Unhindered Prayers

Scripture:

James 5:12-16 “Most important, my brothers and sisters, never make a solemn pledge—neither by heaven nor earth, nor by anything else. Instead, speak with a simple “Yes” or “No,” or else you may fall under judgment. If any of you are suffering, they should pray. If any of you are happy, they should sing (prayerfully). If any of you are sick, they should call for the elders of the church, and the elders should pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. Prayer that comes from faith will heal the sick, for the Lord will restore them to health. And if they have sinned, they will be forgiven. For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.”

We’ve been in a series on Developing a Spirit of Prayer.... Today we’re going to talk about UNHINDERED PRAYERS!

Prophetic: I can’t help but believe that the events the church has come through in the last two years are a divine setup...An opening of the Eyes of the Church and a Harvest of Souls

It’s interesting that when both Joshua and Paul had a supernatural encounter with Jesus, none of the men with them could see what they saw.

They were men of prayer who encountered God in a way they did not expect.

It takes a healing of spiritual blindness to see what God is ALREADY doing and GET IN ON IT!

Here’s what I know.... When God brings breakthrough in your life, that breakthrough comes through PRAYER.

James (the blue-collar theologian of the New Testament) says, “Here’s the most important things church…JUST PRAY.

“…and when you pray, pray with determination and passion!”

Prayer creates the Open Door and Open Eyes for Heaven to Come Down!

Definition: Prayer is an awakening of my spirit to the work and voice of the Spirit of God.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray.... Matt6.9-10 “Pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven.”

Make me a pathway for what is true in heaven, to be made true on earth!

Illustration: The Greatest Kids Church Miracle - feeding of the 5000 illustration with false-bottom basket; “Is God doing a MIRACLE right now?!?!.... uhh....YES, Yes he is!” (My shining moment as a kids church pastor!!)

When you pray, you open your spiritual eyes to see that God is not far away…he is here and the MIRACLE is on the way!!

I’m not praying what I want to happen, I’m praying confidently that ultimately God’s goodness is going to happen.

Prayer heals our Spiritual Blindness (Opening our eyes from blinding distractions)

It’s amazing how distracted we can become with the things that pull us away from the presence of the Lord.....

My agenda and my ambitions can be a distraction...

My disappointment can be a distraction...

Conflict in my home can be a distraction...

Conflict on my job can be a distraction...

(Watch this..) MY MINISTRY can be a distraction from what God is saying and doing...

Jn.9.1-7 “As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who was blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned so that he was born blind, this man or his parents?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents. This happened so that God’s mighty works might be displayed in him. While it’s daytime, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The blind man was a living metaphor for our spiritual blindness (distractions). Your enemy wants to keep you blinded to the reality of God’s goodness and God’s power at work in the earth NOW.

But Jesus is the Light the opens blinded eyes!!!

2 Kings 6 Elisha prays to “open the eyes” of his servant so he could see “there are more for us in God’s army than those against us”

Too often Christians Pray only out of Desperation, instead of Praying in the Confidence of Resurrection

What do I mean??? ..... Instead of allowing our confidence in Jesus to dictate our prayer life, we allow crisis to dictate our prayer life.

Jesus’ Life was a Life of Prayer: One of the first records of Jesus saying anything, he was a child, and he said to his parents “didn’t you know that I would be with my (heavenly) Father…doing his business”.

What is the business of heaven???? ....communion with creation.

Prayer was not an occasional event for Jesus it was his “custom” Lk22.39 (his habit)

Prayer transports our spirit out of CRISIS puts us where Jesus is (seated in heavenly places) where there is...

Peace - Ps.23:1-2 “The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters;”

Contentment - Ps.16:5-6 “You, Lord, are my portion, my cup; you control my destiny. The property lines have fallen beautifully for me; yes, I have a lovely home.”

Clarity - Ps.16.11 “You teach me the way of life. In your presence is total celebration. Beautiful things are always in your right hand.”

Protection - Ps.91:4 “God will protect you with his pinions; you’ll find refuge under his wings. His faithfulness is a protective shield.”

What is hindering your Prayers?

Broken Relationship

James was able to see what God was doing through Jesus (his brother) because he didn’t allow broken relationship to separate him from God.

God has called us to be a people of covenant relationship. As long as we spend our time in conflict, hatred towards our neighbors…we will miss the move of God!

Praying out of Fear instead of from a Place of Faith

Judas missed of God was doing in Jesus because he misplaced his prayer life with his ambitions…motivated by fear.

Fear is Scarcity-Driven; Faith is rooted in Resurrection Hope

Past Pain & Disappointment

Thomas couldn’t believe in the resurrected Jesus because of disappointment.

You can’t see what God is doing next in your life, until you see that God can how God is going to heal and use what happened in your past.

God’s Timing.

Peter was the kind of guy to act first, ask for permission later....his passion for God got ahead of the processing of his life.

Your Prayer Life is a the secret womb of preparation…Never underestimate the season of preparation!

God is preparing a place for you…BUT FIRST he is Preparing you for that place.