FACING THE ROADBLOCKS TO AN EFFECTUAL PRAYER LIFE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
EFFECTUAL: producing the desired effect, a change as a result of something done, accomplish, outgrowth
FERVENT: great intensity or feeling, felt very strongly, strong emotions, very hot,
WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PROBLEM… You cannot correct what we do not acknowledge.
CONVICTION: In a recent discussion we talked about CONVICTION, and why we see so little conviction today? My thought was simple: EVERYONE IS RIGHT… We are right in our own eyes. If nobody is ever wrong then why do we need conviction?
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 14:12 (MSG) There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell.
DO WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE? Teachers note the progress of their students? Stores take inventory? WE NEVER TAKE SPIRITUAL INVENTORY?
Matthew 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Have you ever kept record of the TIME YOU SPENT IN PRAYER…? Why don’t we log our prayer time? Why not prayer journal? We might see what we are missing if we held our prayer life accountable.
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
PRAYER IS A PRIVEGE --- WE CAN APPROACH GOD HUMBLY YET BOLDLY.
Prayer is ACCESS TO GOD…
My older brother would see signs that said: LAKE ACCESS. He thought that was the name of the lake.
My friend we have access to God through His word and prayer…
How often do we feel discouraged about our prayer life?
EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE… DOES HEAVEN SEEM HARD TO REACH SOMETIMES…?
Deuteronomy 28:23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
COME WITH ME AND LET US EVALUATE OUR PRAYER LIFE AND SEE WHAT CAN HINDER GOOD PRAYER?
HINDRANCE: a thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone, block, limitations,
Obstacle, barrier, wall, held back, slowed down, something that interferes with, to slow progress,
MANY TIMES WE PRAY IN THE FLESH… GOD’S WORD TEACHES US TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT
Romans 8:26 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.
PRAYERS YOU NEVER PRAYED CAN =NOT BE ANSWERED…
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
ANY GOOD EFFECTIVE PRAYER MUST BE ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
DO WE NOT KNOW THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD…? WE BECOME LAZY, APATHY AND INDIFFERENT TO GOD… OUR PRAYER LIFE SUFFERS…
Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
TO BE EFFECTIVE PRAYER MUST ALIGN WITH AND WITH CONSULTING THE WORD OF GOD… The more we know the Bible the healthier our prayer life.
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
DO WE NOT REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT PRAYER AND GOD’S WORD IS?
John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
DO WE HAVE UNREPENTED SIN IN OUR LIFE? UNCONFESSED SIN DESTROYS PRAYER LIFE.
Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
WHY DOES OUR PRAYER LIFE FAIL? WE FAIL TO PRAY IN FAITH…
James 5:6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Hebrews 11:6 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.
OUR PRAYERS OUR DOOMED WHEN WE ASK FOR SELFISH MOTIVES… PRAYER IS NOT SANTA CLAUS WISH LIST.
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
A BIG HINDERANCE TO PRAYER IS SIMPLE: UNFORGIVENESS…
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
WHO ARE YOU PRAYING TO … ARE YOU PRAYING FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR OR GOD…
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
SHOW OFF PRAYING MAKES GOD SICK…
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
YOU WILL NEVER ARISE ANY HIGHER IN PUBLIC THAN WHAT YOU ARE IN PRIVATE.
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
GOOD PRAYER PLACES A COMPLETE TRUST IN GOD’S PLAN…
Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
UP AND DOWN LIFE STYLES HINDER PRAYER…
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
PRAYING WITH MANY WORDS, VAIN REPETETION DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR PRAYER LIFE.
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
PRAYERS FAIL WHEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS NEED SOME CORRECTIVE ATTENTION…
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
CONCLUSION: Prayer is the tool that touches the heart of God. If we have an anemic prayer life we will be anemic in every aspect of our spiritual growth. Learn to pray. They ask Jesus: TEACH US TO PRAY.
DO WE KNOW GOD’S PHONE NUMBER?
Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I would love to hear a brief note from you? Help me? Pass this on…
