Video Transition: Kwale’s Answered Prayer - Operation Christmas Child
Series: Find Joy in The Journey Through Prayer
Thesis: Jesus was filled with joy and this inner joy came from His relationship with God the Father through prayer. Prayer and inner joy are linked together because prayer opens a door to the presence and guidance of the Lord. Prayer is connected with joy!
Scripture: Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Summary:
Sermon 1: We observed some of the prayers of Jesus – to show us how He prayed.
Sermon 2: We studied the prayer Jesus gave us on - How to Pray called, “The Lord’s Prayer.”
Sermon 3: We studied “Why Pray?”
Sermon 4: We learned “Where should we pray?” The answer was Anywhere at any time!
Sermon 5: What happens when we pray? Answer: Miracles happen!
Sermon 6: P.R.A.Y. - When we PRAY we will experience 4 things. PRAY – P = Presence of God – R = Reminder of the race we are in – A = Awareness of the spiritual realm – Y = Yeshua in Hebrew means to rescue or deliver and is rooted in the name of Jesus.
Sermon 7: Finding Joy in the journey through prayer – Hinderances to prayer!
Thesis: The Bible makes it clear that there are hinderances to our prayers – things that will cripple our prayers. So we must make sure to avoid these actions, mindsets and sin to have our prayers answered.
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 3:7-12:
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Introduction:
The following thoughts and quotes are from https://godencounters.com/prayer-always-precedes-revival/ unless otherwise noted.
Prayer always precedes Revival! Here are some Biblical examples:
Exodus 2:24-25 — “God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob, so God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.”
Psalm 22:4-5 — “In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.”
1 Samuel 7:9 — “Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.“
1 Chronicles 5:20 — “They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him.”
2 Chronicles 7:1-2 — “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.”
Joel 1:13-14 — “Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come; spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God. Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.”
Acts 1:14 & 2:1-4 — “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers…When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Here are some quotes from theologians of revival about the importance of prayer:
Charles Finney: “Revival is no more a miracle than a crop of wheat. Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die—and if need be, to win and die.“
Matthew Henry: “When God intends to do great mercy for his people, the first thing he does is sets them a praying.”
Leonard Ravenhill: “At God’s counter there are no sale days, for the price for Revival is ever the same—Travail.“
E.M. Bounds: “The wrestling quality of importunate prayer does not spring from physical vehemence or fleshly energy. It is not an impulse of energy, nor a mere earnestness of soul. It is a wrought force, a faculty implanted and aroused by the Holy Spirit. Virtually, it is the intercession of the Holy Spirit in us.”
Historical accounts of Revival had prayer precede the outpouring:
There are numerous examples from church history that point to the importance of prayer preceding revival.
Rick Joyner in his book The Power to Change the World – The Welsh and Azusa Street Revivals said:
He states, “Without question, the Welsh Revival was birthed and carried by a devotion to prayer and intercession” (Joyner, page 75)
He noted, “Prayer meetings, which had before been drudgery, became the main attractions, even for entire towns. Meetings swelled until overflowing, both with people and with the anointing. Meetings that were expected to be regular services quickly became prayer meetings, as it became the first nature of everyone to pray. Groups walking to work would start praying, and soon they would be joined by a swelling crowd who was drawn by the anointing. Spontaneous prayer meetings started in shops, homes, and there were even factories shut down so that workers could pray” (Joyner, page 77)
Wholes towns would be praying and then get up as a group and go to another town to pray for them and the mantle of prayer would be passed off to other towns as they rose to pray!
Outer Hebrides Revival:
A revival took place in 1949 in the village of Barvas on the largest island of the Outer Hebrides off the northwest coast of Scotland. While many are aware of the impact of pastor/evangelist Duncan Campbell during this outpouring, this revival was precipitated by the faithful prayer warriors who paved the way before and during that mighty move of God’s presence.
Behind the scenes labored two elderly sisters: Peggy Smith, who was 84 years old and blind; and her sister, Christine Smith, 82 years old and almost doubled over with arthritis. They were unable to attend regular church services, but for months they prayed in their home for God to send revival to Barvas. These two relentless intercessors prayed by name for the people in each cottage along their village streets. They reminded God of His Word in Isaiah 44:3: “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground” (kjv). They cried this prophetic promise to the Lord day and night.
Across the village, independent of the Smith sisters, seven young men met three nights a week in a barn to pray for revival. They made a covenant with God and one another, according to Isaiah 62:6-7, that they would give Him no rest until He sent revival their way. Month after month they prevailed in prayer.
One night in particular they prayed with fervency Psalm 24:3-5: “Who all ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart…He shall receive the blessing…from the God of his salvation” (kjv). Instantly, it seemed, the barn was filed with the glory of God and the young men praying from the Psalms fell prostrate on the floor. An awesome awareness of God overcame them and they were drenched with supernatural power they had never known before.
At that very time, the Lord gave one of the Smith sisters a vision. Peggy Smith saw the churches crowded with people, and hundreds being swept into the Kingdom of God. They sent word to their pastor that they had “broken through” and that heaven was about to descend on earth.
And so it did. The whole region seemed saturated with God. Wherever people were—in the work place, in their homes or on the roads—they were overwhelmed by the presence of almighty God. Water ended soaked the dry ground as Holy Spirit conviction was poured out in those days. A stream of blessing flowed that brought hundreds to salvation during the days of that historic visitation.
So, we need to pray for God to send revival to Chicago – to this area – to CHC – to the CHC school – even for our outreach today!
T.S. - Today I will talk about Hinderances to Prayer – the biggest hinderance to pray being answered by the way not on my list to follow is not praying!
But, If we notice as we are praying that our prayers are not being answered then we need to look at our hearts to see if something is blocking it or standing in its way!
When you notice that your prayers are not being answered you should see a red flag wavering feverously in the wind – shouting a warning. When we find ourselves feeling disconnected from the Lord it is time examine ourselves in the light of God’s Word.
I. A dysfunctional relationship between a husband and wife will hinder prayer!
a. I word it this way a home filled with a culture of dishonor for each other will stop prayer in its tracks
i. 1 Peter 3:7-12 (see above)
1. This section of Scripture tells us that doing these things creates a culture of honor:
a. Respect for others
b. Harmony in relationships
c. Sympathetic attitudes with others
d. Love for one another
e. Compassionate responses for others
f. Humble attitudes with others
g. A no revenge mindset
h. A tongue which speaks good not insulting others
i. A tongue not filled with evil
j. A mind not filled with deceit
k. A heart which does not practice evil
ii. Creating a culture of honor
1. Many people today live in an atmosphere void of honor – they desperately desire it but don’t create a culture of it. The culture they live in is filled with disrespect – chaos – or even anger. But honor is not existent.
a. 1 John 1:9: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
2. Honor – a culture of honor for others is a Biblical theme woven into the Bible.
a. The first time we hear the importance of showing others honor is found in the Ten Commandments were the Lord says Honor your parents – why so you can have a long life!
b. At Bethel Church in Redding they are big in teaching and creating a culture of honor at home, at their church and with others because they say, ‘Life flows through honor” I would add “Joy flows out of a culture of honor.”
i. Creating cultures of honor open the way for answered prayer!
c. So, creating a culture of honor is crucial if we do not want our prayer’s crippled.
i. Honor between husband and wife
ii. Honor between children and parents
iii. Honor In the church between each other and God
1. Especially if we desire the presence of God and our prayers to be answered.
b. So, creating a culture of honor is a way to make sure our prayers are heard by God. We need to do it in our marriages, families, churches, communities, and also with God.
II. Selfishness will impede prayer
a. James 4:3: 1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
i. It’s important to note here that Scripture says, “Self-centered praying does not get results from God.”
b. Selfishness – oh how self elevates itself above others – it creates a culture of dishonor and impedes prayer.
i. The Bible condemns selfish behavior and it repeatedly tells us to root it out of our lives. This type of lifestyle, mindset, or attitude is not from heaven but originates from the world’s value system.
1. Today self is elevated and servanthood is deflated by our society and by some in the church.
a. This person is always drawing attention to what they want or desire in life.
b. They have no desire to help out others or even have empathy for others.
c. Life is about “Number One 1” which is themselves.
ii. The shadow of self is large an illuminating over many today.
1. Their conversation is filled with these words: I, me, mine, and myself.
2. Their focus is: self-love, self-indulgence, self-worship, self-interest; egotism, egoism and the list could go on.
3. Their desire is for comfort, convenience, and their enjoyment in life.
iii. People who are self-centered ask this question frequently, “What’s in it for me?”
1. This focus in life creates a person who is useless to the Kingdom of God.
2. This individual thinks the world owes them something.
3. This person thinks that the church owes them something.
4. This person thinks that Jesus is his personal Santa Claus and He owes them something.
5. This person thinks of church as the place to be served but not as a place where you give.
6. The focus is all on receiving but not on giving.
iv. Self-centeredness will bring disgrace and dishonor to a person.
1. It will lead to a lonely and dishonored life with no eternal value.
2. Self-centeredness will deprive a person of joy because they will never be satisfied trying to serve the flesh.
3. These people are trapped in a state of self-inflicted misery.
c. So to make sure our prayers are not crippled means we die to self and choose the path of servant hood in our life.
III. An unforgiving spirit will block prayer
a. Matthew 5:22,24: 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25“Settle matters quickly…
i. Many Christians go without answers to prayer because they have wronged others, or have been wronged, and have failed to humble themselves and seek reconciliation.
1. Calling someone “Raca!”
a. Means to spit on them.
b. Means to tell someone they are worthless.
c. Means to tell someone they are stupid.
2. Meaning of “RACA”-Easton’s Bible Dictionary: VAIN, EMPTY, WORTHLESS, ONLY FOUND IN Matt. 5:22. The Jews used it as a word of contempt. It is derived from a root meaning “to spit.”
a. Warning from Jesus: Calling a person in your spiritual family a fool, or worthless, or vain, or stupid, and telling them that they have no value in His eyes is on the same level of sin as murder.
b. Your judgment is the same Hell! So, you better make things right with all people in the Kingdom of Heaven.
c. We are to treat each other with Love –just like 1 Corinthians 13 tells us too.
ii. Do you recall the Lord’s Prayer – If you do not forgive others then you will not be forgiven by your Heavenly Father.
1. It is really a heavenly attitude toward those who do not necessarily deserve it.
2. Matthew, in recording a section of the Lord’s Prayer, says, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” used the word ‘aphiemi’ for ‘forgive’. It means to “send away”. This is the same word used in Luke 4:39 when Jesus rebuked the fever in Peter’s mother-in-law. That is the kind of forgiveness Psalm 103:12 describes as God removing our transgressions “as far as the East is from the West.” (Nelson’s Book of Stories, Illustrations and Quotes)
a. Contributed to sermon central by: Herman Abrahams
3. Showalter states, “I define forgiving as the elimination of all desire for revenge and personal ill will toward those who deeply wrong or betray us. This elimination usually brings an inner peace of the heart and the freedom of not having our lives defined by the injuries we have suffered” (http://www.vsg.cape.com/~dougshow/webdoc3)
iii. The act of forgiveness is not contingent on an apology from the offender.
iv. Jesus chose to forgive even when there was no apology from the persecutors.
v. Showalter, “In our anger or pain, we may feel that we should withhold our forgiveness, until our injurer repents. But consider this question from another angle. Making our forgiveness dependent on another's repentance is not very helpful. It sets us up to be a victim, not just once, but twice! By making our forgiveness so dependent, we hand considerable power over of our lives, to the one who injured us!”
vi. We need to make the commitment to forgive in spite of the lack of action on another’s part:
1. Poem by Mother Teresa;
a. People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway.
b. If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
c. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
d. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
e. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
f. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
g. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
h. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
i. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.
i. This poem was written by Mother Teresa and is engraved on the wall of her home for children in Calcutta. Contributed to sermon central by: Sermon Central PRO
j. Mark 11:25, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
k. Hebrews 12:14, 15: 14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
2. Quote: “There is no slightest suggestion that we are offered forgiveness on any other terms. It is made perfectly clear that if we do not forgive, we shall not be forgiven. There are no two ways about it.” C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity p104-105)
vii. Forgiveness -- just do it! If you do it - you become the winner and not the loser! When you choose the path of forgiveness you choose to make sure that God hears your prayers and responds to your prayers.
1. Forgiveness is healthy for you!
a. The Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance states, “That practicing forgiveness contributes to: better health, stronger, more lasting and more loving relationships, greater abundance, prosperity and financial resourcefulness, a more real and lasting sense of self worth and purpose, a deeper sense of connection and security in the world, a more heightened feeling of freedom, joy and laughter on a daily basis.”
b. Bottom line on unforgiveness it will shoot your prayers right out of the sky and obstruct them from ever being answered! So, forgive!
IV. Unbelief will obstruct prayer
a. James 1:6-7: 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double–minded man, unstable in all he does.
b. Hebrews 11:6: 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
i. Faith – It really believes God is who he says He is – Faith believes in God and then expects God to reward them who trust and follow Him – it also expects answers to their prayers - when they pray to God.
ii. Faith is the key that opens the doors to many spiritual truths and divine experiences in our life.
1. 1 John 5:1-21:1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.6This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.16If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.18We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.21Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
2. Faith is the key that unlocks many doors that are connected to Heaven and the Lord. This key is the imperative key that is needed to see the things behind the closed doors. Without this key you cannot open these doors.
a. Without faith your prayers have no opportunity to bring miracles – no faith – no answers – no belief in God no answers to prayers.
c. Hebrews 11 tells us what faith is:
i. 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible…6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
1. Faith is not “What I Think!” but “What I know!” Faith is not just a belief but it’s a belief that impacts my daily decisions and life.
2. Faith is only used as a verb in John’s writings he never uses it as a noun. He intended for us to view faith as an action as something we do not just believe.
3. Quote: “Faith does not come from out of nowhere. It is a product of your moral convictions. But what do you do when your convictions are challenged? It is faith that gives you the strength to go on believing. Though I am a Christian, I respect the religions of others, and I think that they play a vital role in our society. But I don't support convictions of cults that are negative and lead only to hatred and fanaticism. Faith must be positive. Live your faith. Don't wear it on your sleeve; roll up both sleeves and do something about it.”
a. --Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's
4. Holman states, “If faith is the religion itself, it is so in more than an intellectual way. Faith is also the living out of the religion; it is Christianity in action. This is the meaning of “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). “Walking” represents the totality of one’s way of life” (Holman Bible Dictionary).
a. Comic Jeff Foxworthy recently said that he considered becoming a preacher after his television show was canceled. He spoke to a group of high school students in Roswell, Georgia about his newly rediscovered Christian faith. The comic related that the money and success of his career didn't make him happy but that since he has decided to walk with God, it has changed his entire life (Stories For Preachers).
ii. Faith opens the door for God to hear our requests in life as we follow His will for our life.
1. Faith gives us the confidence to know that God listens to us.
a. It is important in our society today to know if someone listens to you or not.
b. Many people today do not listen when others talk. I notice this more and more in our society. But God listens to us when we talk to Him and when we make request to Him in faith.
2. Faith gives us insight into knowing God’s will and how to pray in our lives.
3. Faith helps us as we pray to understand the way and the will of God. This also helps to direct our pray lives to make sure we pray with right motives and proper intentions.
a. Faith says pray! It makes a difference and it will even move mountains! But the key here is to pray and be in the will of the Father.
d. Faith opens the door so God can hear our prayers and faith opens the door for us to pray for others so that we can see them delivered by the power of God.
V. Known sin in the heart will short-circuit prayer
a. Isaiah 59:1,2: 1Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
i. Sin – unrepentant sin will stop our prayers – sin has this much power to undermine our relationship with God.
b. Psalm 66:17-20: 17I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.18If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;19but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. 20Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
i. If we cherish sin over the Lord then He will not hear our prayers.
c. Be careful how you rate sin because Jesus has a different scale than you do. Make sure to follow His scale and not yours!
i. Jesus preached about sin in His sermon on the mount series telling the crowd that murder and hatred or any offense with your brother or sister in Christ is on the same sin level. Both sins deserve the same judgment! There is no greater or lesser sin on His scale. So do not sin!
1. From http://pkincaid.com/downloads/food/List%20of%20Sins%20-%20on%20a%20Scale%20From%20One%20to%20Ten.pdf
a. Paulette Kincaid notes: But seriously… we all really do have a list don’t we? I doubt most of us put our lists on paper, but we all have one in our heads. Occasionally we’ll share one or two of them with someone we know will agree with our list, or debate it with someone whose list is different, and quite often we’re fixated on our #1, but believe me, we all have a list. Everyone’s list probably changes over their lifetime, sometimes depending upon what they are guilty of lately, but mine would probably be something like this…
i. Murder
ii. Abortion
iii. Rape
iv. Child Abuse
v. Adultery
vi. Witchcraft
vii. Stealing/Cheating
viii. Hatred
ix. Blaspheming God
x. Lying
b. Here is another scale of sin:
i. Murder
ii. Abortion
iii. Child Abuse
iv. Witchcraft
v. Homosexuality
vi. Rape
vii. Using God’s name in Vain
viii. Stealing
ix. Hatred
x. Lying
1. Patricia notes, “But my point is…does it really matter? If you aren’t currently a Christian, only four on my list would even be considered wrong or punishable by law. Or is it just a “ten commandments” list we should be worried about? Since we know we can’t be perfect, surely at least some sins are more acceptable than others? How about if we refuse to do the first six? Or at least the first four? Or rearrange them into a more palatable order? Except there’s always an elephant in the room, that most people want to ignore. Because the bottom line is that God’s numbering system never matches ours. In fact, He’s told us that just thinking about some things make us just as guilty as if we’d actually gone out and done them.”
ii. Do you want your prayers heard by God – listened to by God the Father then get rid of sin.
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: There are things in our life which will hinder our prayers!
Why do we need to know this truth about prayer?
Answer: So that we can get rid or cast them. Why so our prayers are not hindered – or crippled – or stopped. We also need to create a culture of honor in our homes, churches, schools and communities so our prayers are not hindered.
What do we need to do about what we learned today?
Answer: Do an examination of our heart, soul and spirit and remove anything that is an obstacle or could hinder our prayers. Create cultures of honor where we live and even work!
Why do we need to do this?
Answer: So, our prayers are answered! So God hears and responds to our prayers!
When you discover that your prayers are not being answered – Do the following:
When you pray, go to the Lord in all humility. Ask Him to reveal anything in your life that is not pleasing to Him. Then judge it, confess it, calling it by name; and forsake it. Pray in all simplicity and earnestness, believing and God will answer your prayer.
