The Selfie

"Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God." (2 Timothy 3:1-2)

The biggest social media site in the world is said to currently have over 1.3 billion monthly users.

That's an astounding 1/7th of the population of planet earth online each month, posting messages, goofy website links, and personal photos, often taken using their cell phone while looking at themselves in the bathroom mirror.

The "selfie" is what this cell phone self-portrait has been dubbed, by the Internet folks who decide what to call these things.

Paul's warning 2,000 years ago, to his young protege' Timothy, accurately foretells today's modern culture. 

"People are going to be self-absorbed."  

I couldn't help but be amazed as I read through the entire passage in 2 Timothy 3:1-2, of how this modern generation falls under each detailed description given by the Apostle Paul.

The following are some interesting statistics I found online while researching for this post.

The people born between 1980-2000 are referred to as the "Millennial Generation."

• [They] are the largest, most diverse generation in history.
• Nearly 78 million were born between 1980-2000.
• On average, they are marrying at a later age, if at all.
• They are the least religious generation in American history.
• 60% feel that government should provide for their retirement.
• They are most responsible for the growth of the video game industry.
• 83% use a computer for work an average of 17 hours per week.
• 20% use their computer for work 40 or more hours per week.
• They use computers for personal use an average of 17 hours per week.
• 28% listed atheism, agnosticism or no preference as their belief system.
• 34% said that no one can know what will happen when they die.
• 65% rarely, or never attend religious or church services.
• In importance: 1.family, 2.friends, 3.education, 4.career, 5.spouse, 6.spiritual.
• 73% chose "Facebook" as their most popular social media site.
• Most listed texting as their primary means of personal communication.
• The majority see nothing wrong with same-sex marriage.

The first thing that comes to my heart about the generation named, is to never insult them by referring to them as "Millennials." 

I hate cheesy, unbiblical labels, as if people are merely some demographic to be labeled, and not human beings. I know I hate being referred to as a "Baby Boomer." What a stupid title. Please don't ever call me a "Boomer."

Over the past several years, I have heard a lot of ideas, philosophies, and methods on how best to reach the young people of the current generation, who, to a great degree, do not seem very open to hearing about Christ. Many of man's methods have not been very effective. They may help you get young people to join your cool youth group, but lasting, transforming change seems mostly absent.

Knowing that God had phropheseid of the perilous times of the resistant culture of our day, Paul wrote:

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Preach the word of God.

That may not sound very hip or sexy. Many may tell you it is old-fashioned and outdated. Others will try to tell you that preaching God's word "will not work on this current generation." I've heard all the excuses.

But Paul proclaimed, 

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16)

There is power in the Word of God.

The philosophies of fallen man are dead and are powerless to impart life or change in the spirit.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

God's word is alive. It is not just some ancient teaching, showing us how to live the right way. There is power in the Word. And to reach the hearts of people, only the word of God has power to discern the thoughts and intents of their hearts. 

You can argue or debate worldly philosophy with people all you want. But there is no power of God in this.

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul." (Psalm 19:7)

There is no power in trying to wage a spiritual battle using worldly methods.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

The self-absorbed hearts of these perilous times can only be melted and moved by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

A friend recently told me that young people will not believe you until they trust you. So build relationships and be real with them.

Speak the truth in love.

They don't care that you know, until they know that you care.


—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Living in a Bubble

“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:10-11)

A man from another country, was speaking on the radio of how America is living in a bubble.

Particularly, he was referring to Christians in America. 

He said,

"You are not living in reality."

I've been thinking about this for some time. It's been very troubling. 

According to enrichment journal on the divorce rate in America:

• The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%
• The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%
• The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%

And though these statistics pertain to the nation as a whole, for anyone who has been around churches much, divorce is an epidemic among Christians today.

How can this be?

From what I have witnessed over the last ten to fifteen years, it's because the man who said we are living in a bubble was correct.

Many Christians are simply not living in reality. 

Much of what "Modern Christianity" has wrongly promoted, is the "happy little Christian life" where we supposedly will have perfect marriages, perfect wives, perfect husbands, perfect kids, perfect pets, perfect cars that never break down, perfect houses, perfect yards, perfect jobs, perfect health, never a lack of of money, all of our prayers get answered, and we never have any problems in life. A care-free life with no trials, trouble, or persecution.

The problem is, God never promised this to us.

We're living in a bubble.

What I have witnessed, is, when a bubble-dwelling husband or bubble-dwelling wife have expectations of this perfect, happy little Christian life, and their spouse does not live up to their perfect expectations, they often go looking to greener pastures for another mate who will fill the bill. They are seeking someone who will give them that perfect, happy little life that God never promised.

The root of the problem is the heart.

People who live in a bubble have their hearts set on the things of this world, and not on the Lord. 

The Apostle Paul said:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

A friend of mine often talks about the self-idolatry of self-absorption.

Bubble-dwellers are inward-focused. Self-absorbed. Their entire life revolves around them. They rarely, if ever, see anyone outside of their own context of self. 

A friend told me a story of a man who felt led by the Lord to send a poor woman in Africa a fairly sizable sum of money for Christmas. He didn't know the woman, but learned about her through a local ministry. When the woman received the money, she didn't do what most Americans would probably do, which would be to buy what they needed, and then save the rest for their own needs. No, she bought food for her entire village. She didn't look only to her personal need. She met the need of her entire village.

This really hit home personally. 

Miraculously, the Lord recently provided a generous sum of money for us, to meet our needs, as we were in pretty dire straits, due to a medical issue I have which rendered me unable to work for almost a year. We were so thankful to receive this gift. But I confess, it never entered my mind to share any of this gift with others, because our own needs were so pressing.

But afterwards, when I heard this story about the dirt poor woman in Africa who unselfishly blessed her entire village with the gift she received of the Lord, it really convicted me.

It made me examine my own life... my own heart. 

Do I really need the kind of house and lifestyle I currently have to survive? Am I invested more in this world and the temporal things in it? 

Or are my treasures stored up in Heaven?

The story of the poor woman in Africa changed me. I can't escape the unselfish love and compassion she showed for others. She demonstrated the love of Christ in a way that I can't honestly say I ever have.

Have you?

"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:1-4)

This week as we're in a time of prayer and fasting, my prayer is that God will burst our bubbles. 

I don't want to live in a self-contained world that revolves around me.

"Lord Jesus; make me more like You."

Amen.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Learning To Walk

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)

Do you, or anyone you know, seem like they are stuck in a rut in life? Never progressing, not growing, never able to resolve issues in marriage or personal relationships?

When you're stuck in a rut, you have two choices:

1. Keep spinning your wheels and remain stuck.

Or,

2. Do whatever it takes to get out and move forward.

In your walk with Christ for instance, too many times, people get stuck in a rut when situations, or seasons in their life change, and they can't, or won't, adapt to the changes. And so they sit idle, complaining of, "how good things used to be".

Perhaps the most painful, and helpful life lessons I've had to learn, is that God puts certain people in your life for a season. Some of these seasons are quite long, and others, not so much. Good friends move away. People move on. Situations change.

We get used to wonderful routines in these seasons of life where we come to depend on people, on close friends, to fellowship with, talk to, have coffee, go fishing, or just hang out. Good times. The best of times.

When we are going through difficult trials, our closest friends are right there, going through it with us. We can always call them up and ask, "Can we get together and talk? I'm in deep water and I really need you to pray for me."

But when our close friends, with whom we've grown so accustomed to having close by when we need them, move several hundred miles away, that source of "on call" fellowship is gone. Sure, you can call them on the phone. But it's just not the same as the face-to-face fellowship you once had with them. That particular season you had together where they were close by is over.

And the most painful lesson in all of this, is you can't go back and try to re-create these seasons. They were unique, and wonderful for the times you had them. But God had these people in your life, in your geographic space, only for a season. But eventually, everyone moves away, it seems.

When we shut down and stay stuck in our ruts, when the seasons in our life change, it often indicates that we are too co-dependent on people. On our closest friends. On how things used to be in the good old days.

Instead of being co-dependent on imperfect people, we must learn to become totally dependent on a perfect God.

We have to learn to walk our own walk with Christ.

No one else can walk it for us.

Jesus said; "Without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

I'm convinced that God brings special people into our lives for a season as mentors and godly examples of what it looks like to walk out our own Christian walk, and then He removes them, so that we will then become the wise friends and mentors who help a younger or newer disciple of Christ to learn to walk for themselves.

You can't remain in the same place. 

It's a new season now.

Enjoy it for all God has for you in it. And invite others who need to learn to walk to come along.

It's time for you to become the mentor and leader that God has called you to be.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails

How Great Is Our God!

"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!" (Matthew 24:30)

I cannot wait for that Day!

That glorious day, on which, Jesus Christ; The  King of kings and the Lord of lords will come back to earth, coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory.

And all human beings alive on the earth at that time will bend their knee and bow to Him, and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Do you believe that?

I do. Jesus said it. The Bible records it. And I believe it.

There are no "New Years Resolutions" on my list for 2014. However, what I am doing, is starting off this new year right. My focus is, and always will be, on God, and on how great He is. I trust in Him completely, to manage my life, and to provide for me. He is my only source of peace and joy.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)

I want to share a story from back when I was newly saved. It involves my former musical tastes and my personal CD collection. Around the mid-1990's, I had amassed a fairly large collection of over 200 discs. That may not be a lot to you. But for me it was.

One day after spending a couple of hours listening to some of my old CD's, I could not seem to find anything that moved me the way it once had. I used to perceive myself by the kind of music that I liked. Those styles and genres were what I self-identified with. But as I sat there looking at the rows of discs on my book shelf, it all just kind of felt like dead weight to me now. It wasn't part of me anymore.

Something had changed.

I was not that person anymore. My 'old man' did not exist any longer.

Now, I didn't feel like it would be "evil" for me as a new Christian to listen to my non-Christian music. It's not like it was Devil worship or anything like that. It was popular stuff on the radio at that time. However, it was completely lifeless and worthless to me now.

I simply no longer had any desire for it.

So as I sat there staring at my huge stacks of CD's, I pondered what to do with them.

And then, without a doubt in my mind, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I put everything in some boxes and went to a music store downtown. They bought a large portion of them for pennies on the dollar. I didn't make much cash, but it sure was great to unload them. And with the short stack that they wouldn't take, as I walked back to my car near the alley, I saw a dumpster, and just felt totally free to toss the rest of them in the trash.

All except one.

I had this one disc that was my favorite. I had learned several of the songs on it. And this music and particular artist was who I most identified with in my "former life." I wanted to write and record the kind of songs that this guy had.

Then, as I was on my way out to see my wife at work to tell her about my experience, as I drove, I kept staring at that one remaining CD that I couldn't quite bear to part with.

After a few minutes of thinking about that CD, and why I did not want to give it up, without hesitation, I grabbed it, and threw it as hard as I could out my open passenger window, at the cement retaining wall of the overpass. That CD shattered into a hundred pieces of silver. It was gone.

Forever.

Now I was really free.

I can't fully describe the incredible feeling of lightness and freedom that I felt at that moment. I shouted for joy like a crazy man as I drove down the highway. A huge weight had finally come off my shoulders. That last little piece of myself that had never really brought me any true peace or satisfaction, had been cast off. I no longer had any desire for that part of my old life—my old self—that part of me was now dead and gone.

And I have never looked back.

Look, I am not judging anyone who is a Christian who still likes and listens to secular music. You're free to do as you wish. If you like Foreigner, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marely, The Eagles, Nirvana, or AC/DC, I could care less. It's between you and God.

But I would like to encourage you to do some soul searching, and pray about it. Do you love music that does not directly bring glory to God? Just think it over. Again, it's between you and God. I'm not judging anyone.

And just so we're clear, this is not some legalistic, "Thou shalt not listen to secular music" rant. I am sharing my personal story here—my personal journey—of what God has done in my own heart and in my life. I am not telling you what you should do.

But, for me... if the message of any music is not clearly about Jesus, or if it fails to totally glorify God, I'm just not interested in it anymore.

And I love it, and am thankful to Jesus, that I have been set that free in Christ that I am no longer bound by the same old stuff that I was bound by in my "former life" (smile).

Again, I am free. Totally, amazingly free! \o/

I remember my Mom once told me that being a follower of Jesus didn't demand that she give up things in her life. Rather, it was that God had set her free from them.

Jesus said, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)

And now I am free.

Here is the first song that God put on my heart for 2104. It should be the anthem of worship to our God, today, and forever more:

"How Great Is Our God."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b69CcVs8pMc

The splendor of a king
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God – sing with me
How great is our God – and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father, Spirit and Son
Lion and the Lamb
Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God – sing with me
How great is our God – and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God



—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

The Slippery Slope

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth" (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

It's been equally frightening and fascinating, to watch the ever-quickening downward spiral of our culture.

What was morally unacceptable to most Americans just a few years ago, is now applauded by the Liberal masses. What was illegal last year, is now legal in some states.

Political correctness is killing our nation.

One thing I have observed over the last twenty or so years, is that as immorality has increased, and has become more culturally acceptable, many people who profess to be "Christian" have begun to approve of, or excuse immoral behaviors (sin) which are explicitly forbidden in the Bible.

And a common denominator among these culturally/politically correct "Christians" is that they have stopped reading and heeding their Bibles. They have turned from God's doctrine, and have replaced it with fluffy, worldly doctrines; "The gospel according to Oprah."

This is the slippery slope—getting away from the Word of God, and slowly incorporating the philosophy of a corrupt, worldly culture into your mindset and way of life. And once you start down that deceitful path, it becomes more and more difficult to return to the truth of God's Word.

God's command of repentance—turning from one's sin and turning to God—is largely missing in the message of modern Christianity.

Don't disgrace Grace.

Under the guise of "love" and "grace" many so-called Christians are playing fast and loose with the Word of God, and are leading unsaved people directly into eternal condemnation. Because they are so afraid of offending people, they refuse to tell them the truth; that God has appointed a day on which He will judge sinners who refuse to repent of their sin.

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

To Repent literally means to "change one's own mind, and to think differently afterwards." Change one's mind about what?  That all human beings are sinners. That each of us have sinned against God. None of us are "good" people. God will judge people according to His own standard of perfection, not according to what we think is good or righteous. 

A common objection to this is people who say, "I'm a good person! I don't murder people or rob banks!"

But in God's perspective, hating someone in your heart is the same as murder. Lusting after someone who is not your spouse is the same as if you had physically committed adultery with that person.

The slippery slope of excusing and approving of people's sin; all so you don't "offend" them, is leading people to Hell. This is not "loving" people. This is not "pointing people to Jesus."

God commands all people to repent of their sin. He doesn't say, "Oh, that's okay" (wink, wink).

Jesus said; "If a man loves Me he will keep My commandments."

I remember the first time I read Acts 17 where "God now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world." 

All men everywhere. 

That's plenty plain. All men everywhere means that all men everywhere are sinners, and have sinned against God. All men everywhere need saving. And all men everywhere who need saving, need a Savior.  

Saved from what?

Saved from Hell.  

I know, Hell is not a popular subject with most people. But that's why Jesus came down here, became a man, and died on the Cross for the sins of the world; because all men are sinners, and we all need saving. Because in God's perspective, we all deserve to go to Hell because we all have sinned against Him.

So when you point someone to Jesus, you are pointing them to the only One who can save them from the eternal Hell they deserve for sinning against God. 

If someone has pointed you to Jesus, you must acknowledge and confess that you are a sinner. That you have sinned against God. That you do deserve Hell. And that God has commanded you to repent, to turn away from your sin, and to turn to Him.

And that is a command from God (not a suggestion). And His command is made in love, because God is Love.

God is going to judge sinful humanity by Jesus Christ, who took your place on the Cross. He died for your sins. He paid the penalty for your crimes against God. He went into hell so you won't have to... but only if you repent and turn to Him.

You can't refuse to repent of your sin and expect God to forgive you. 

If you are a married person who is committing adultery, you are not saved just because you say you, "believe in Jesus" when you refuse to repent of your adultery. If you are a homosexual, you aren't saved simply because you say you "believe in Jesus" but you refuse to repent of your homosexuality. Same applies if you are a thief, if you are a habitual liar, if you cheat on your taxes, if you worship money, if you idolize material things, if you surf the Internet every night looking at pornography, if you are a drug dealer, or if you are sleeping with your girlfriend when you are not married.

A person who has repented of their sin and has turned to God, does not still live a life of sin the way they did before they came to God. You must repent. 

God is Love. But the loving God will also judge sinners.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:18-32)

God doesn't hate homosexuals.

And He doesn't single out their sin as the worst sin, as some people today seem to think. God loves all people everywhere. 

But God also commands all people everywhere to repent of their sin, and to turn to Him. 

If you read the long list in Romans chapter 1 of the things that God includes as being unrighteousness; homosexuality is no more a sin than being disobedient to one's parents is a sin. All sin is sin. And according to Romans 1, approving of someones sin, is just as bad as committing the sin itself. If you are afraid to offend someone who practices homosexuality (or any other unrighteousness), that you excuse their sin, you are actually approving of it. And you're just as guilty as they are, as we see above in Romans 1. 

All unrighteousness is unrighteousness. And all unrepented sin and unrighteousness will be judged by God.

No repentance means no salvation.

When you share John 3:16 with someone, share Romans 1 with them too. 

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

This Is Love

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:8-14)

God came down.

The Almighty leaves the glory of His throne in Heaven, comes down to earth, and becomes a Man; born as a baby in a cold manger in the tiny city of Bethlehem, roughly 2,000 years ago.

This is Love.

Because we can't work our way up to God, He came down to us, in  love. Because man's religions can never make us righteous in God's eyes, He came down to us.

This is Love.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"Greater love has no man than this; than to lay down His life for his friends."

This is Love.

Make this the Christmas that you open your heart to the One who came down from Heaven in the ultimate demonstration of selfless love. He came down for you. 

He stands at the door of your heart and gently knocks, waiting to be invited in...

Merry Christmas.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Does God Still Answer Prayer? Part 2

"Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered." (1 Peter 3:7)

What are some hindrances to God hearing and answering our prayers?

We learned in part 1 of this series that God will hear and answer our prayers—but only if we pray according to His will:

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15)

That could not be any clearer. 

I mean, if you're asking God to get rid of your spouse so you can marry your adulterous boyfriend or girlfriend with whom you've been having an affair, He will not hear that prayer. As a matter of fact, if you are living a lifestyle of sin, you will soon began to reap the consequences of what you have sown. (See Galatians 6:7).

And if that verse from 1 John chapter 5 was not clear enough, the following passage should crystallize it:

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12)

If you are doing evil, say, surfing porn on the Internet every night, don't expect God to hear, much less answer your prayers for that raise at work. When you do evil, His face is against you—definitely not a good place to be.

This passage really convicted me:

"These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren."
(Proverbs 6:16-19)

If we have committed any of the seven evils in this Proverb, the face of the Lord is against us, and He will not hear our prayers. So, right there, just in these first few passages of Scripture alone, I think we can already see why a large percentage of our prayers are not being answered by God.

And can you blame Him?

What are some other reasons?

How about our opening scripture verse to husbands:

"Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered." (1 Peter 3:7)

Do you honor your wife? Do you live with her with sensitivity and understanding?

If you dishonor your wife in any way, you are hindering your prayers from being heard. If you are rude and insensitive to your wife, God is not going to answer your prayers. 

Paul said in Ephesians 5, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her." (Verse 25)

If you dishonor your wife by being critical of her to your friends, that is not loving your wife as Christ loved the church. You've dishonored God's own daughter and He is not going to hear and answer your prayers. 

This would apply to you ladies as well. If you tell your girlfriends that your husband is a stupid moron, don't expect God to hear and answer your prayers either.

In a very thorough look at hindrances to prayer, author John Maxwell lines out Ten Personal Prayer Killers, with appropriate scripture verses:

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Prayer Killer # 1 – Unconfessed Sin. Psalm 66:18, Jeremiah 31:34, I John 1:9

Psalm 66:18, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear” 

God is perfect and can’t abide sin in us. If we knowingly tolerate sin in our lives, it pushes God away from us. As a result, it makes our prayers powerless.

Jeremiah 31:34, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sin no more.”

At that point our relationship is restored, and our prayers regain their power. Our past actions may still have consequences, but the sin itself is forgiven.

God’s forgiveness is complete. First John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.” Don’t let Satan accuse you when Christ has set you free.

Unforgiven sin also has other consequences. We could turn around the Scripture from Psalms to say, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, I will not hear God,” and it would also be true. Sin dulls our senses and isolates us from God.

Besides making us want to run from God, sin also makes us want to isolate ourselves from other believers.

Prayer Killer # 2 - Lack of Faith. James 1:5-8

Lack of faith has an incredibly negative impact on a Christian’s life. Without faith, prayer has no power. Even Jesus was powerless to perform any miracles in Nazareth because of the people’s lack of faith (Mark 6:1-6).

Jesus’ brother James gives some insight into the effect that faithlessness has on prayer.

The word double-minded speaks of a condition where a person is emotionally divided, almost as if he had two souls. That condition makes a person unstable and incapable of hearing from God or receiving His gifts.

Prayer Killer # 3 - Disobedience. I John 3:21-23

1 John 3:21-23, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:21-23)

I realized that we receive from God because we obey Him. That’s a condition that we must meet in order to approach Him in prayer.

If we are to grow in our relationship with God and become strong people of prayer, we must learn to obey. Keeping free from sin is not enough. Neither is faith. If our mouth says we believe, but our actions don’t back up that belief with obedience, it shows the weakness of our belief. Obedience should be a natural outgrowth of faith in God. He that obeys God, trusts Him; he that trusts Him, obeys Him. [read James 2:1-14.]

God cannot ignore our disobedience even when we try to distract Him. Only our obedience restores our relationship with Him and gives our prayers power.

Prayer Killer # 4 - Lack of Transparency with God and Others. James 5:16

James 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” 

James is sharing a truth about God: When we confess our sins to one another, which requires us to be absolutely transparent, God is able to heal and cleanse us. We experience a spiritual, physical, and emotional restoration. In addition, our transparency helps others, because it shows them that they are not alone in their difficulties.

Transparency is a difficult thing for a lot of people. But openness with others can have a profound effect on you. Transparency with God when you pray puts you on His agenda instead of your own. And it also releases other believers to pray for you strategically and specifically.

Prayer Killer # 5 - Unforgiveness. Matthew 18:21, 22. Matthew 6:14, 15

Peter asked Jesus about forgiveness. He asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matt. 18:21). Jesus’ answer: “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matt. 18:22).

Jesus was trying to teach Peter that forgiveness is not a matter of mathematics. Nor is it a choice of words. It is an attitude of the heart, and it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to forgive.

Why is forgiveness so important? Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Forgiving and being forgiven are inseparable twins. When a person refuses to forgive another, he is hurting himself, because his lack of forgiveness can take hold of him and make him bitter. And a person cannot enter prayer with bitterness and come out with blessings. Forgiveness allows your heart to be made not only right, but light.

Prayer Killer # 6 - Wrong Motives. James 4:3

God makes no mistakes about our motives. When they’re not right, our prayers have no power. James 4:3 says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.”

Sometimes even knowing our own motives can be difficult. When we pray, God speaks to us and shows us our motives. If we are acting out of pride, fear, possessiveness, self-satisfaction, convenience, etc., God will show it to us, if only we are willing to listen. And if we are willing, He will change those motives.

Prayer Killer # 7 - Idols in our Lives. Ezekiel 14:3

Ezekiel 14:3, “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?” 

The distaste that God has for idols should be clear from this passage. He doesn’t even want an idol worshipper to talk to Him. On the other hand, when we remove idols from our lives, we become ripe for a personal revival.

Is there anything that you’re putting ahead of God? Sometimes it’s hard to tell. One of the ways to know that something in your life is an idol is to ask yourself, “Would I be willing to give this thing up if God asked me to?” Look honestly at your attitude toward your career, possessions, and family. If there are things you wouldn’t release to God, then they’re blocking your access to Him.

Prayer Killer # 8 – Disregard for Others. Psalm 33:13; John 13:34

Psalm 33:13, “From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind.” 

God’s perspective is expansive. He loves everyone, and His desire is that we care for others in the same way. When we disregard others, it grieves Him.

John 13:34, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

1 Peter 2:13, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men.”

Prayer helps you learn to love others. It’s impossible for a person to hate or criticize someone they’re praying for. Prayer breeds compassion, not competition.

Prayer Killer # 9 - Disregard for God’s Sovereignty. Jeremiah 1:5

I know that God knows me completely and knows what’s best for me.

Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

Matthew 6:9-10, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” 

It establishes our relationship to Him: that of a child under the authority of his Father. Any time we disregard the divine order of things, we’re out-of-bounds, and we hinder our relationship with our heavenly Father.

Prayer Killer # 10 - Unsurrendered Will. Psalm 139:23-24, I Peter 3:12

The ultimate purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to learn to want what God gives.

A person whose will is surrendered to God has a relationship with Him similar to the one described in the parable of the vine and the branches. It says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7). The branch depends on the vine and lives in one accord with it. In return, the vine provides it with everything it needs, and the result is great fruitfulness.

There are great benefits to surrendering your will to God.

1. God promises to answer your prayers and grant your requests.

2. We get to receive the power of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Developing an effective prayer life depends on keeping your relationship with God strong and uncluttered by sin and disobedience. 

1 Peter 3:12, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 

If we strive for righteousness and confess our errors, we can remain close to God. But maintaining our relationship with Him is an ongoing process. A Christian can’t simply pray once through a list like these ten prayer killers and expect to be done with it. Every day we need to go to God and ask Him to reveal anything that may be hindering our progress."

Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

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The truth's lined out here are more than enough material for several weeks of study and contemplation. 

I know that after I have studied this, and repented, and have had many good conversations with the Lord about it, I am confident that I will begin to see more of my prayers answered. 

And I believe that you will too.

Draw near to the Lord, and He will draw near to you.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.