Sermon Notes - Sunday, January 25, 2015

Why does God say “NO” to our prayers?  Below are seven hindrances to our prayer life.

1. We pray selfishly: (James 4:3) “You ask and do not receive because you ask for the wrong reason, that you may spend it on your own pleasures.”  We pray for selfish reasons without thought as to what God wants for us.
2. There is sin in our life: (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 you from your God and your sins have hid His face from you that He will not hear your prayers.”  Sin builds a wall between a person and God and causes God to disregard your prayers.
3. Idols in your life: (Ezekiel 14:3)  “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face.  Should I even listen to them or their requests?”  When we place other gods before the true and living God, we jeopardize our ability to make a request of God in prayer.
4. Stinginess: (Proverbs 21:13)  “Whoever refuses to listen to the cry of the poor, he shall also cry out but will not be heard.”  There is perhaps no greater hindrance to prayer than stinginess.
5. An unforgiving spirit: (Mark 11:25)  “And when you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against another that your Father which is in Heaven may forgive you of your sins.”  How can we expect God to forgive us if we refuse to forgive others.
6. Something wrong in your marital life: (I Peter 3:7)  “And you husbands, live with your wives and understand their needs and desires, giving honor unto her as unto the weaker vessel for she is one with you in the grace of God.  Do this that your prayers may be answered.”  When there is conflict in the home between married couples, it hinders greatly our prayer life.
7. Unbelief: (James 1:5-7) “But if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, not doubting, for he that doubts is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.”  It is very important that we couple prayer with belief in the fact that God will keep His promises to us.  When God makes a promise, we can depend on it. 

Hopefully, these seven passages of scripture can lead you to correct those things in your life which are hindering your prayer life.  May God bless you as you rise to the challenge to Pray with more Power!

View the video from Sunday, January 25, 2015