HINDRANCES TO PRAYER

PURPOSE

In this study, we will explore several things that can hinder our prayers to God.

OPENER

Does God hear everyone's prayer?

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• Certainly, God is the one who determines whose prayers He hears and whose He doesn't. However, there are a few passages of Scripture that seem to suggest that God, at times, does not hear everyone's prayer (1 Peter 3:12; Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:2; Proverbs 15:29).

LESSON

HERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT CAN HINDER OUR PRAYERS TO GOD.

1. FIRST, AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT CAN HINDER OUR PRAYERS TO GOD.

In (Mark 11:25), Jesus reveals that if we are unwilling to forgive others when they sin against us, then God will not forgive us when we ask Him for forgiveness. So in other words, our prayers for forgiveness can be denied or hindered if we have an unforgiving spirit. What does "forgiveness" mean?

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• Forgiveness means that we pardon people of their offenses; we give up all feelings of getting even; we let go of all the hurt that they have caused; and we keep no record of wrongs. Forgiveness means that it is over. We give up all feelings of anger.

Should we forgive others even if they refuse to apologize for their wrongdoing?

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• If we want our sins forgiven, we must forgive even if people refuse to apologize. Jesus, while on the cross (Luke 23:34), asked God to forgive His persecutors, even though they didn't ask for it. We must forgive so that God will forgive us.

Can you think of a Bible character that forgave His family of their evil deeds?

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• A good example of someone who forgave others when they did not deserve it is the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph, who was the eleventh of Jacob’s twelve sons, and the firstborn son of Rachel, was grossly mistreated by some of his family members. First of all, his own brothers wanted to kill him because of a dream he had that pointed out that some day his whole family would bow down to the ground before him. However, instead of killing him, a few of his brothers sold Joseph as a slave to a caravan of Ishmaelites who were on their way to Egypt. While in Egypt, we read that Joseph spent years in prison because of false accusations of Potiphar’s wife who said that Joseph made improper advances toward her. All in all, Joseph’s experienced many hardships. He was betrayed by his family, kidnapped, enslaved, and imprisoned. This is a man who had every right to have bitterness and anger toward his brothers.

• However, we read in (Genesis. 45:14-15) that when Joseph was reunited with his brothers in Egypt, “he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them.” Although his brothers had been unfaithful to him, he graciously forgave them and shared his prosperity with them.

• If Joseph can somehow find the strength to forgive others, we too can find the strength to forgive those who have mistreated us. We must forgive so that our prayers will not be hindered.

Share a time when you struggled with unforgiving feelings and how you were able to eventually forgive.

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2. SECOND, DOUBT CAN HINDER OUR PRAYERS TO GOD.

According to (James 1:5-7), if a person prays with doubt, what will He receive from the Lord?

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• He will not receive anything from the Lord.

What does the word "doubt" mean?

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• Doubt means, “to be undecided or skeptical about something. It is a lack of certainty and lack of trust.” Doubt is an enemy to our faith because we are to believe with all of our hearts that God can answer our prayers.

From (Luke 1:5-23), why was Zechariah not able to speak until the day his child was born?

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• In (Luke 1:5-23), we are introduced to two people. Zechariah, a priest during the time of Herod king of Judea, and his wife Elizabeth. They were both very godly people. In this story, we notice that Zechariah and Elizabeth wanted children very badly. However, the odds were against them; Elizabeth was barren and they were both well along in years. One day, they prayed earnestly for a child and God heard their prayers and sent an angel to announce the good news that He was going to grant their request. However, in (Luke 1:18f), Zechariah doubted or did not believe the news that the angel brought from God. Because he doubted God’s promise, Zechariah was taught a lesson. He was not able to speak until the day the child was born.

• Zechariah was not able to speak because he doubted the promises of God. When we ask God for something, but deep down in our hearts doubt that we will receive it, our prayers can become hindered or we may be taught a lesson.

What kind of faith are we to have in prayer (Mark 11:22-24)?

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• Mountain moving faith!

3. THIRD, AN IMPROPER HUSBAND-WIFE RELATIONSHIP CAN HINDER OUR PRAYERS TO GOD.

Read (1 Peter 3:7). What is this verse teaching?

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• This verse teaches that if a man is not considerate and respectful towards his wife, his prayers will be hindered. If a husband does not treat his wife with love, honor, and respect, which she deserves, it is my option that he does not deserve to have his prayers considered by God.

Why does an improper husband-wife relationship have the potential to hinder prayer?

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• To have a good relationship with God depends on right relationships with others. If we do not have a right relationship with others, then our relationship with God is affected. If we have an improper relationship with others, we need to resolve it, so that nothing will hinder our prayers to God.

4. LASTLY, CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHER THINGS THAT CAN HINDER OUR PRAYERS TO GOD?

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• Disobedience (Micah 3:4; Deuteronomy 1:43-45; Jeremiah 11:10f).

• Arrogance (James 4:6-10; Job 35:12-13).

• Hypocrisy (Mark 12:38-40; Matthew 15:1-9).

• Refusal to help the poor (Proverbs 21:13).

• Unconfessed sin (John 9:31; Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 66:18).

CONCLUSION:

1. Here are several things that can hinder our prayers to God.

a. An unforgiving spirit.

b. Doubt.

c. An improper husband-wife relationship.

2. May we live such a life that all of our prayers make it to the throne room of God… 

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