OUTLINE OF SERMON PREACHED – April 25, 2010, 6 PM (est)

Sermon Title: WHAT IS HINDERING YOUR PRAYERS FROM BEING ANSWERED?

 PREACHER: Senior Pastor Dan Barnes

Prayer is the amazing line God has provided for direct access to His throne.

D.L. Moody once said,  “Next to the wonder of seeing my Savior will be, I think, the wonder that I made so little use of the power of prayer.”

Truly, it is a resource we should avail ourselves of continually.

Sometimes, however, we jam this line of communication and prohibit our prayers from being answered.

Dr. John R. Rice often spoke of the hindrances to prayer. Below is a list of seven.

1.  Personal known sin in the believer’s life

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).

2.  Strained relationships between husbands and wives

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

3.  Unreconciled wrongs, debts, or offenses between Christian brothers and sisters.

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matthew 5:23–24).

4.  An unforgiving or bitter spirit

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21–22).

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

5.  The sin of covetousness

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:1–3).

6.  Neglect and indifference to the Word of God
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).

7.  Prayerlessness itself

“Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Samuel 12:23).

How tragic it would be to allow any of these things to hinder our prayers from the answers our Heavenly Father delights to give.

With the new “holiday” spirit roaring loudly, stores opened for business.  At one store a 34 year old man was trampled to death by some ”holiday” shoppers who were in the “holiday” spirit (remember: the all about me spirit)!  Then, with the man lying DEAD (where the “holiday” shoppers left him), those same ”holiday” shoppers were “irate” because the authorities were closing the store.  It seems that none of the “holiday” shoppers even cared that the man was DEAD! In my town alone the police were called to break-up two fights of those in the new, politically correct “holiday” spirit! 

This out-of-control political correctness is slowly taking and destorying anything that is good!  Christmas used to be such a wonderful time of year!  Buying to give! Not buying to have or get!  It seemed that people slowed down to Celebrate the Birth of a Savior!  Remember:  That Peace and good will story?!  Well that’s forgotten!  Replaced by “holiday” spirit!  That “I don’t care one bit about you” spirit!

Do you remember the old Coca-Cola company song “Christ-mas-time is coming, Christ-mas-time is coming!”  That song uses to give us such a good feeling!  But that’s gone!  Replace by “holiday 2008″.

 Even the local radio station is playing, quote, ”holiday” songs, not “Christmas” song (even though the songs are Christmas song) but they have to be politically correct so the “holiday” people don’t get their feelings hurt as they are trampling people to death, so they can save $5!

The hateful, anti-American, bigoted “holiday” people have forgotten that which makes this time of year great!  They have forgotten the reason for “Christmas” time!  That reason is REDEMPTION!  To Love our fellowman!  To give because we love God and we love our neighbors as we love our-self!  Christ came to give man:  hope, love, peace and most important: Forgivness!  That’s what Christmas time should be again! 

But Christmas will never be the same unless YOU do something!  Here’s what you need to do: 

1.  Stand for The Christ of Christmas! The Peace and good-will toward all men.  And most importantly remember Jesus Christ came to Redeem sinful people!   The whole reason Christmas is!

2.  Stand for American Tradition!  Do not let these hateful, anti-American, bigoted “holiday” people take away our heritage in the name of diversity and tolerance! 

3.  Stand Against Political correctness when ever you can! 

4. Stand for Common Sense!

Political correctness is the opposite of Common sense!  Let’s get Common Sense back!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  

Five Values God looks for in the life of a real man.

1. LOVE – KINDNESS, CARE, CONCERN SYMPATHY, EMPATHY, COMPASSION

I Corinthians 13:1-2   “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [LOVE], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

Men need to develop a love for others!

As described in I Corinthians 13:1-2, If you don’t have it you are NOTHING!

When people speak of you as a man, the words like: kindness, care, concern, sympathy, etc…, ought to be used to describe your Character.

By loving others you are protecting the needs and rights of people.

ILLUSTRATION:  The Good Samaritan!  Luke 10:29-37

2. STEADINESS, RELIABILITY, CONSISTENCY, STABILITY

To many want to fit-in with society.  They want to conform to what everyone else is doing.   But a godly man will put steadiness, reliability, consistency, stability before conformity.   God is looking for men who put character before conformity.

We need some men that are not afraid to be different from what the world calls “normal” and they must be willing to stand alone if needs be.

What are you willing to stand for in life.

We need men of conviction, who cannot be bought at any price.

They are committed to their values, consistent in their beliefs and convictions.

I meet a lot of men who are half committed to everything and that is no commitment at all.

Proverbs 10:9 “ He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.”

Proverbs 20:7 ” The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”

3. COOPERATION, SUPPORT, HELPER, TEAMWORKER

Romans 15:5  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

God is looking for men who put cooperation before competition.

More would get accomplished if we worked together with other people.

Three things about the Christian life:

          1. It is a family, we’re related.

          2. It is a fellowship. We have the same task, assignment. We have the Great Commission.

                   We are to serve together and work together not independently.

          3. It is a fight. When you became a Christian you became an enemy of the devil.

                   We are to defend each other and protect each other and support each other.

4.  A KEEPER OF PROMISES, OBLIGATED TO KEEP COMMITMENTS

God is looking for men who put the cause of Christ before comfort.

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

I meet many men who are great starters. But they never finish.

They quit in ministry because it becomes inconvenient or expensive, uncomfortable or requires effort.

Ministry always costs. – God is looking for men who are willing to pay the price.

James 2:17 ” Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

5. BRAVE, VALOR, DARING, WILLING TO TAKE A RISK

God is looking for men who will put service before security.

Today men are encouraged to live for self and future in this world!  A secure future!

Security becomes the goal of life rather than service. 

God is looking for men with courage, who are willing to risk for the kingdom of God, who are willing to serve God with reckless abandonment.