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.
4. And Rev. 8:3 tells us that our prayers ascend as incense before God.
5. The bible is full in both the Old Testament and the New Testament with accounts of those who have enjoyed the gift and benefits of prayer.
6. The bible is also full of Godly example of the champions of faith finding answers to their prayers.
From Moses, Gideon. Hannah, Samuel, Solomon, Elijah. Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, Ezra, Zacharias, The Early Church and the Early Church Leaders, as well as the Apostles and last but certainly not least Jesus Himself.
III. And, The Bible is full of examples of God’s Promises to Answer Prayer.
Psalm 91:15 (KJV) 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Isaiah 58:8 (KJV) 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. This is one of my favorites.
Luke 11:9 (KJV) 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
John 15:7 (KJV) 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Just to name a few.
SO, then with all this good the bible has to say about prayer, then why doe sit seem God at times does not hear?
What are the causes of prayer failure or what are the hinderances to prayer?
IV. Hindrances To Prayer…
1. Disobedience: Deuteronomy 1:45 (KJV) 45 And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.
Remember the incomplete confession, the disobedience of the first generation. What happened was tragic: the people acted without God, continuing in their unbelief and rebellion. They heard what Moses said about the judgment of God, that they were to die wandering about in the desert wilderness because of their refusal to follow God in conquering the promised land. They did not really believe that the judgment of God would fall upon them. The Scripture and outline clearly show what happened.
a. The charge of God was clear: the people were to turn around and march into the wilderness toward the Red Sea (Deut. 1:40).
b. But note what the people did: they made an incomplete, partial, false confession. That is, they confessed their sin but they did not repent. They did not turn to God, accepting and trusting what He had said. They continued in their disobedience (Deut. 1:41). Obviously, they were sensing deep sorrow for their sin, for refusing to follow God. But the sorrow the people felt was a worldly sorrow, not a godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10).
They were sorry that they were missing out on the promised land, not that they had sinned and cut the heart of God.
It is like when we get caught speeding or in a parking violation. We are sorry we got caught and are going to loose money over it, not that we did the speeding or illegal parking.
2. Secret Sins: Psalm 66:18 (KJV) 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
3. Indifference: Proverbs 1:28 (KJV) 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Read that first chapter of Proverbs verses 22 and following, and see what indifference The Lord is speaking of. They had a I don’t care what the Lord says or thinks attitude.
4. Neglecting Mercy: Proverbs 21:13 (KJV) 13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
5. Despising the Law: Proverbs 28:9 (KJV) 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
6. Blood Guiltiness: Isaiah 1:15 (KJV) 15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
7. Iniquity: Isaiah 59:2 (KJV) 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.
Micah 3:4 (KJV) 4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
8. Stubbornness: Zechariah 7:13 (KJV) 13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
9. Instability: James 1:6-7 (KJV) 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.
10. Self-Indulgence: James 4:3 (KJV) 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
11. We are praying outside the Will of God:
Deuteronomy 3:26 (KJV) 26 But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.
2 Corinthians 12:8 (KJV) 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
The Lord had a purpose for Paul’s thorn in the flesh and for not allowing Moses to continue leading the children of Israel. So the prayers were outside the will of God and God did not answer the way they wanted.
12. Unresolved marital problems
1 Peter 3:7 (KJV) 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:
So sin separates our prayer lives from the ears of God and causes Hi to hide His face from us. He rejects our wickedness.
The Lord answers true prayers prayed in the right spirit, and that within His will.
There use to be a popular country and western song, “Thank God For Unanswered Prayers.” Sometimes we pray foolishly, but other times we have things in the way of our prayer life. We need to examine our prayer life and see if there are hindrances we need removed that we might be more effective in our prayers and prayer ministry.
By the way, There are some conditions to Successful Prayers… At least six if you will let me take the time to share them.
1.) Contrition or humility, humbleness:
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Isaiah 58:9 (KJV) 9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
2.) Whole-Heartedness
Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV) 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
3.) Faith
Mark 11:24 (KJV) 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
4.) Righteousness
James 5:16 (KJV) 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.
5.) Obedience
1 John 3:22 (KJV) 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 5:14 (KJV) 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
6. Abiding In Christ and His Word!
John 15:7 (KJV) 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Just wanted to end on a positive note about conditions of successful prayer as opposed to hindrances to prayer.
Remember this too…A fella once said, “The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.”
