IMPEDIMENTS TO PRAYER

IMPEDIMENTS TO PRAYER

Isaiah 59:1-2

Isaiah 59:1–2 AV

Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Revival like Jonathan Edwards saw in his day is still possible in this day and time also. If you are not familiar with Jonathan Edwards, let me try to give you a short account of his life. Jonathan Edwards was a pastor in a New England state in the early days of our nation. His church was made up of church members by virtue of birth instead of the new birth. He was very concern over their precious souls dying and going to Hell. He was so burdened over the indifference of his people that he preached a message entitled "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God." In fact this message is still in print today. It will grip your heart if you would read it and heed its warning. It has throughout as its theme the Holiness of God. When Bro. Edwards preached this message, people were yelling, screaming and gripping the pews and asking the Lord to save them and not to send them to Hell.

After the services, people's lives were so changed that people were saved on a regular basis and sparked a period of time which Bible Historians call the "Great Awakening" What many people do not know is what happened before he preached that day. No food or water touched his lips for 4 days. He did not sleep for those 4 days either. When he preached that day, he was not a yelling or jumping preacher but preached in a monotone reading his manuscript. Since he was severely farsighted, he had to hold his manuscript very close his face and did not even look his people. We must remember that we still serve the same God that Jonathan Edwards did. The Lord could visit us just like He did in Jonathan Edwards' day.

Prayer is one of the greatest privileges afforded to the child of God. It is our direct communication line to our Heavenly Father.

But often is the case that people will talk to their friends, family, pastor and even mere acquaintances before ever talking to the Lord about a concern. Regardless of the situation, good or bad, we should always to pray. In these last days, prayer should be our very life's blood. Prayer is our only hope for revival.

Many times when we pray, our prayers are unanswered. I want to try to share with you why our prayers in general and more specifically, our prayers for revival may go unanswered.

The reasons apply to both general prayer and revival prayer.

I. UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IN MY LIFE

Psalm 66:18 AV

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

A. Specific sins

1. Wrong words

That takes it from His commandment of taking the Lord’s name in vain, to lying and it even deceiving. Curse words filthy communication, and on and on

Ephesians 4:29 AV

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

2. Wrong actions

There are three general words use in the Bible for sin. Now these are generalizations of these words, meaning most of the time they have to do with certain type of sinful behavior

Transgression - sin having to do with rebellion

Iniquity - sin having to do with crookedness or perverseness

Sin - sin in general, but it often is attributed to some action

3. Wrong affections

1 John 2:15–17 AV

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

4. Wrong thoughts

2 Corinthians 10:5–6 AV

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

5. Wrong influences

Psalm 101:3 AV

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

6. Wrong acquaintances

Proverbs 1:10 AV

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Proverbs 1:15–16 AV

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

B. Scriptural Solution

1. Confession

1 John 1:9 AV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. Consecration

Psalm 139:23–24 AV

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

II. UNFORGIVING ATTITUDE

Matthew 6:14–15 AV

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

A. The Progression of Unforgiveness

1. An unforgiving spirit brings bitterness

Hebrews 12:15 AV

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

2. An unforgiving spirit brings battles

Battles with self, Satan, and your Saviour

3. Battles begets bad health

Conflict of the mind, body or even at times, the spirit, can bring you to bad health.

B. The Prison of Unforgiveness

While forgiveness of others is the path to freedom, most people will hold on to that grudge, that mistreatment, that injustice against them perceived or true and hold on to it and imprison themselves for the rest of their lives. It is sad thing to see.

III. UNSPIRITUAL MOTIVES

James 4:3 AV

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

A. Some wrong motives in praying for revival

Is it to build up our church in numbers?

Is it to build our offerings?

Is it so we can be written up in "The Sword Of the Lord" or some other publication?

Is it so we can brag on our accomplishments?

B. Right Motives for praying for revival

1. For God’s Glory

2. To draw close to Christ

3. To see people saved

4. To see these things happen in other peoples lives

C. Right Method for Revival

2 Chronicles 7:14 AV

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.

IV. UPSETTING FAMILY UNITY

A. Proper relationship with our mates

1 Peter 3:7 AV

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.

Did I say something cross to my mate and had not asked for forgiveness?

Did I shun my spouse? Did I ignore them? Was I short with my spouse? Did I lose my temper.

We say it often, but one of the most important relationships of life is your spouse and at the same time, that is often one of the people who take advantage of the most and abuse and we need to guard against that.

B. Proper relationship with your children

Ephesians 6:4 AV

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

C. Proper relationship with our parents

Ephesians 6:1–3 AV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

V. UNBELIEF

James 1:6–7 AV

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. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

A. The heading of unbelief

It leads to

Doubt Despair

Dismay Depression

Deadness The Devil

B. The harm of unbelief

Not trusting God fills our hearts and lives with fear.

Proverbs 28:1 AV

The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

C. The help from unbelief

Mark 9:24 AV

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

1. Trust the Lord Always

Hebrews 11:6 AV

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.

2. Turn to the Lord first always

Proverbs 3:5–6 AV

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

3. Triumph in the Lord always

Isaiah 26:3 AV

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 41:10 AV

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:13 AV

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Do we really want revival, are willing to pay the cost for revival?

I think of the cost of Revival as the same as Discipleship. It really is the same life.

Do I have unconfessed sin in my life? Have I allowed to speak through His Word? Am I willing to spent the time in prayer for revival? Do I believe the Lord can give revival here? Is my relationship with others right?

Today we can have the start for revival if we allow the Lord to have His way with us.

IMPEDIMENTS TO PRAYER

Isaiah 59:1-2