HINDRANCES TO ANSWERED PRAYER

1 Peter 3:7                                                          

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HINDRANCES TO ANSWERED PRAYER

1. Wrong Heart [Ps. 66:18, Eze. 14: 3]

-If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

-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?

2. Wrong Actions [Is. 59:1-2, 1 Pt. 3:7]

-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.

-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.

3. Wrong Motives [Jm. 4:3] 

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

 

II. HOMECOURT ADVANTAGES IN ANSWERED PRAYER

1. Be a Child of God [Heb. 11:4-6] -By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 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.

2. Be an Obedient Child of God [Jm. 5:16, 1 Pt. 3:12, 1 Jn. 3: 22, Jn. 15:7]

-The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

-For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

-And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

-If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

3. Keep Short Accounts with God [1 Jn. 1:9]

-If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

III. HELPS IN ANSWERED PRAYER

1. Pray in Faith [Mk. 9:23, Rm. 10:17, Jm. 1:5-7]

-Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

-So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

-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.

2. Pray According to the Will of God [1 Jn. 5:14-15, Jn. 14:13, 16:23-24]

-And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

-And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

-And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you , Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

3. Pray Repetitively Sincerely and Sensitively [Mt. 7:7-8, 2 Cor. 12:7-9]

-Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

-And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.