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1. Lack of Concentration
1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
Lack of concentration can hurt our prayers. You may wish to pray aloud. How is your prayer this morning?
2. Lack of Personal Righteousness
Psalm 66:18-19
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.
A lack of personal righteousness makes prayer ineffective. We are not confident to ask God if we lack personal righteousness. Recently when we felt that our prayers are answered by God?
3. Lack of Persistence
Luke 18:1-8
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.
3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men,
5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"
6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.
7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Parable of the persistent widow
Lack of persistence - this widow persevered so that the unjust judge eventually listened. Lack of persistence can lead to lack of trust in God. Do we completely trust God in our lives today?
Hebrews 10:22-25,32-36
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, let us :
a. (v.22) Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith
b. (v.23) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful
c. (v.24) Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds
d. (v.25) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another daily
e. (v.32) Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering
f. (v.35) So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded
g. (v.36) You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
God is not pleased with those who shrink back.
Hebrews 10:38-39
38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
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