Archive for Prayer
Seven Hindrances to Prayer — sermon
Posted by: | CommentsSEVEN HINDRANCES TO PRAYER
(The following points were pulled out of R. A. Torrey’s book, HOW TO PRAY. It is not a full excerpt. Hope you enjoy them.Bold print mine not the author’s. I have added some points in brackets.)
1. [SELFISHNESS] The first hindrance to prayer we will find in James 4:3, "Ye ask and receive not BECAUSE YE ASK AMISS, THAT YE MAY SPEND IT IN YOUR PLEASURES."
A selfish purpose in prayer robs prayer of power. Very many
prayers are selfish. These may be prayers for things for which it is
perfectly proper to ask, for things which it is the will of God to
give, but the motive of the prayer is entirely wrong, and so the
prayer falls powerless to the ground.…
2. [SIN] The second hindrance to prayer we find in Is. 59:1,2:"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."…
Sin hinders prayer. Many a man prays and prays and prays,
and gets absolutely no answer to his prayer. Perhaps he is tempted
to think that it is not the will of God to answer, or he may think
that the days when God answered prayer, if He ever did, are over.
3. [IDOLATRY] The third hindrance to prayer is found in Ez. 14:3, "Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?"(R.V.) IDOLS IN THE HEART CAUSE GOD TO REFUSE TO LISTEN TO OUR PRAYERS.
What is an idol? An idol is anything that takes the place of God, anything that is the supreme object of our affection. God alone has the right to the supreme place in our hearts. Everything and everyone else must be subordinate to Him.
4. [STINGINESS] The fourth hindrance to prayer is found in Prov. 21:13,"WHOSO STOPPETH HIS EARS AT THE CRY OF THE POOR, HE ALSO SHALL CRYHIMSELF, BUT SHALL NOT BE HEARD."
There is perhaps no greater hindrance to prayer than stinginess, the lack of liberality toward the poor and toward God’s work. It is the one who gives generously to others who receives generously from God.
5. [UNFORGIVNESS] The fifth hindrance to prayer is found in Mark 11:25, "And when ye stand praying, FORGIVE, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
An unforgiving spirit is one of the commonest hindrances to prayer. Prayer is answered on the basis that our sins are forgiven; and God cannot deal with us on the basis of forgiveness while we are harboring ill-will against those who have wronged us. Any one who is nursing a grudge against another has fast closed the ear of Godagainst his own petition.
6. [SPOUSAL DISUNITY] The sixth hindrance to prayer is found in 1 Peter 3:7, "Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered." (R.V.) Here we are plainly told that A WRONG RELATION BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE IS A HINDRANCE TO PRAYER.
7. [UNBELIEF] The seventh hindrance to prayer is found in James 1:5-7, "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask IN FAITH, NOTHING DOUBTING: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." (R.V.)
Prayers are hindered by unbelief. God demands that we shall believe His Word absolutely. To question it is to make Him a liar.
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The Benefits of Prayer — sermon outline
Posted by: | Comments(The following is an excerpt from the fourth chapter of Andrew Murray’s book, PRAYER. It focuses on what a person can expect if they more passionately engage their prayer life. Under his main headings, I offer an alternate suggestion.)
SUGGESTED TITLE — THE BENEFITS OF PRAYER
If now we are delivered from the sin of prayerlessness, and understand how this deliverance may continue to be experienced, what will be the fruit of our liberty? He who sees this aright will, with renewed earnestness and perseverance, seek after this liberty. His life and experience will indeed be an evidence that he has obtained something of unspeakable worth. He will be a living witness of the blessing which victory has brought.
Consider –
1. The blessedness of unbroken fellowship with God
(SUGGESTION: THE BENEFIT OF A CLOSER FELLOWSHIP)
Think of the confidence in the Father which will take the place of the reproach and self-condemnation which was the earlier characteristic of our lives. Think of the deep consciousness that God’s almighty grace has effected something in us, to prove that we really bear his image and are fitted for a life of communion with him and prepared to glorify him. Think how we, notwithstanding our conviction of our nothingness, may live as true children of a King, in communion with their Father, and may manifest something of the character of our Lord Jesus in the holy fellowship with his Father which he had when on earth. Think how in the inner chamber the hour of prayer may become the happiest time in the whole do for us, and how God may use us to take a share in the carrying out of his plans, and make us fountains of blessing for the world around us.
2. The power which we may have for the work to which we are called
(SUGGESTION: THE BENEFIT OF A GREATER POWER)
The preacher will learn to receive his message really from God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and t deliver it in that power to the congregation. He will know where he can be filled with the love and zeal which will enable him, in his rounds of pastoral visiting, t meet and help each individual in a spirit of tender com passion. He will be able to say with Paul: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’ (Ph 4.13). ‘We are more than conquerors through him th loved us’ (Rom. 8.37). ‘We are ambassadors for Christ … we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconcil to God’ (2 Cor. 5.20). These are no vain dreams or p tures of a foolish imagination. God has given us Paul an illustration, so that, however we may differ from him in gifts or calling, yet in inner experience we may know the all-sufficiency of grace which can do all things for as it did for him.
3. The prospect which opens before us for the future
(SUGGESTION: THE BENEFIT OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE)
This is to be consecrated to take part as intercessors in great work of bearing on our hearts the need of the en Church and world. Paul sought to arouse men to pray all saints, and he tells us what a conflict he had for th who had not yet seen his face. In his personal prese he was subject to conditions of time and place, but in Spirit he had power in the name of Christ to pray blessing on those who had not yet heard of the Saviour.
In addition to his life in connection with men here on earth, far or near, he lived another, a heavenly life – one of love and of a wonderful power in prayer which he continually exercised. We can hardly form a conception of the power God will bestow, if only we get freed from the sin of prayerlessness and pray with the daring which reaches heaven and brings down blessing in the almighty name of Christ.
What a prospect! Minister and missionaries brought by God’s grace to pray, let us say twice as much as formerly, with twofold faith and joy! What a difference it would make in the preaching, in the prayer meeting, in the fellowship with others! What a gentle power would come down in an inner chamber, sanctified by communion with God and his love in Christ! What an influence would be exercised on believers, in urging them forward to the work of intercession! How greatly would this influence be felt in the Church and among the heathen! What power might be exercised over ministers of other churches, and who knows how God might use us for his Church through the whole world! Is it not worth while to sacrifice everything, and to beseech God without ceasing to give us real and full victory over the prayerlessness which has covered us with such shame?
Why do I now write these things and extol so highly the blessedness of victory over’the sin which doth so easily beset us’ and which has so terribly robbed us of the power which God has intended for us? I can give an answer. I know all too well what low thoughts we have concerning the promises and the power of God and how prone we are always to backslide, to limit God’s power, and to deem it impossible for him to do greater things than we have seen. It is a glorious thing to get to know God in a new way in the inner chamber. That, however, is but the beginning. It is something still greater and more glorious to know God as the allsufficient One and to wait on his Spirit to open our hearts and minds wide to receive the great things, the new things which he really longs to bestow on those who wait for him.
God’s object is to encourage faith and to make his children and servants see that they must take trouble to understand and rely upon the unspeakable greatness and omnipotence of God, so that they may take literally and in a childlike spirit this word: ‘Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think … be glory … throughout all ages’ (Eph. 3.20, 21). Oh, that we knew what a great and glorious God we have!
Someone may ask: ‘May not this note of certain victory become a snare and lead to levity and pride?’ Undoubtedly. That which is the highest and best on earth is always liable to abuse. How, then, can we be saved from this? Through nothing so surely as through true prayer, which brings us really into contact with God. The holiness of God, sought for in persistent prayer, will cover our sinfulness. The omnipotence an greatness of God will make us feel our nothingness. Fellowship with God in Jesus Christ will lead us to the experience that there is in us no good thing, and that we can have fellowship with God only as our faith become a humbling of ourselves as Christ humbled himself, an we truly live in him as he is in the Father.
Prayer is not merely coming to God to ask something from him. It is above all fellowship with God and being brought under the power of his holiness and love, till he takes possession of us and stamps our entire nature with the lowliness of Christ, which is the secret of all true worship.
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Getting Your Peace Back — sermon outline
Posted by: | CommentsGETTING YOUR PEACE BACK
by Eddie Lawrence
All of us have had times when we have lost our peace and found ourselves in the middle of anxiety all stressed out. The following verses give us some guidance to get our peace back.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1. Resist Panic!
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing,…
-We are told here to resist those thoughts and feelings that cause us to become anxious and upset. What our natural eyes see and natural ears here can cause us to become bound by the natural and we will not see what God wants us to see or hear what God has to say.
2. Really Pray!
Philippians 4:6 …but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Saturate (in everything) Your Circumstances with all kinds of Prayer:
A. Prayer — The general word for prayer, calling on God and sharing one’s heart with God.
B. Supplication — This is the particular petitions that you intercede about. This is where you get specific.
C. Thanksgiving — This is the attitude of the heart that rests in faith knowing God can be praised for what He is going to do. In the middle of all the bad, the grateful heart will see things to thank God for.
D. Requests — This in reference to all that you have asked God to do.
3. Receive Peace
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
-The Peace of God does it work in your spirit and informs your mind that everything is going to be okay — God has you covered. It surpasses understanding. You may see any change with the natural eye, but your spirit man knows God is taking care of things.
-Receiving peace is done through faith in Jesus Christ. You stand on his promises and decide in your inner man that you will believe what he says regardless of what your eyes see. Praying helps align your heart with the Word and off the circumstances. It is the counsel of God that will stand.
4. Rest in Peace
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
-The Peace of God guards the heart. Like a soldier guarding a gate, peace guards the heart and lets the believer know not to allow the things that disturb inside the gate.
-The Peace of God guards the mind as well. Thoughts that would agitate and frustrate are discerned and kept at bay. Thoughts that create fear and panic are also kept from being entertained and dwelt upon. The peace of God is a powerful weapon against the tactics of the enemy to fill the heart and mind with panic and fear.
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2 Chronicles 7:14 – sermon outline
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The following sermon outline is from a sermon prepared by Pastor David O. Cofield. You may read his personal ministry blog here.
2 CHRONICLES 7:14
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High Voltage Prayer — sermon outline
Posted by: | CommentsFollowing is a bare bones sermon outline with some ideas for a bible study based on Jesus Transfiguration. Just follow the points through the story and you can see how it fits.
High Voltage Prayer
Luke 9:28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. 33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son.[b] Hear Him!” 36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.
10 Components of High Voltage Prayer
1. A Commitment to Pray
2. A Small Group of Trusted Friends
2. An Uphill Climb
3. A Place Beyond Distractions
4. Actual Praying
5. An encounter with God
6. An Altered Countenance
7. A Desire to Linger
8. A Release of Revelation
9. A Renewed Vision of Jesus
10. A Return to Hurting People
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What Happened at the Jail Last Night? sermon outline
Posted by: | CommentsThe is a free sermon by Eddie Lawrence built around the conversion of the Philippian jailor’s encounter with Paul and Silas and yes, Jesus. Enjoy this as well as our other sermon outlines here at Sermon Seedbed.
Did You Hear About What Happened at the Jail Last Night?
Text: Acts 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. (NKJV)
This dramatic event has several elements that make up its fascinating story.
1. Maintain a Faith Filled Attitude Under Pressure
(Paul and Silas were praying and singing instead of griping and complaining)
2. Expect God to Shake Things Up When Crunch Time is On
(Many, many times in the Bible, we see God’s miracles related to timing. There are a lot of earthquakes, but this one happened at just the right time. Some might think this was a miraculous intervention but just a natural occurence. Hmmmm? Why did the shackles release them but the place did not fall in on them and kill them. Doors opening and chains loosening sounds like some Angels were pretty busy.)
3. Look for Redemptive Opportunities in the Midst of the Shaking
(Often we miss the greatest opportunities by being distracted. Paul seized the opportunity to step in and minister to the jailor who assumed everyone had escaped which would have meant his life. I personally believe Paul had a word of knowledge about what the jailor was about to do because there was no light in the place. I think this added to the Jailor’s awareness that the God to whom Paul and Silas had been singing, was doing something extraoridinary.)
4. Learn to Recieve Good from those Who Once Hurt You
(What a beautiful site to see the jailor washing their stripes. No bitterness in either heart. Wow!)
5. Watch the Ripple Effects of Obedience
(Paul and Silas were able to witness a whole family’s conversion because they kept their faith under pressure.)
Conclusion–What jail or you in this morning? In what way is pressure being placed upon you? How have you been handling it? What changes do you need to make?
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God is Still God — free sermon outline
Posted by: | CommentsGOD IS STILL GOD!
Through the Holy Spirit
Through Circumstances
Through His People
Through Prayer
Through the prayer of the Elders
Sovereignly
With Joy
With Peace
With the Holy Spirit
Prayed in Faith
Prayed according to His Will
Prayed with the right heart motive
Prayed in desperation
Through the Truth of His Word (John 8:31-31)
Through the Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:14)
By using you as a witness
By preaching and teaching about Jesus
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Four Reasons to Pray -Sermon Outline
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Four Reasons to Pray
The following is a simple topical sermon I put together that will be a blessing to people. You will need to add
selected Bible verses or use a foundation text like Jesus statement– Men ought always to pray and not to faint.
You should pray because of:
1.How it will affect your own life
-Your health–research has proven that prayer encourages healing
-Your marriage-another study demonstrated couples who prayed together everyday, the divorce rate went from 50% to one in 1200.
-Your mouth–praying before you answer or sent a letter, etc. will save you lots of trouble.
-Your Finances–Declaring God’s promises over your finances is helpful.
-Wisdom–many times answers to your problems come when you pray
Many more areas–You can list others here.
You should pray because of:
2.How it will affect other people’s lives
-Think of answers to prayer in your own congregation where people have recovered from sickness, gone through loss, got that job, etc. Tastefully and respectfully share some of these personal testimonies.
-The whole role of interceding for the lost
-Praying for those in authority
-Soldiers on the battlefield (lots of good stories on this one too)
You should pray because of:
3.How it will affect the natural realm
-The Farmers fields
-Rain
-Weather
-Lost things
There are many stories of these kinds of answers to prayer. Do a google search on "Praying for Rain" or something similar.
You should pray because of:
4.How it will affect the spiritual realm
-Times in the Bible when angels were sent in answer to assist people in answer to prayer (Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Daniel’s 21 days, Peter in Prison, etc.)
-Think of out it affects the Devil and his angels.
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