HINDRANCES TO ANSWERED PRAYERS (4)
Psalm 66:18
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."
Dear people of God, in the last 3 posts on this topic, we have looked at uncommon hindrances to answered prayers that Christians are often ignorant of and which have consequences.
You would do well to read them again as a refresher and so learn to deal with them.
Today we will look at the concluding part of some of these uncommon hindrances:
Lack of compassion – Colossians 3:12 – a well known pastor was once asked why so many miracles took place in his ministry and he responded by saying it was because of his compassion and love for his congregation such that when he prayed for them, God’s Holy Spirit would move to do signs and wonders.
A parson who understands and practises compassion would always move God’s heart to perform great miracles.
Serving God grudgingly – 2 Corinthians 9:7 – Serving God involves giving our resources and time in His service to humanity. Unfortunately, some people, pastors inclusive, see this service as a burden and offer it grudgingly. This not only offends God but hinders prayers.
If you are guilty of this, please repent today and ask for forgiveness and learn to give God service from a cheerful heart so you can receive His reward.
Engaging in eye-service – Matthew 6:1-4; Colossians 3:23-25 – Some people work to please men, whether their pastors, superiors, supervisors, friends, family, relatives, etc.
While this may be good, one question to ask is, can you continue to please the person in his or her absence and not just when present?
The God who sees and knows everything sees the hearts of humans and knows our intentions. Anyone who engages in eye service is therefore engaging in foolery and should repent to allow his or her prayers to be answered.
Denying Christ before humans – Matthew 10:32-33 – We deny Christ when we disobey His commands in the Holy Bible. We deny Christ when we crack immoral jokes or use swear words.
We deny Christ when our lifestyle is at variance with His will for us. We deny Christ when we argue against His Word in the Holy Bible.
Two weeks ago, God gave me the opportunity of sharing the Gospel with someone and in the course of our discussion he mentioned that he does not take alcohol but he buys alcohol for his friends.
I told him Jesus (Word of God) says there is no difference between him and the people he buys for but he kept arguing that it is drunkenness that is the sin and not just taking alcohol.
I then referred him to several Bible texts including the one in Habakkuk 2:15-16, “Woe to him who gives his neighbors drink, who pours out your bottle to them and adds to it your poisonous and blighting wrath and also makes them drunk, that you may look on their stripped condition and pour out foul shame [on their glory]!
16 You [yourself] will be filled with shame and contempt instead of glory. Drink also and be like an uncircumcised [heathen]! The cup [of wrath] in the Lord's right hand will come around to you [O destroyer], and foul shame shall be upon your own glory!”
It was then what I said dawned on him when he read the above Scripture.
Dear friend, until and unless we continuously and consistently read and prayerfully meditate on God’s Word in the Holy Bible, we can never be sure of what is responsible for the challenges we face in life and why our many prayers remain unanswered.
Again, this is why God reminds us to live not on bread alone but on every Word He has spoken – Deuteronomy 8:3b; Matthew 4:4.
May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.
Gabriel Ama.
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."
Dear people of God, in the last 3 posts on this topic, we have looked at uncommon hindrances to answered prayers that Christians are often ignorant of and which have consequences.
You would do well to read them again as a refresher and so learn to deal with them.
Today we will look at the concluding part of some of these uncommon hindrances:
Lack of compassion – Colossians 3:12 – a well known pastor was once asked why so many miracles took place in his ministry and he responded by saying it was because of his compassion and love for his congregation such that when he prayed for them, God’s Holy Spirit would move to do signs and wonders.
A parson who understands and practises compassion would always move God’s heart to perform great miracles.
Serving God grudgingly – 2 Corinthians 9:7 – Serving God involves giving our resources and time in His service to humanity. Unfortunately, some people, pastors inclusive, see this service as a burden and offer it grudgingly. This not only offends God but hinders prayers.
If you are guilty of this, please repent today and ask for forgiveness and learn to give God service from a cheerful heart so you can receive His reward.
Engaging in eye-service – Matthew 6:1-4; Colossians 3:23-25 – Some people work to please men, whether their pastors, superiors, supervisors, friends, family, relatives, etc.
While this may be good, one question to ask is, can you continue to please the person in his or her absence and not just when present?
The God who sees and knows everything sees the hearts of humans and knows our intentions. Anyone who engages in eye service is therefore engaging in foolery and should repent to allow his or her prayers to be answered.
Denying Christ before humans – Matthew 10:32-33 – We deny Christ when we disobey His commands in the Holy Bible. We deny Christ when we crack immoral jokes or use swear words.
We deny Christ when our lifestyle is at variance with His will for us. We deny Christ when we argue against His Word in the Holy Bible.
Two weeks ago, God gave me the opportunity of sharing the Gospel with someone and in the course of our discussion he mentioned that he does not take alcohol but he buys alcohol for his friends.
I told him Jesus (Word of God) says there is no difference between him and the people he buys for but he kept arguing that it is drunkenness that is the sin and not just taking alcohol.
I then referred him to several Bible texts including the one in Habakkuk 2:15-16, “Woe to him who gives his neighbors drink, who pours out your bottle to them and adds to it your poisonous and blighting wrath and also makes them drunk, that you may look on their stripped condition and pour out foul shame [on their glory]!
16 You [yourself] will be filled with shame and contempt instead of glory. Drink also and be like an uncircumcised [heathen]! The cup [of wrath] in the Lord's right hand will come around to you [O destroyer], and foul shame shall be upon your own glory!”
It was then what I said dawned on him when he read the above Scripture.
Dear friend, until and unless we continuously and consistently read and prayerfully meditate on God’s Word in the Holy Bible, we can never be sure of what is responsible for the challenges we face in life and why our many prayers remain unanswered.
Again, this is why God reminds us to live not on bread alone but on every Word He has spoken – Deuteronomy 8:3b; Matthew 4:4.
May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.
Gabriel Ama.