Hindrances To Prayer

"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." --- (SofS 2:4)
Travis Case, Pastor/Teacher          Northgate Baptist Church          F.E.A.S.T Ministries

I. Wrong Relations Between Husband And Wife.

A. I Peter 3:1-7, "Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation [coupled] with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 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."

B. Prayers of Husbands are hindered because of their failure in duty toward their wives.

1. Lack of love

2. Unkindness

3. Lack of Understanding

4. Lack of Consideration

5. Lack of Provisions

C. Prayers of Wives are hindered because of their failure of in duty toward their husbands.

1. Neglect --- Defrauding (Keeping that which rightfully belongs to another) ...

2. Crossness, sharpness of speech,

3. Un-governable temper.

D. Does this mean that a person can Hinder The Prayers of Their Mate? --- No!

1. No One Can Hinder Your Prayer Life But You.

2. You are never responsible for the actions or attitudes of another person --- We Are Responsible For Our Own.

II. A Selfish Purpose.

A. James 4:3, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts."

B. The Motives of many prayers are entirely Wrong and Selfish.

C. The true purpose of prayer should be that God May Be Glorified in the answer.

1. A WIFE should pray for the conversion of her husband because she cannot bear the though that God the Father should be dishonored by her husband trampling under foot the Son of God.

2. A CHURCH should pray for revival because she cannot bear Christ being dishonored:

a. Worldiness in the church,

b. Sins of unbelievers,

c. Proud unbelief of the world,

d. God's Word being made void ...

3. A CHRISTIAN should pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit in order that God may no longer be dishonored by:

a. The low level of his Christian life,

b. His ineffectiveness in service.

III. The Love of Sin.

A. Psalms 66:18, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:"

B. Isaiah 59:1-2, "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."

C. Anyone who finds his prayers not answered should pray as the psalmist David:

Psalms 139:23-24, "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."

D. Anyone who would have power in prayer must be Merciless In Dealing With His Own Sins.

IV. Idols In Your Heart.

A. Ezekiel 14:3, "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?"

B. What Is An Idol?

1. Anything that takes the place of God.

2. Anything that is the supreme object of your affection.

C. Everything and Everyone else must be subordinate to Him.

D. Is God's Interest put before:

1. Wife's pleasure,

2. Children's interests,

3. Huband's business,

4. Family's reputation...

E. Is God Absolutely First In Your Life?

V. Stinginess.

A. Proverbs 21:13, "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."

B. The Lack Of Liberality toward the poor and toward God's work is a great hindrance to prayer.

The Generous man is the might man of prayer --- The Stingy man is the power-less man of prayer.

C. It is the one who Gives Generously to others who Receives Generously from God.

Luke 6:38, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

D. Again, Proverbs 21:13, "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."

VI. An Unforgiving Spirit.

A. Mark 11:25-26, "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

B. Any who is Nursing A Grudge against a brother has fast Closed The Ear Of God against his own petitions.

C. Many a mother and father are allowing their children to go out into eternity unsaved --- for the Miserable Gratification of hating somebody.

VII. Doubting God.

A. James 1:6-7, "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."

B. God demands that we Believe His Word Absolutely.

To question God's Word is to Make Him A Liar.

C. Mark 11:23, "For verily I [say] unto you, That whosoever shall [say] unto this [mountain], Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."

Conclusion --- To The Lost:

Acts 8:35-37, "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest....."

If You Are Not Saved, Nothing Else Matters