Are Your Prayers Getting Through?

Things that keep our prayers from “getting through.”

1.   Absence of an ADVOCATE – 1 John 2:1-2

      a.   Advocate - one who pleads on behalf of another

      b.   Without the advocacy of Jesus, I cannot approach God - Jn 14:6

      c.   In the Old Testament, the High Priest served as an advocate for the people of God – Hebrews 9:7, 25

      d.   But these high priests needs first be purified of their own sin before they could make sacrifice on other’s behalf - Heb 7:27

      e.   But Jesus is a perfect, continuing high priest who does not need to be replaced - Hebrews 7:22-27

      f.   Jesus is now in heaven, in the presence of God, acting as an Advocate on our behalf - Hebrews 4:14-16; 9:24; 7:24-25

      g.   Ephesians 1:3; Galatians 3:26-27; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22-23

2.   Hardness of HEARING

      a.   Proverbs 28:9

      b.   Acts 28:26-28

      c.   If we will not hear God, He will not hear us:

            i.   Isaiah 59:1-2

            ii.  John 9:31

            iii. 1 Peter 3:10-12

3.   Faltering FAITH – James 1:5-8

4.   Personal PRIDE – James 4:7-10

      a.   Luke 18:10-14

      b.   A man is mighty small who isn’t big enough to swallow his pride.

5.   Devilish DESIRES – James 4:1-3

      a.   For what do you pray and why do you pray for it?

      b.   Before you ask God for anything, stop and ask yourself, “In what way will the cause of Christ be benefitted by my request?”

6.   Mistreatment in MARRIAGE

      a.   1 Peter 3:7

      b.   Ephesians 5:28-29

7.   Fractured FELLOWSHIP

      a.   Matthew 5:23-24

      b.   Matthew 18:15

      c.   Luke 17:3-4