Hinderances to Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Recap:
Recap:
Homework:
Homework:
Spiritual Hinderance:
Spiritual Hinderance:
There shouldn’t be any doubt that there is spiritual warfare trying to hinder our christian walk and prayer.
18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.
After all we have a real enemy that wants to destroy us: 1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy.–Corrie ten Boom
The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.–Samuel Chadwick
If we doubt that Satan hates the prayer of the saints and actively pursues to prevent Christians from prayer, we would be ignorant.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
In the book of Daniel we see that Satan our adversary, hindered the answer to Daniel’s prayer: Daniel 10:12-14 We see the angel share what happened here.
12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”
The prayer of the feeblest saint who live in the Spirit and keeps right with God is a terror to Satan. The very powers of darkness are paralyzed by prayer; no spiritualistic seance can succeed in the presence of a humble praying saint. No wonder Satan tries to keep our minds fussy in active work till be cannot think in prayer.–Oswald Chambers
Satan is not frightened by our human efforts or credentials. But he does know his kingdom will be damaged when we begin to lift up our hearts to God.
Person Hinderances:
Person Hinderances:
Doubt: Unbelief is possibly the greatest hindrance to prayer.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
We are of this world, after becoming believers. Yet is there not much practical unbelief in many of us?
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Knowing what we do of God’s incredible love for us and His desire for us, why would we doubt?
Self: The Idol above all others. When we are talking about self, it is easy for us to get caught up in a good works mentality.
Pride: What makes self so dangerous? What would we call that?
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
An example of the dangers of pride:
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
When we are caught up in the selfishness of sin and pride is rooted in our hearts. It is impossible to to place God first, because you’ve placed yourself there. God does give us what we ask, at the expense of our holiness.
15 And He gave them their request,
But sent leanness into their soul.
A litmus test: Criticizing others, belittling others, blame shifting, and complaining point to a person who is drifting further from Christ.
Our sole purpose is to honor and glorify God!
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
It is as true today as in the early days of Christianity that have asked, and received not, because:
3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
Unlove: I heard it said that the spirit of prayer is essentially the spirit of love. Intercession is simply love at prayer.
“He prayeth best who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the great God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.”
Hot-tempered people can make only frigid prayers.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
These next two have the potential to hinder your prayers.
Refusal to do our part: Love calls forth compassion and service at the sigh t of sin and suffering.
Acts 17:16 (NKJV)
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
How can we sincerely pray “Your kingdom come” unless we are doing what we can to hasten the coming of that kingdom—using our gifts, our prayers and our service. We cannot be quite sincere in praying for conversion of the pagan if we are not willing to speak a word. Making some attempt to bring them the good news of Jesus Christ.
Praying only in secret: It is remarkable how often Jesus mentions to unite in prayer.
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Praise:
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Homework:
Homework:
What is the purpose for fasting? Should we be fasting today? What is the importance of fasting?