Hindrances To Effective Prayer

"Unconfessed Sin"
   Unconfessed sin is probably the most common hindrance to effective prayer. Psalm 66:18, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” When the Scripture talks about regarding wickedness, it’s referring to unconfessed sin. God is perfect and our sin displeases Him. If we knowingly tolerate sin in our lives, it pushes God away from us. As a result, it makes our prayers powerless.

"The Lack of Faith"
   The lack of faith has an incredibly negative impact on a believer’s life. Without faith, prayer has no power. Even Jesus could not perform any miracles in Nazareth because of the community’s lack of faith (Mark 6:1-6). James calls one who doubts “like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does” (James 1:6-8). The word double-minded speaks of a condition where a person is emotionally divided, almost as if he had two souls. That condition makes a person unstable and incapable of hearing from God or receiving His gifts.

"Disobedience"

   If we are to grow – mature in our relationship with God and become strong people of prayer, we must learn to obey. Staying free from sin is not enough. Neither is faith. If our mouths say that we believe, but our actions don’t back up that belief with a strong display of obedience, it shows the weakness of our belief. Obedience should be a natural outgrowth of our faith in God. The person that obeys God, trusts Him; the person that trusts God, obeys Him.

"A lack of being candid with others"

   James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed”. James is sharing a truth about God: When we confess our sins to one another, which requires us to be candid, God is able to heal and cleanse us. We experience a spiritual, physical, and emotional restoration. In addition, our candor - openness helps others, because it shows them that they are not alone in their difficulties.

"Unforgiveness"

   Why is forgiveness so important? The answer is found in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Forgiving and being forgiven are inseparable. When a person refuses to forgive another, he or she is hurting their self, because their lack of forgiveness can take hold of them, making them bitter. We cannot enter prayer with bitterness and come out with blessings. Forgiveness allows the heart to be made not only right, but light.

"Having the wrong motives"

   When our motives are not right in prayer, our prayers have no power. James 4:3 says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.” Sometimes even knowing our own motives can be difficult. 

"The idols in our lives"

   Ezekiel 14:3 clearly shows the negative effect of anything that comes between a person and God. It says, “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?” God does not even want an idol worshiper to talk to Him. On the other hand, when we remove idols from our lives, we become ripe for a personal revival. One way to know that something in your life is an idol is to ask yourself, “Would I be willing to give this thing up if God asked me to?” Look honestly at your career, possessions, and family. If there are things you wouldn’t release to God, you're blocking your access to Him.

"Our disregard for others"

   Scripture is full of verses supporting God’s desire for unity among all believers–between Christian brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, laypeople and pastors. For example, in John 13:34, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another…” One of the added benefits of prayer is that it helps you learn to love others. It’s impossible to pray for a person to hate or criticize someone they’re praying for. Prayer breeds compassion, not competition.

"A disregard for God’s Sovereignty"

   When Jesus showed the disciples how to pray, the first thing He did was teach them to honor God for who He is, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). That is a clear acknowledgment that God is in charge, that He is sovereign; it establishes our relationship to Him: a child under the authority of their Father. Anytime we disregard the divine order of things, we’re out of bounds, and we hinder our relationship with our heavenly Father.

"The unsurrendered will"

   A person whose will is surrendered to God has a relationship with Him like the one described in the parable of the vine and the branches. It says, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7). The branch depends on the vine and lives in one accord with it. In return, the vine provides it with everything it needs, and the result is great fruitfulness. There are great benefits of surrendering your will to God. One is that God promises to answer your prayers and grant your requests. Another is that we get to receive the power of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Just as with the vine and the branches, He flows through us, gives us power, and produces fruit.

Love Is The Rule, No Exceptions!!

Effective Prayer

{James 5:16} NHEB
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerfully effective.

{1 John 5:14} Amplified Bible
This is the remarkable degree of confidence which we as believers are entitled to have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, that is, consistent with His plan and purpose He hears us.

Our Attainable Spiritual Goals for 2022

What "attainable spiritual goals" should we have as disciples of Jesus Christ - the Body of Christ? 

We all have goals in our personal and professional lives, and yet our goals as disciples of Jesus Christ are quite different and affect those personal and professional goals. For this study, we will use this definition for the word goal: "an aim or objective that you work toward with effort and determination." The Scriptures have a lot to say about what our goals should be as disciples of Jesus Christ - as the Body of Christ. As we desire - seek a new level of spiritual maturity - to grow spiritually in this "Year of Revival", let's set some "attainable spiritual goals."

(Note: All of our "attainable spiritual goals" have their foundation in the Word of God. These spiritual goals are suitable for every member of our local assembly).

{Matthew 6:33-34}: "But seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

{Matthew 22:37-40}: Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."

{Romans 12:1-2}: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will.

{Philippians 2:14-15}: Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

{Philippians 3:10-11}: I want to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

{Colossians 1:9-11}: ...that God will make you completely sure of what He wants by giving you all the wisdom and spiritual understanding you need; that this will help you live in a way that brings honor to God and pleases Him in every way; that your life will produce good works of every kind and that you will grow in your knowledge of God; that God will strengthen you with His own great power, so that you will be patient and not give up when troubles come.

{Titus 2:7-8}: In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

{1 Peter 2:12}: Live such good lives among the pagans (unbelievers) that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good works, and glorify God on the day He visits us. (*The term "good works" encompasses every aspect of our thinking and conduct before God.)