
Satanic Activity.
How does the Old Testament help us today?
It gives us living pictures of New Testament truth.
What are you saying by your actions when you pray?
I am trusting a higher power with my life. I am trusting God.
If you listen to the devil and allow him to frustrate and discourage you what happens?
The work in your heart and life comes to a stop.
What is your best defense against the strategies of hell?
Prayer.
READ TEXT:
Ezek 14:3
3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?
(KJV)
We can look at this scripture today and say
“This is not my problem”
“I don’t worship idols”
“I don’t have any statues in my home”
- No buddas
- No golden calves
And this may be true but before you turn yourself off to this lesson
Lets define the word “idol”
Webster’s dictionary says an idol is an image worshipped as a god or a false god.
Now some of you are thinking “well that is still not my problem”.
But it goes on to say
“An object of passionate devotion”
Now this can include a lot of things
What is the biblical definition?
An idol is any object, person, thing, or passion you would place above God.
An idol is ANYTHING that you place above God.
What holds dominance in your life?
The bible says in
Matt 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
What do you place first in your life?
We see in our text that the leaders of Israel have set up idols in their hearts.
What does this mean?
It means they were in love with them
- They longed for them
- They embraced them
- They gave them place in their lives
Even though they were not at home
Even though they could not see their idols at this time
They still had a great place in their hearts
What takes first place in your life?
Is it your job?
- Your job can become an idol
- If you place it first in your life
- If you place it above all else
Does your career come before God?
Example:
I have seen men and women place their jobs before God and everything else.
- They’re to busy working
- Too busy to come to out reach
- Too tired from their work to come to church on Wednesday night
Too busy with their job to
- Pray
- Read their bible
Never too tired to work a little overtime
Can’t come to prayer in the mornings but if their boss asked them to come in an hour early, “no problem”
Prov 8:17
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
(KJV)
They have placed another God on the throne of their heart
- They never mention God on the job
- They never witness
- Never tell someone about Jesus
All in fear that they might loose that job they hold so dear
I have had them give all kinds of great reasons
“Well pastor this job pays my bills”
“This job takes care of my family”
“This job is my security”
What god have you placed on the throne of your heart?
Phil 4:19
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
(KJV)
Who are you trusting to meet the needs of your life?
Note:
I’m not saying we all get stupid and quit our jobs tomorrow
I am just asking who is first in your life?
Exod 20:3-4
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
(KJV)
Who is first in your life?
Example:
I have seen others who place their families first in their lives
It is good to spend time with our families
We need to do these things
But if your family comes before the things of God your prayers will be hindered
- You may be praying for your family
- You may want God to save your family
- You want them to go to heaven
But God is not hearing your prayers
- Because you have placed them before God
You can’t be at outreach because of a family gathering
You can’t be in church on Sunday because it is great grandma’s birthday.
You leave your kids at home for the night services because they need their rest.
Who is first in your life?
Matt 12:48-50
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Jesus goes on to say in Luke that what ever sacrifice you make in this life will be rewarded in the next.
Mark 10:27-31
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
You know in my life I have not always been able to go to everything my kids do
- I have had to miss some school plays
- I have had to miss some of their sporting events
- I have had to miss some of their different activities
But my kids know what comes first in our lives
And that is the Kingdom of God
And by being this example to them, my prayer is that someday when they become adults, the Kingdom of God will be first in their lives as well.
Many things in life will try to take dominion in your heart and life.
It may not be a job or your family
It may be a hobby
- Fishing
- Playing pool
- Hiking
- Music
Or maybe a sport
- Soccer
- Rugby
- Cricket
The truth is all these things will fight for dominance in our lives and we must be careful to keep God first
Jer 11:11-14
11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
(KJV)
God turned his back upon them because they had turned their backs upon him.
If God is to hear your prayers he must remain first in your life
Many people want to cry out to God in their time of trouble but they don’t want to serve him during the good times.
Like the people in this text, they want to run and play and chase after strange gods, then in a time of trouble, they want to turn back to the one true God.
The danger is that unless you serve God in the good times he may not listen when the bad times comes
Ezek 36:25-28
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
(KJV)
God desires to work in our lives
He wants to move in our behalf
He wants to hear our prayers
But we serve a jealous God
Deut 5:7-9
7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
(KJV)
His desire is to be first in our lives.
If you place him first, above all else, He will hear your prayers
Heb 13:5
5 : for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
(KJV)
Heb 11:6
6 , and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(KJV)
Matt 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(KJV)
