{"id":4174,"date":"2024-07-13T22:41:13","date_gmt":"2024-07-14T02:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=4174"},"modified":"2024-07-13T22:41:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-14T02:41:14","slug":"hindrances-to-prayer-july-14th-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=4174","title":{"rendered":"HINDRANCES TO PRAYER, JULY 14TH, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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CENTRAL THOUGHT
Sinful living constitutes a major hindrance to prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEXT: ISA. 59:1-2; JAMES 4:1-10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION:
It is God\u2019s desire, as it is our desire when we pray, that we receive answers to our prayers. God said, \u201ccall upon me in the day of troubles: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.\u201d (Psalm 50:15).
Occasionally we are hindered from praying and even when we pray, answers to our prayers may be hindered. The reason is that Satan knows that when we go to God in prayer, we obtain strength to prevail against him. Therefore, he does all he can to hinder us from paying. It is not that God is not able to fulfil His promise to answer our prayer, but our iniquities, which Satan plunges into us, separates between us and our God, and our sins hide His face from us that He would not hear. Satan therefore causes us to sin to affect our separation from God.
In this study, those things that may bring about hindrances to our prayers would be examined, and ways in which those hindrances can be overcome are suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LESSON OBJECTIVES<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. To know what hindrances to prayer imply<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. To know some of the things the enemy (Satan) may use to hinder us from praying.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. To know how to overcome those hindrances.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    BIBLE TRUTH:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    QUESTION 1) WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HINDER?
    The word hinder according to the dictionary means to keep back, to stop, or prevent, to be an obstacle. According to an elementary dictionary, the word hinder simply means, get in the way of someone or something.
    \u201cHindrance to prayer\u201d therefore implies the act of stopping prayer or that which keeps back prayers, or prevention to prayer, or obstacle to prayers, or on the other hand, person or thing that gets in one\u2019s way to prayer.
    Hindrance to prayer can be described as physical speed breaks which are usually built on our roads, to pose obstacle to the free flow of traffic. It does not allow one to maintain a particular speed level. Hindrances to prayer would not allow one to maintain an upward prayer life. Answers to prayers could also be hindered through delays that may be engineered by the devil which God may allow to benefit the Christian. (Daniel 10:12-14; Rom. 8:28).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    QUESTION 2). WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THE ENEMY (SATAN) MAY USE TO HINDER US FROM PRAYING? Lk. 21:34
    Nothing troubles Satan, our enemy, like the prayers of the Saints. Therefore, he tries all his possible best to stop or hinder the Saints from praying. Some of the things the enemy uses to hinder us from praying are stated in Luke 21:34. \u201cAnd take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.\u201d
    First from this passage is surfeiting. Anything of this flesh is capable of hindering us from praying. As the Bible puts it \u201cLove not the world, neither the things that are in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father.\u201d (1 John 2:15-17). The love of the world which is associated with these three elements, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life hinder one from praying if one is too much indulged in them.
    Second is drunkenness. Before one is drunk of strong wine (alcohol) his heart must have been stolen. Alcohol steals the heart. Once the heart is gone, in this manner, the concentration needed to enable one to pray will be tempered with\/ hindered (Isa. 28:1,7; Eph. 5:18). Such a one would not be able to pray.
    Third is the care of this life. In the parable of the Sower, the Lord said, \u201cHe also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.\u201d (Matt. 13:22). Just as the cares of this world (life) can hinder (choke) the word in one\u2019s heart and become unfruitful, so also it can hinder one from praying. Hence the Lord said, \u201cBut seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.\u201d If one truly seeks the kingdom and His righteousness, perfect peace will be created in him, which makes him able to ware against worldliness and cares of this life, thereby he is able to pray effectively. 1 Cor. 10:12 says \u201cWherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.\u201d When we study, meditate, and obey God\u2019s word, we will be able to check surfeiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    QUESTION 3) HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THESE HINDRANCES TO OUR PRAYER LIFE?
    In Matthew 6:33-34 we are enjoined to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things we need shall be added unto us. We are not worried for tomorrow but to take each day at a time. If one truly seeks the kingdom of God, he will have whatsoever he wills. We can have perfect peace that is capable of warring against the worries and cares of this life. We can rest in the Lord, and this will make us live one day at a time.
    The desire to be filled with the Spirit of God (Eph. 5:18) will enable us to put away strong wine or alcoholic drinks. Alcoholic drinks are not for kings and princes such as we are (Prov. 31:4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    QUESTION 4) DISCUSS HOW THE FOLLOWINGS HINDER PRAYERS AND HOW THEY CAN BE OVERCOME.
    A. Secret\/ unrepented sin. Ps. 66:18; Prov. 28:13
    When one hides to commit sin or knows he has fallen into sin and neglects to confess but keeps such sin in his heart, the Lord will not answer his prayers. The problem is that such persons are not able to pray anymore and when they manage to pray, the Lord will not hear. No one prospers when such sins are covered and unconfessed. We are enjoined to confess and forsake our sins, for God will abundantly pardon and prayers will be answered.
    B. Unbelief and doubt. 1 Tim. 2:8
    Unbelief and doubt are strong weapons in the hands of the devil to hinder our prayers from being answered. Our Lord Jesus rebuked His disciples of unbelief and doubt when He expected them to be able to trust in God. He said, \u201cNothing shall be impossible with God.\u201d We are to ask anything according to His will without doubting. Have faith in God in absolute terms for faith destroys doubt when exercised in the power of God.
    C. Malice\/Grudge\/Bitterness. 1 Peter 3:3,9; Matt. 5:23-24
    These are the things that war against one\u2019s mind by exerting great trouble and weariness on the mind. They cause unhappiness and can disturb the peace of the heart. If the heart and mind are troubled, one cannot pray. Haphazard prayers under such condition cannot attract any answer from a perfect God. \u201cPut off all anger, wrath, malice\u2026\u201d (Col. 3:8) and have your prayers answered.
    D. Rancor\/Disagreement\/Dissension. Acts 2:46; 4:24, 32a
    The early Christians of the Acts of the Apostles were always in one accord, singleness of heart, breaking bread from house to house and obeyed the Holy Spirit and the Apostles (leaders). God honored their unity and answered their prayers regularly (Acts 12:5-7). The prayers of this type of believers, devoid of the rancor, disagreement, and dissension received answers. Keep away from those who cause division, not partaking in their sin that our prayer be not hindered.
    E. Selfishness\/Greed. James 4:3
    When we ask to consume in on our lust, God will not answer us. We must ask according to God\u2019s will to enable God to hear us (1 John 5:14). God is willing and capable of answering our prayers that are not borne out of selfishness and greed.
    F. Anxiety\/Worry. Phil. 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7
    No problems can ever be solved because one is very anxious or worried. God knows what His children are passing through and we only need to call on Him for solutions. Tell your problems to Jesus rather than engaging in panic that can hinder one from receiving answers. \u201cBe careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.\u201d We should not worry but cast all our cares upon Him as He definitely cares for us.
    G. Indifference\/Disobedience to God\u2019s word.
    Prov. 1:25-31; John 15:7
    Indifference\/disobedience to God\u2019s word is a hindrance to prayer being answered. God demands absolute obedience to Him and His Word and faith in Him. Disobedience is negating God\u2019s will. We are enjoined to obey Him and allow His word to abide in us and facilitate His answers to our prayers. When we play our part by obeying Him, He will undoubtedly keep His covenant with us by answering us when we call.
    H. Neglect of Mercy. Prov. 21:13; Matt. 5:7
    Neglect of mercy can be a hindrance to our prayers (Prov 21:13). Our character should be like that of God. God is a merciful God and expects His children to be like Him. When we show mercy to as many people as we see to be deserving a mercy, God will rain mercy on us for \u201cBlessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.\u201d Matt. 7:2; Luke 6:38
    I. Ill-treatment of spouse (1 Peter 3:1-7)
    We need not mismanage our homes and think we can receive answers to our prayers. The wife and husband must live in harmony and in love. Each must endeavor to draw near to God. They must be one in purpose and learn to please each other. Any united couple who prays together is assured of answers to their prayers. In such a home one can always lift the other in case one falls. When spouses obey this divine command, of honoring and respecting one another, they will live in an atmosphere of heaven-reaching prayers in their home. In a home like this, there will be perfect peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
    When the early church received the Holy Ghost, the power of intensive prayer came upon them. They prayed for the liberation of men from the enslavement of Satan. The Lord sent down answers unhindered to their prayers. The church of today seems to have lost the Holy Ghost power. Therefore, Satan\u2019s oppression on men is on the intensity. Elijah contended with his generation of vipers and showed the mighty power of God. He discomfited the prophets of baal and stopped rain and dew in the land for three and a half years. He was a man like us (James 5:17-18).
    Today, we must not rest on the arm of flesh. We are promised that greater works than Jesus did must be do. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our hearts should not cease to ask like Gideon, \u201cOh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of\u2026 \u201c (Judges 6:13).
    The problem is not God, but man. When saints pray the prayer of faith, with heart devoid of sin, answers will come down. God\u2019s will and purpose is that our prayer be not hindered. When we pray, we should receive answers to our prayers. Therefore, let us remove all known hindrances, every weight and sin which doth so easily beset us and come to God with the expectant hearts of receiving from Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    MEMORY VERSE:
    PSALM 66:18
    \u201cIf I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
    MON: THE LORD CHANGES NOT. MAL. 3:5-6
    TUE: GOD\u2019S PEOPLE CALLED TO PRAY.
    2 CHRON. 7:14-15
    WED: SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD. JAMES 4:7-8
    THU: PRAY FOR THE SICK. JAMES 5:14-18
    FRI: MEN SHOULD ALWAYS PRAY. LUKE 18:1-8
    SAT: BUILD UP YOURSELVES ON YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH. JUDE 20-23.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    CENTRAL THOUGHTSinful living constitutes a major hindrance to prayer. TEXT: ISA. 59:1-2; JAMES 4:1-10 INTRODUCTION:It is God\u2019s desire, as it is our desire when we pray, that we receive answers to our prayers. God said, \u201ccall upon me in the day of troubles: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.\u201d (Psalm 50:15).Occasionally we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/OIP-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4174"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4176,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4174\/revisions\/4176"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}