Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: KJV
When God Doesn't Listen
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
3:13 PM
- 1. Heavens of Brass
- a. Please read Deuteronomy 28:15-23.
- i. Have you ever heard of the "heavens being brassed over" which is often meant as the Lord not hearing, or replying, to the prayers being prayed? In these passages sin produced physical trials, tribulations, heartache, despair, guilt, confusion, and depression: all of those things are awful, but to the worst of the worst would be a separation from God. Sin separates us from God.
- 1. Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. KJV
- a. Isaiah 1:15-18 teaches us that although God hates our sin and our sins separate us from Him, He also wants us to come back to Him, that He has the power to wash us and make us clean, to rid us of the sin in our lives and thereby restore us to fellowship with Him.
- i. How do you think most Christians view the impact of sin on their prayer life?
- ii. Have you ever considered that God does not hear the prayers of those that hold on to sin or unforgiveness?
- iii. Have you ever felt that God does not hear or respond to your prayers?
- 1. Looking closely, was sin at the root of your hindered prayer life?
- b. Before we begin to pray for anything, anything at all, we should always evaluate our personal lives. We should be ready for deep cleaning, not just dusting off the surfaces issues that are apparent to all those who know us, but be prepared to search deep into our hearts for ANY issues that might stand to separate us from our Lord. David, the Sweet Psalmist of Israel cried out to God for deep cleaning:
- i. Ps 139:23 Search me , O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. KJV
- 1. It is very clear that David loved his God. Also clear is that God loved David. God stayed with David, talked with David and led David most of the days of his life. David was humble before the Lord, so much so that even when he began to stray from the Lord and get on the wrong track of life, making bad decisions and out and out sinning, that when the transgression was brought to his attention, he repented.
- a. If we TRULY allowed God to poke around in our inner man, what might He find? Would He find us all clean and "white as snow" or would there be smears of scarlet sin?
- c. In Deut 28, brass becomes a symbol of stubbornness. Obstinance is defined as stubbornly refusing to change one's opinions or actions, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
- i. Can you relate a time when the Lord came to you about and issue in your life that possibly you were a bit stubborn on acknowledging?
- ii. How did you finally get the issue taken care of with the Lord? What were the end results on your prayer life?
