HINDRANCES TO PRAYER

This is a summary of a message given by Dr. TV Thomas at the School of Revival and Prayer held in Regina, SK, July 18-20, 2007.

REJECTING THE TRUTH — Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

The informed who choose unbelief and fail to walk or pray in faith.

PRIDE — James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The Lord opposes the proud. You and I cannot overcome Him so we must humble ourselves.

HARD-HEARTEDNESS — Zechariah 7:12-13 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts.

When we harden our hearts the Lord gives us back what we have sown.

LACK OF COMPASSION — Proverbs 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

We cannot neglect justice and we must show compassion to others less fortunate than ourselves.

UNCONFESSED SIN — Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

This separates us from Him and hinders our prayers.

WRONG MOTIVES — James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Often our personal agenda is what we pray about. He is not our servant, rather we are His servants and we must keep our hearts and motives focused on His will.

UNBELIEF — Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Matthew 17:20-21 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Unbelief unchecked will produce uncertainty and distrust of God, the Church and cause us to become skeptics.

NOT SERIOUSLY ASKING — James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Thinking about it is not enough, we must ask, and ask in faith believing.

VAIN REPETITIONS — Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Many people pray the same things time after time, just going through the motions without really opening their heart to God and or getting through to the heart of God.

LACK OF FORGIVENESS — Matthew 6:14 -15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We need to cultivate a forgiving spirit, this is one of the greatest problems in churches today. With lack of forgiveness, how can God hear us and send revival?

HYPOCRISY — Luke 18:9-14 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Pharisee felt he was so much better than the sinner, but the other man was justified, he prayed honestly with no relience on self.

DOUBLE MINDEDNESS — James 1:5-8 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 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. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Praying doubtfully is asking faithlessly. The Word says if we do this we should not expect an answer.

IDOLATRY — Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

We create our own idols, like prestige, power, wealth, work and family. We must remember God will not share His glory with another.

We must keep short accounts with God and ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal issues. Then we can forsake them and repent of them. We must make every effort to live a Holy life.

Canadian Revival Fellowship

Fall 2007

www.revivalfellowship.com