DCLM Higher Everyday 15 November 2023 — Hindrances to Prayer 1
Topic: Hindrances to Prayer 1
Text: Isaiah 59:1-4
2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
4None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Key Verse: “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” (Isaiah 59:1.2).
Message
In the Bible, the ‘arm of the Lord’ is a vivid image of God’s saving power. David enjoyed that arm of deliverance. He ran through a troop, fought many strong enemies and vanquished them. When he needed God’s help, it was handy. But Saul, his predecessor, was not equally favoured. At the hour of his greatest need, as the host of the Philistines encompassed him, he sought the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him because his iniquity had separated him from his God.
Sin has negative consequences and one of them is hindrance to prayers. God hates the prayer of sinners. You cannot call out to God if you have no good relationship with him. Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father in heaven. This implies that one must be a child of God before one may expect to have His attention. If you are not a child of God, what are you waiting for? Repent of your sins today. Receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Then you can call upon Him and He will hear.
Quote: Sin has negative consequences.
Challenge: You must be a child of God.
Prayer for today: Hear me when I call, O Lord.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
