10-5-22 - How To Hinder Your Prayers

Tonight if you have your Bible. So if you look at Matthew will start just by reading the passages in Matthew that we looked at Sunday and will launch on into a extended study from Sunday's message. So Matthew chapter 6. Thank you for being here tonight will be looking at it message on prayer some hindrances to prayer. So Matthew six. When you find a place when read verse five down to verse number eight, and as I said Sunday.

I'm very excited about getting into a study on prayer. I trusted your prayer life is been already encouraged to work on some of these areas of of just taking time and spending with the warden making prayer priority and the by making prayer priority making got a priority right and so it's good to see a good group tonight Matthew six verse number five. It says and when the operators thou shall not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say and you they have their reward without wind operators enter into thy closet and window has shut thy door that and pray to thy Father which is in secret invite father would see if in secret shall reward thee openly when you pray, use not vain repetition as the heathen do, for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them for your father knows what things you have need of before you ask him God.

We are so thankful that we have your work tonight. It is a joy to gather to sing praises. Behold our God seated on the throne would've would've glory that Revelation 4 lays out before us and in on your throne. Isaiah declared holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, and the whole earth is truly full of your glory and we pray that your blessed glorious presence would be felt here tonight that our hearts would would be pulled away from the busy cares of this life, and we would be fastened on to heaven. I pray that we would be attentive to the word of God but also obedient to the Lord, that we would apply what we hear tonight that you would be Lord of our life and we ask it in Jesus name. And God's people said then you may be seated.

This evening will throughout the years I have I have taught and preached on the importance of prayer and the and in getting into what the Bible says how to pray starting this Sunday in the Lord's prayer. Matthew six here verse nine through 15 before Jesus got into teaching on how to pray as I said Sunday he taught on how not to pray. And oftentimes there there needs we we need to understand things were not supposed to do before we begin to learn what we are to do. Maybe you've gotten a new job at some point they said when you work on this machine. Make sure you don't hit this red button here. Make sure you don't do this era and they tell you some things it because because what that's telling you is there something there some warnings that can that there are some problems there are some things it really cause some issues. There are some very big detrimental things that could happen if you violate them in and so Jesus comes to the to the teaching on prayer bite bite first. Putting up warning signs like don't do this, don't do this in any comes warning us about some things were not to do as we approach prayer and I think that's important to understand and and and for Jesus to say there's certain things were not supposed to do when we pray things that can hinder our prayers that lets us know there there is a standard by which God has called us to do when it comes to the topic of prayer.

The subject of prayer. There is a right way to pray and there are wrong ways to pray. The truth is not subjective right not based on what we think it should be like. I don't approach God based on what I think you should accept sometimes you will say this like I don't get that.

Why just think that and then they begin to tell you how they think will be made right with God. We are not the standard friend you may you may think that you're going to make your way to heaven. But that's a fiction of your imagination even greater God is in your own mind and so when we come to prayer but we must come and say.how would you want me to approach you think about that.how would you want me to approach you in prayer.

How do you want me to come to you. How do you want me to pray and what's interesting and in Luke, Sittler Chapter 11, the disciples came to Jesus, they said, Jesus, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John the Baptist taught his disciples how to pray and so it's important for us to know that there is a learning curve to prayer is of their there's a learning curve to that you should become better at praying you should become more more effective in your prayer life. You should be better at praying now than you were when you first got saved, now sadly sometimes elusive authenticity in their prayer because of sometimes rigidity or formulas can come to their mind and they begin to recite prayers and that can become a problem if it's not done with sincerity, but we need to know that God has an expectation when it comes to prayer for us and we can't we can't come to this with a with the half hearted attitude of just you know I pray when I get around to it. Are all the notes prayer is of utmost importance. What we do it. Prayer reveals what we do with God. Our prayer life is really a reflection of how we view God. If we make much of prayer. We have made much of God when you make little of prayer.

Guess away from a bluff. The Lord, and so so we look last last time or or this past Sunday on on on four ways that our prayers can be hindered just by way of reviewing and will a look at six areas. Further, that the Bible expands on that can hinder our prayers, but Sunday we looked at pretending in prayer we look at the warning of a hypocrite and that's in verse five and six. He says don't be like the hypocrites in union with the hypocrites that they prayed to be seen of men. They desired to look good.

They prayed with a concern of what people thought of their wording of their spirituality of of boy.

Look how good they are at prayer lookout lookout spiritual. They are that that's that's a hypocritical focus of prayer. Also, we should never not pray in front of people because were concerned what they'll think we shouldn't pray in front of people so that we could look good and we should also not be kept from praying because we think will look bad. Does that make sense both of them are allowing men to control how we pray, both of them are allowing men to be the standard of our prayer life. We have to transcend that we got a sick God.

I'm only concerned with your rear and if I'm concerned with your hair.

I don't care what Pastor Josh thinks of my prayer I care what God thinks of my prayer. Amen. That's how we must approach the Lord and personal pretending, particularly emptiness in prayer.

That's in verse seven and eight. He said what the heathen do is they use vain repetition scenes of these guys have studied some Hinduism in my life. In Buddhism, not for personal gain, but just to study the religion you will see these guys will stand in in in in like do this kind of thing and don't chant the same prayer like hundreds if not thousands of times just over and over and over and over for hours. It's incredible. And they do that because they think in in in much speaking and repetitious that there some kind of value and that and in and it's just this mindless chance and so among the Jews. They prayed the Shema, which is Deuteronomy chapter 6, as well as two other passages in the Old Testament. The also pregnant Shauna Ezra which is the 18 prayers both morning at noon and in the evening and so this became something that was good. It's good to have prayers that are structure that you would want to pray about, but they became rest just just reciting it by memory.

And you know how that can be we can never ever begin to praying like I'm praying with my mouth but my mind has wandered over to some world thing Heights I started thinking about some activity I have to do later today or something that happened yesterday in our minds can wander around anybody else get convicted about that and you stop to stop God forgive me God forgive me as you know he knows he knows he just bring it alive so I can know now you judge your what were you moving your mouth for your using vain repetitions of me. Beware of that he was inserted thoroughly earning answers to prayer. We talked about Sunday. They think that shall be heard for their much speaking. That was what they did in the Old Testament with the form for the prophets who tried rows up bailing and so forth. When we saw not praying James 412 says that you have not because you asked not in so I believe in heaven when they were going to find out how much God could have done in our lives but did not do because we never asked. There are many prayers that never got answered.

I wonder how many more people could be sent out to the harvest fields of the mission field into church planting into teaching into evangelism. If we would pray for laborers like Jesus said right you know prayer, we should pray everyday Lord raise up laborers raise up soul winners raise up people to go out and tell people about Jesus and Florida's been on our heart as an pray for the people down in Florida and God raise up some of these people in Florida sign the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the midst of this, just because I can tell you one of the blessings of tragedy is it brings us down to our own mortality rate. You know, one of the blessings of covered was it made us remember were all mortal you know is we step back and say I'm not gonna live forever, and especially at the beginning. People like all manner scared to die that we don't have to be afraid to die.

The Bible says Jesus has delivered us from the fear of death, right. So not to live without fear but but we need to make sure that we take time to pray for people we need to lift them up and and not depending upon the Lord in prayer means were depending upon herself in and we need to remember what Paul said were not sufficient of ourselves to think anything of the parts of our sufficiency is of God is second Corinthians 35 clearly tells us, so let's look at six more truths tonight very quickly and I heard that snicker very quickly is a relative term. We will not defined by Webster's dictionary, we find that by experience number one. Another way with you turn with me to James chapter 4 verse three will show you another way that we can have our prayers hindered. According to the word of God with right in your Bibles of the book of James chapter number four and James such a wonderful book given to look at James and just the practical Christian living like you were sorry to Bibury James again read first John, again you so I read James in verse John Holland will read until you really get the whole book done. Read it every day for the next 30 days read five chapters in about 1520 minutes. Listen to it if you don't have time to always read is much as five chapters but listen James chapter 4 the three verse one through three says for and from whence come wars and fightings among you, come they not hence, even of your own lust that war in your members you lost and have not you kill, and desire to have and cannot obtain. You fight in war, yet you have not because you what is so so there is a hindrance of of seeing prayers answered because you don't ask and then he gives us another hindrance to prayers being answered nuts. In verse three.

If you would reverse re-with me. He ask and receive. Not because he asked them is that you may consume it upon your lusts another word as there is in the middle voice in the Greek and what that means is there asking for them self like there asking for their own gain what they can get out of it in context. James is describing someone who's a selfish prayer person there there there self-centered in the request. James warns those who were actually praying that their motive was driven by their loss and coverages desires.

According to this passage we must be careful when we come to God in prayer that we are not putting ourselves at the center of our prayers. Rather, we are putting the will of God and love for others at the center of our prayers. Ask yourself this question, when you pray, what is my motive for praying this why do I want my prayer answered. If my prayers were answered. How would God be glorified and if my prayer were answered. How would I be able to love others and put others in front of me. The motive of the believer cannot be self or motive must be the glory of God. We must live for the glory of God. Sola vide zoledronic they Sola Dale Gloria's the reformers would say we live for the glory of God were saved by grace through faith and for his glory. Romans 14 78 says, for none of us to live up to himself, and no man dies to himself whether we live, we live under the Lord and whether we die. We dined to the Lord. Whether we live. Therefore daises we are the Lord's were not to live for ourselves not to live for what we desire, but were to live for the Lord's sake. First Corinthians 126 through 31 says this breezy your calling brother, not all that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called to God. It shows the foolish things this world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things to confound the things which are mighty.

The base things of the world which are despise if God chose and gave the things which are not to bring to not them that are in that no flesh should glory in his presence and he goes on and says in verse 31 that, according as it is written either glory of let him glory in the Lord. If there's any boasting that is ever done at lighthouse.

Let it be that we boast in Christ to make sense, please never leave here boasting upon a life group teacher. The group leader, teacher, a pastor leader same boy Jesus Christ is amazing.

God is so good. His words just came to life today are his.

His message is so powerful it's all of God like you know anything good that I see in you and you see in me is only the work of grace. You know, we you know what we would be without grace ungracious reviewing of EMS were or were left as a pile of mess and we we need to glory in him.

And so it's okay to let somebody know I appreciate what you've done God as being so good in using you to impact my life that things like that are okay but make sure you give God the glory first read the instant 31 says whether therefore you eat or drink whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. We put in our bodies, we glorify God within in the simplicity of things. Motive is a big difference when it comes to prayer I just I wonder how often we stop and say, God, what, what is my real authentic motive for desiring this prayer request to be answered your prayers.

Prayer with the self focus worldly motive. God blessed me so I can have an earthly coverages desire fulfilled. If you're not faithful with the little resources you have. Why would God give you more got any more money. I need more money will God says he that is unfaithful, little will be unfaithful and much that he that is faithful lease we faithful more effective if I'm not faithful with with $100 a week pay.

Why would God double it right.

Why would God increase that if if if if I'm unfaithful with little beyond more unfaithful. Why would he. Why would he increase my my wrong, God give me this position work because I deserve it.

I put the time in promote me for me may not say to those words, but if pride is a motive for advancing the works of God answered that prayer you know it's not it's not the trials of life that are dangerous to our faith. It's the blessings of life. I think most of us can handle the trials to be honest with you I think I think it's hard for us to handle success make somebody extremely successful.

That is a dangerous thing. It is dangerous for every single one of us.

Spurgeon would talk about.

He says one of the greatest dangers in life is to be wildly successful and something is not spiritual just just say forget something you can't wait to bring it up and wait.

It's also enroll like this right role. Did you hear what I did you know that I am than we like to.

We gotta be careful not give me good health so I can continue to live his the Lord of my own life. You give me another 10, 20, 30 years so that I couldn't continue to sit on the throne of my life and do what I wanted. I don't I know I don't read your word and pray and share the gospel and I rarely ever go to church and I don't serve anywhere but God gave me a long life is, why would I give you a longer life to live in rebellion and disobedience to me and is Lord of your own life that make sense. You know, even prayers for good things can be corrupted with wrong motives. Listen to this one God save my wife so that I could have a better marriage.

God save my husband so that we get along better and have a good marriage.

God says always salvation now about you is it so that your life can be advanced either glory of let him glory in the Lord, you know, some of us need to say God forgive me.

I want my spouse to be safe. So there's one more person that can praise your holy name Lord, give me victory over cigarette so that I can be healthy, I can be there when my kids are old and I can save money are you are you are you now focusing on yourself now is this all about you now what you can get.

Why would God answer a selfish, self-motivated prayer like that. Instead, God deliver me from this so that I could be another mouth that praises you to declare how glorious your presence was in giving me victory over this bondage of my life with the byproducts are you get better health.

You get more money that you're not wasting all that stuff and in the you perhaps have a longer life because you didn't shorten it with such things. So we have to make sure that when we ask God for things that were doing it and even good things that were doing it for the glory of God. God straighten my kids up there just mass you know is why I'm trying to teach you patience. Josh amen.

So we need to say God I pray that my kids would be obedient to me so that they might reflect their love for you and self-control that they might reveal their their their their submission to the Holy Spirit and that we would focus on God being glorified in their life, so that there like it shine before men, so make sure when we pray for her motive is not what James 43 says, he says. You ask and receive. Not because you ask amiss. You asked for the wrong reason. You may consume it upon your lusts. Secondly, our prayers will be hindered if we pray with pride.

This is a wrong spirit. Luke 18 gives us this very familiar passage of your goodbye was flip over Luke 18 says two men went up to pray. Luke 18 verse in the temple to pray, one affairs in the other Republican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, got I think the that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, and even as this publican.

I fast twice a week and I give tithes of all that I possess this man literally comes to God and boasts about himself to God.

Dust is posting to glory, and the public. In verse 13 standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes into heaven, but smote up on his blessing God be merciful to me a sinner I tell you, this man went down to his house justified liquid. Jesus is rather than the other.

You know Jesus telling us there that one of the prayers were answered in the other was not for everyone that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted in Pharisees always prayed in public places we saw in Matthew chapter 6 they went to the glory the streets. They made sure there noon morning or evening prayer time they were in a public place that would do that on purpose. They were probably very eloquent, very exceptional in their in the way that they prayed. I can tell you big words have never impressed God never said well the eloquence of that guy. And so the Pharisee always had to be in public to pray because that was the only place his reward would come as one man said Pharisees are deficient in the duty of private prayer that they don't do it because they don't get anything out of it.

Christ does not condone or condemn public prayer. Rather, he purifies it he teaches us to make sure that we focus on God were were in a private setting, and in our heart. It's in inwardly thing not just simply something we do on the outside sources go in your closet in Matthew six does this in private. We know we don't have to do that physically it's it's it's an internal hard issue because the man in Luke 18 is in a public place right praying, where other people with hearing that the root of the problem of this this frightful Pharisee is there pride they they they wanted the glory they wanted the notoriety that goes back to the desire to be seen. Her motive is wrong with the pride in this this self focus of this. I really think if if you're a true believer who understands the gospel you could not go in day without it some point thanking God for the grace he shown you. If you truly grasp his mercy. If you you have to first grasp your own wretchedness when you get a hold of that you you you your your your slammed to the ground like Isaiah by the holiness of God. And then you're overwhelmed with the call that he took from off the altar that touched your lips, and purified you symbolically through the blood of Christ in your so you can't get over that. So how can a day go by without this happening. Dear God, I must just get on my knees and thank you today because you have been so merciful like how could the believer not experience this. There should be something that stops is that the coffee store and says II just got to get along with the Lord. For a moment I don't have to always physically know, but my heart started beating out before God, and maybe it's at work that you're struck without using your heart just pause and God, thank you for your mercy.

You look at the world you like me and that America is going down the drain got thank you for your mercy. You saved me I be going down the drain. My kids would be a mess. Your summers mean there's got there should be a humility week. How on earth could I approach God and speak well of myself or do you know I've been going to church now for the last knob and prayed faithfully raising whatever promotion will put it in. People say this had to said to me over the years you drive to my government having some trials of my life. I really figured once I start reading the Bible go to church things would smooth out your harming things get hard on the sure about this. Oh also got everyone else. God owes you.

Besides eternal life in heaven.

In paradise, and your sins removed so you never have to go to a flaming foreman and how he's redeemed you forever by his own death on the cross so one need not give you what is he so indebted to you now. God's indebted to you but you're not indebted to him. Friends of his heart like like the only reason I asked God for things in life is because he tells me to. It's almost embarrassing as it might give us this day our daily bread, how David Nasser that we have leftovers. I sometimes girls the old stuff up. My goodness, I can imagine Avenel boys agreeable boys. My dad would hide stuff from us on me just ravenous wolves.

You I think friends that our prayers should be closed in humility. I never forget when I went to Bethlehem and went to the church of the Nativity and said why is the door so small. I am 65 and I walk of this door was like were 11 or something like that.

I won't name the names but some you guys we like. There's what the problem is that I'm crawling. I have something draws on on on the so I go in there and I said why is this door like this and they said they'd noted that because I thought maybe was a defense technique like like if people try to break in you to the horses could run a big thick door and they said no they they built that so that when everybody walked in they came in with the spirit of humility. You bow your entrance into his sanctuary. I thought, man, let's let's lower the doors you know where to break violation for building code, but you know just that spirit, just that spirit.

When you walk in that you you would bow yourself before God is at the right spirit.

We should have in approaching him.

You know Isaiah 66, two says God says to this man will I look he says he says for all those things have my hand made the heavens, my from the earth is my first look at me and bring me said all those things my hand if made and all those things have been safe, Lord, but to this man will I look even to him that is important of a contrite spirit in a tremble at my word when the last time God's word cause you to tremble, like it affected you 1/3 way that we can hinder our prayers by having unconfessed sin in our life. Thanks and can hinder our prayers anybody. So I pray more when you got sin in your life. Isaiah 59, two says but your iniquities have separated between you and your God in your sins of his face from you. The will not hear or read Psalm 6618 together. If I regard iniquity in my heart. The Lord will not hear you notice what he says if I regard iniquity, where Satan's hands that he insane his lips. He said if it's just in my heart.

Guess what God is not going to hear us. Micah 3 for then shall they cry unto the Lord that he will not hear them.

He will even hide his face from them at that time as they have behave themselves will in their doings.

He said in Isaiah 115 and when you spread forth your hands. I will hide mine eyes from you.

Yeah when you make many prayers, I will not hear hands are full of blood wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine.

I cease to do evil, learn to do well seek judgment relieve the oppressed judge the fatherless plea for the widows come now when you do that, then you're invited come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow they be red like crimson, they shall be as well. There would have to be first in recognition of your sinfulness and repentance of it and that humility that comes the God they are made clean.

We must approach him that way and the remedy of sin in our life that we all deal with this.

First John 193 that when if you we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When it grates on Sunday, clean me, made me clean and when you come to God and you confess your sins he will cleanse you. I don't think you come to God you have to ask God for a week to forgive you of something that you truly repented of.

I think you come to God and say God I am broken over this. I am sorry your truly repented and you turned away from that sin, you don't want anymore. Instead of every day asking him to forgive you on something he's already forgiven you up start praising him for the forgiveness that he gave you.

I think we rob God of praise because we keep asking him for what he's already done.

It's one thing to say God continue to give me victory.

Sometimes we need this because we all right but I just don't feel forgiven. You don't have to feel forgiven to be forgiven. We we we need to take Psalm 32 verse five. I acknowledge my sin of the I confess my transgression of the Lord, and he says and doubt for gave us the iniquity of my sin, David. How did you know that because God studied forgive and so we need to come and say God I trust your word that you have forgiven me and I need to stop now and I just need to praise you for your mercy to make sense. So I think sometimes we miss praising God because we get drowned in our misery of our sin and Satan points us to our past.

And Jesus points us to his grace and forgiveness toward others, keeps us from being forgiven were to look later at Matthew six in the coming weeks, but Jesus says if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will forgive you, but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. God tells us that we cannot be at odds with others and right with him.

Is it worth holding onto unforgiveness. Is it worth holding on the bitterness we choose not to forgive others. That is, telling God I would rather be distant from you and hold onto my bitterness when we choose not to forgive. We choose to disobey God care more about self and others.

We elevate our self above God and if God forgives who is the most holy and therefore the most offended. Who are we, who are the less holy to hold on to it.

Sin and say they owe me for this. The best way to overcome bitterness against someone is to pray for them twice. Matthew five Jesus said, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, we don't typically feel like doing that right when you do it's natural you get what's natural, which is bitterness and unforgiveness. But when you do with spiritual and supernatural. You'll get what's not natural and spiritual and supernatural God will give you peace and joy. You know, forgiveness is not so much for the other person.

It's for you in your walk with God.

It the person that forgives, finds out there.

The prisoner they got set free. They're the ones are liberated. Matthew 523 and for the such a powerful passage that we looked at. If, maybe couple knots ago. This is therefore if thou bring thy gift to an altar and there remember that my brother have fought against the leave there thy gift before the altar go thy way. First be reconciled to thy brother, then come and offer thy gift. This is such an incredible passage in the pursuit of reconciliation.

Jesus tells us it's so essential that there's nothing that you can bring to God, that's acceptable and so you have at least sought reconciliation. He says if you bring your gift to the altar, the most solemn time of worship and remember at that point were you bringing this sacrifice in the temple to God as a junior given it to the priest and you remember there that I have a brother that I don't know that I've offended them, but I know that there offended me then don't offer your gift because God will not accept that vertical offering and so I make this horizontal situation at least sought to be reconciled. He says leave that gift priest do not offer it.

I'll be back in a moment.

He says go to your brother that has something against you, you may not be have any problem with them, never notice her. Some people have problems and everybody knows of you have drawn everywhere there drama school of drama at home there drama with the neighbors drama wherever they go like never looked into being a drama actor drums and it really is this sorrowful thing that they did a really miserable people on the inside and it is even even indicates read a person has trouble everybody but well if I know that they have a problem with me and I've never sought to reconcile that leave that gift don't don't seek the honor God with your life in service until you've honored him in seeking reconciliation go to that person.

It says in first be reconciled to thy brother, and the word first. There shows it's an all priority it's it's it's the top of the list do that first before you do anything else.

I mean, we would say well after the service is over. Then I would go work on that note, do it now. When I priest on this a few months ago. I forget who every told me this, but they said during the service. They went out in their car made a couple phone calls sought reconciliation and came back and finished the service. That's what Jesus is literally dealing with so so we need to reconcile. Now what is it mean to reconcile it means to change one's feelings toward another, and so become reconciled to be restored to normal relations or harmony. You settle the difficulty if you're wrong then you make restitution if you know them a debt you pay if you ventured their character gossip or slander you confess and seek forgiveness if they falsely suspect you of injuring them than you explained that you seek the reconcile through that explanation do everything in your power to settle the matter and restore the harmony. Not always, can you do it. The Bible says as much as light of what in you, live peaceably with all that.

So you seek to do that but if there like you know, I may still are naked.

You've done what you can.

That's all you can do is make sense is all you can do, but you're still mad at me.

There's nothing you can like I tried it and made it worse than you've done everything you can use want to make sure you're right with God is that make sense. You don't don't say this event, but in your mind you like this and I'm not really here for you.

I'm here for God like II love Jesus, you very secondary in this like I want to be right with Jesus like I'm going to I just got to be make sure that I'm I'm I'm obedient to him. Then, if based on your heart you that's different different in many ways to that because you're not there for their response.

Therefore Christ's Jesus, as if the use you for my sake that your blessed rejoicing that that's what you if you get if you get you get emotionally injured by them for that or you get physically like opposer Koester whatever your rewards are great and don't say this, but in your mind you're thinking then they just eternally blessed me sounds where friends doesn't it just read Matthew five just in their Blessed are you in a persecutor valued sell evil against you falsely, for my sake. Your reward is great in heaven for superspeedway profit for which were before you.

Some of us have lost eternal rewards because we can't reconcile with them.

These there's more you missed out you know you did it and you know what I do because I love them more than myself. I love Christ, most write letters on the hearts of my strength. I love my neighbor as myself.

I don't want them to live with that will do my part and I want my prayers to be clean any good when you get on your knees before the Lord and say you know there's nothing God that I know of, and if there is anything please bring to my heart.

Search me before thing for thing is an un-biblical attitude toward spouse first Peter 37 says likewise you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife is under the weaker vessel.

I would have to debate that with my wife.

She could probably take the same teasing, but I'm not sure she's a sweetheart and as being heirs together of the grace of life. You know, marriage is called the grace of life. What would a blessing. Marriages that your prayers be not hindered really to specific prayers is talking to husbands who were with an unsaved wife and in the prayer there is that the prayer of salvation for your life but also I believe would include other prayers of your salvation would be hindered because you're at odds with them in your treating them in ways that are unbecoming in your attitudes wrong toward your spouse and your other prayers would also be hindered. So according to Bible you. You can be right with God when you're at odds with your spouse. That means I'm going to church that I don't care what you do sell the Ship bottom drawer of the church all then you hear me preach on some like this till I got to stay home with the bombing we we have to realize that you know we say this in my walk with God's very personal got his nose not it's very, very relations very there is no closet Christian there is no I'm right with God wrong with others. None.

And in Jesus that that's a figment of your imagination. That's what he says he done it to the least of these, you've done it. So how we treat others is literally however treating Jesus talked about it. Think last week we before Galatians 3 says husbands user role to your wife. Wife year-old with her husband parents to children children's your parents, employees and employers want to another committee concludes all those relationships by saying and do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not a sentiment you understand how you treat your spouse is literally how your treating Jesus how you treat your spouse how you treating Jesus. So ask your wives if you made breakfast for your husband and lifted the left is this is on the table and walked often you're thinking you know what I made you reckless and you just left her will.

What if Jesus left his play would you clean up after the anywise and you think you would clean you clean up after Jesus and in any POTUS sucks often and in not only did he not put them in because he left him inside out like I did early on in our marriage and I remember that conversation on those Monday nights. I was like there, honey, what could I do to be better husband.

She said you know you're leaving your socks inside out and I said Emily anyway so selfish things it may never think of these things a whole list of book it's been written about that. So you just are thinking you know what I would. I picked up Jesus's socks. Jesus would leave them there but what I pick those up. That's what that's what the spouse with but what I would like for him. What would it would. I would go all out, literally, you would seek to serve him everything I get your drink on anything. Jesus is anything I can do a mean you would fill his gas tank up that we do it every minute of husband wise we can treat each other. If parents and children. If employees went to work in their boss was frustrating that they would like you if Jesus asked me do this. I would happily do this. Remember going to work in construction is Geico monies is a frustrating boss is okay.

I'm thinking you think of words I should think and what you had them drop that skin color stuff. I like my leg up on him so mad but you know what is.

It is a teenager.

If I were to decide if Jesus came and asked me to do that. I gladly knew that free Jesus imagine of Christ came to hell would you do all that Nephi did he say we should move the back it said I don't know why you will need Christ. I guarantee you will you will always Christ will do that for you on moving all day of move it back and forth, and if you want me to do this.

The rest of my life, I'll just move lumber.

If Christ you are, I just want to please you see, just want to please you know a crisis thing you please me. By serving those I put in your life it's you don't stop detaching that stop removing this in some kind of un-tangible way while serving God how you know those people. I don't have to go to church all really. Christ did not come to builders reports universal church okays it is the pastor that universal church was Jesus so there's no under shepherds may just become this crazy that people want to detach himself from people and why they can't stand people want to serve God on their own terms. McCready got in their mind it doesn't exist. We serve Jesus by serving guests to one another. So let me give you last couple things you never thought I get to the last so quick it's like speeding rental five praying without faith. Listen to James one praying without faith. James once as if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and be the only place liberals found in the Bible – it is. That said, comes out friends. I've a DVI disclose so integrate if not, and it shall be given him what he says I think is very good but let him ask in what faith, nothing wavering me that way. Ruth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Let's reverse seven together for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

So the man doesn't receive anything as a man is as you know, I know that I know you're going to do this and you turn this thing over to the Lord and all just so worried what's going to happen with the outcome of this but got no golf and you tell people all your doubts and fears and then you come to God all God do this in God's as you don't have faith in me you're not honoring me. I can tell you when you know you turn something over. The Lord your me tell you when you truly bring it to God in prayer and you get up what do you talk about will tell you what you've done with.

If you get up talking about how big God is. You know you turn it over to him. But if you get up still talking about how big the problem is still holding and in and when we do that we just made God smaller than our problem. We've we've dethroned him, and we've enthroned this issue and did this in the Bible may name Peter I could beat up on Peter disease like us right he is out of the boat. You know I got out about because God was bigger than the weights once he looked at the ways weight seem to get bigger than God and he went and he began to sink right and so we have to understand that faith is is essential. Now we gotta pray according to the word of God and the will of God.

We can't just so God I want you to do something and maybe that's not the will of God, we have to pray in faith believing in and trust him. Not doubting him and and so I think it's essential to pray to pray with faith is. The Bible says pray believing Matthew's gospel gets into this in the coming months, but there's just a whole section that just over and over. It's God answer the prices as you believe, so let it be unto you as you believe, so let it be unto you. It's so edifying. He says do you believe I can do this. They say yay slower yes Lord, we believe, and he says, be it unto you. According your faith just over and over so so we must come to God and belief in Hebrews 11 success but without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Come with faith. Then lastly, number six. Another way that hinders our prayers's indifference to the word of God. Proverbs 28 verse nine.

Let's all read this verse together.

He that turns away his ear from hearing the law.

Even his prayer shall be abomination. I believe the word of God is our guide to prayer. I believe that we are to pray according to the Scripture.

If you want to increase your prayer life begin to pray the Scriptures. This is this is a purifying process you know why because we don't know how to pray like we should, we don't know how to pray like we should.

So what I've learned to do in my life as I approach God by what he said about himself. So I take I say I saw one of three is is a jewel of prayer. I pray that probably every day to every other day that that chapter is that rich. I prayed it for months and months I didn't say but but I prayed maybe as an example, but I just became so precious to me. I just can't get over it. I literally purifies my approach to God, pray until you've memorized the whole chapter prayed until that you said take months. Yes, just prayed until you've memorized and own it and love it and they rejoice in it a night. I find myself just so thankful and have a Psalm 139 you pray through have to have sections of the Bible that you just you go through. There's I think I probably should do a message on this, but there there's so much about praying the Scriptures probably maybe I'll preach on this next Wednesday, maybe, but when when you come to God. You must understand that God is who he said he is in the Scriptures, and I am to define him. That way the Jews understood this. That's why they prayed. The shaman Ezra. That's why they prayed the Shema. That's why they printed prayed the Scriptures. They understood that they came to God facing God on God's own definition, the date they claimed what God said in then they held God to what God claims God you said this and now I believe you for it. If you send and pray Psalm 32 if you if you struggle with worries praised. Pray Philippians 4 if you pray for the cares of the material things in heaven, provision, pray, Matthew six if you pray for. Just give me grounded.

Pray Matthew seven made you just you just begin to walk through the text of the Scripture and you just began to guided and it just I tell you what it does to your soul. You and and and as you begin to build a prayer journal of pray to the father in you, you begin to pray things to the father into the sun and to the Holy Spirit and you pray things for your wife and your children and your your work and your neighbors and and you begin to read the word of God for the purpose of growing your prayer life. I want to pray that verse in verses all, and add that to my prayer list for that person that would be a great verse to prayer for my children. That would be a wonderful verse to lift up for the church that boy that would you begin to pray the Scripture. Instead of fumbling along her own ignorance. Let's take God's word and say Lord, let me pray with truth. I hold this up because God what you said will come to pass. If this is the eternal Word of God, let this be coming out of your servant's mouth to make sense. Going to John 17 this we can just study the prayer of Christ. All chapters his prayer. It's just so rich, but he that turns ways ear from hearing the law. His prayers will be abomination with that means people who are willing to listen to the word of God if I know this in the word of God.

Why on earth would God listen to my word if I will listen to his word. Why would you listen to my words and make sense how good it is to see you here on Wednesday.

That tells me you love the word of God more than sitting at home.

You love the word of God more than getting the rest and relaxation, and whatever else you have long weeks of you guys work at 1214. Maybe even longer days. Physically there's no desire to be here, but you love God's people you love the wording you say you know what III. I love that love Christ, and God bless you so selfish motives and prayer hinders pride and prayer. Unconfessed sin on biblical attitudes toward a proud spouse praying without faith and in praying with an indifference to the word of God. Some things for us to chew on tonight and as I said Sunday. Learn to approach God with patience like coming God's presence not to rush in and out but but but take time there in quietness. I so much were to be able to talk about over these weeks, but some of the most godly men that I've read on prayer said they would sit, sometimes for long seasons of life. Without saying a word for long seasons which were those guys could be 30 minutes to an hour more.

We just sitting in the presence of God saying nothing.

There is a communion between your spirit in the spirit of God when you're in silence. It's amazing, and in and just the Lord begins to bring things to your mind and just sit in his presence. And just think about his word may be read a chapter and just Lord is when a sit in your presence. And just think about that and meditate on that and read it again and just, you know what it takes time. You have to sit to get away from everything. Get your phone you got it. Cannot just sit in his presence I can cite when you do that do that for 20 minutes. 30 minutes away from everything just in the present got a prayer you go out in the world.

Guess what, you're not gonna get mad when that guy pulls up in front of you. There is a peace that comes over you like, you know that when you when you're so humble before God and in his presence you go out and your wife comes along. Your husband comes long ago, something that chafe you you're like you know what it's really not that big a deal honey you the peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your heart and mind when I don't have time forgot. I don't have time for this piece. I don't have time for his joy. I don't have time for his filling. I don't have time for him. He says you don't want me you don't get my fruits you want to flesh you don't want me you get the flesh will give us what we want is not those who honor him with their… Those who honor them with their heart, and with her life. Amen. You may times and I praise God for that. It's encouragement to me as your pastor saw stand tonight is about nights close as we think about these words. You're welcome to pray at your seat at an altar. Just take the time to pray. Father, we do thank you for your work tonight. It's been a joy so is rich because it's your word, how flawed your minister is to share these. Whoever the preacher is Lord, we know that you use the weaklings to confound the wise based great things and so we pray that you take your word allow it to bring forth good fruit in our hearts keep us humble was dependent longing for you bless us more than we can handle it.

Pray that you would just burn for the lost hatred for sin, pray for anyone tonight doesn't know Christ. Tonight they might come and be saved. Jesus