You Asked For It – Part 5
Question: What are some examples of hindrances to a prayer being manifested?
What are the Roadblocks?
- If you have unconfessed sin in your life
You cannot expect God to answer prayers for things if you have broken fellowship with Him.
1 John 1:5-10 NKJV This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
- If you have unforgiveness in your heart.
Jesus, in His teaching, very often tied these two things together: walking in love and forgiveness with answered prayer.
Mark 11:23-26 NKJV For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (24) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (25) “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. (26) But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
- If you are unsure of what the will of God is for your situation.
Hosea 4:6 NKJV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
Luke 19:41-42 NIV As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it (42) and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes.
Many of us pray about situations in our lives without clearly knowing what the will of God is for us.
You Can Know!
- The will of God for you is knowable.
- God’s will is revealed to us in His written Word.
- For every situation that you may face in life, God has an amazing answer.
God will never “say” something and “will” something else.
“His word is a revelation of his will, in the things which concern the salvation of man. All that God has promised we are justified in expecting; and what he has promised, and we expect, we should pray for.” (Adam Clark’s Commentary of the Bible)
- You must learn what the Word says when you are not in trouble.
Most people wait until they are in trouble to get faith. If you have waited until then you have waited too long.
When crisis comes, we never rise to the occasion. We always fall to the level of our preparation.
Example of David vs Goliath. David fell to his level of preparation. He practiced with that sling. He knew the Word and worshiped God.
- You can know that God will hear your prayer before you ever pray it.
Have you ever noticed on Facebook when someone will lift up a need and ask everyone to pray as though if enough of us pray someone is bound to get a prayer through and God might hear it and answer that prayer. This is just a modern day version of “bombarding Heaven.”
1 John 5:14-15 NIV This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (15) And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him.
- It is possible for your will and God’s will to become one in the same.
John 15:7 AMP If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
- When God’s Word abides in you there is a confidence that comes.
Confidence comes from knowing something. Confidence is developed through a knowledge that you have. The more you know about something, the more confident you are going to be in that area.
- Confidence comes from being fully convinced.
Romans 4:20-21 NKJV He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, (21) and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
If you are not convinced, you will not have confidence.
Click HERE to download the Memory Scriptures mentioned in this week’s sermon.