HINDRANCES TO PRAYER
PART 1

What Hinders Our Prayers 5-4-2025 PM

I have never known a brother or sister that did not believe in the power of prayer. And for good reason. Prayer can change your future!
We see this in 2 Kings 20:1-6 where Hezekiah was near death, and Isaiah told him to set his life in order because you are going to die.
We read in verses 2 and 3 that Hezekiah, “…turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.”
After that prayer the Lord told Isaiah to return and tell the king, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you” (v.5). and the Lord added 15 years to Hezekiah’s life.

But note carefully in the prayer Hezekiah’s spirituality was such that he walked before the Lord in truth, with a loyal heart and he did what was good in the Lord’s sight…

HOW GOD KEEPS HIS SAINTS

How God Keeps Us
• The Father’s keeping of the saints must be understood to be similar to that keeping which Jesus pro-vided. “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (Jn. 17:12).

Here are three things which the Father does to keep His saints.
1. Providence: Matt. 6:13; I Cor, 10: 13, 2 Pet. 2:9, Gen. 20:6
2. Provisions: Acts 20:32, Psa. 119:11, Psa. 119:105, Psa. 119:133, 1 Cor. 12:26, Heb. 10:24-25, Heb. 13:7
3. Restoration: Gal. 6:1, 2 Pet. 3:9, Rom, 2:4, Rev. 2:21, 1 Jn. 1:6-9, 2 Sam. 12, Heb. 7:25

Let’s begin then with God’s providence…

JESUS

Why should I believe in the Jesus of the Bible? To Believe or Not to Believe, that is The Question.

In this lesson we’ll consider three reasons that validate Jesus, His existence, and His Divinity. Believing Bible as the word of God and not the word of man is actually an important lesson which simply put is proven by three truths: (1). That the bible was written over a period of 3,500 years by 40 different authors, some kings, some fishermen but every book from Genesis to Revelation completely harmonizes, which is impossible unless the source of the writing was from One. (2). There are more than 300, noted and proven prophecies which is also impossible for mere man who cannot predict with perfect accuracy what tomorrow will bring. The prophecies of the scripture noting hundreds of years in advance that this person would be born, in this certain city, and do this certain thing. The place of Jesus’ Birth – Micah 5:2, 700 years before and fulfilled in Matthew 2:1, etc. (3). If the bible were written out of the mind of man, and not God, then since man’s desires, lust for example, would not be condemned. There would not be any “absolute morality”, for man would not write in a way that would constrain his desire for pleasures of life. That is, the unbelieving world would not restrict what the Lord refers to as sin. 
In this lesson, we will only consider why we must believe in the historical Jesus with three simple points. 

1. His Proven Divinity. 
2. His fulfillment of Prophecy. 
3. The Eyewitness Testimony. 

We begin with how Jesus proved His divinity…

NEVER FORGET

Like many people I have always had difficulty remembering names, yet I never forget a face. I remember my s.s number, my checking account number, my wife’s name, but I forget birthdays, holidays. I don’t remember my grade school teacher. Can’t remember the names of streets, although I don’t ever get lost. There are many things which we must not ever forget. 
Never forget who you are, Christian, child of the most High God. Remember the written word. We must never forget there is a heaven and a hell because we are all destined to one or the other and where we end up in Heaven or Hell depends on what we remember about God’s will which is the written word, your Bible.

Here in this lesson I would like to offer you some things we should never forget. Things like never forget what Great things the Lord Has Done – never forget to Keep the Lord’s Commandment – never forget Do no to follow other gods – never forget the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul…

IDENTITY OF THE CHURCH PART 13
– SEVEN ONES – 

Remember that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15), and our foundation is the word of God (Matt. 7:24-25). By these seven ones the church of Christ in united on common ground.
One Body: One Spirit: One Hope: One Lord: One Faith: One Baptism: One God and Father: 

The majority of the religious world actually, believe it or not, only accepts willingly one Lord, one God, and One Spirit. It’s true and can be proven just by asking your “pastor”, is there only one baptism? Ask, is there only one faith, is there only one body or is there only one hope?  I am certain that one, if not all of these will have a negative answer, or a multitude of words explaining his answer (Eccl. 10:14).

We do accept and believe in all seven because they are from the mouth of God…

THINGS THAT THE FAITHFUL HAVE IN COMMON WITH GREAT PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

Sometimes I wonder why so few in many churches seem to attend only the morning assemblies. That is true in many congregations. But every time I begin thinking about this I find myself going down the same path of understanding. Truth is I’ll never understand. It hurts my spirit, my brain aches just trying to make sense of it. I imagine that you all have thought about this, and it probably has caused your spirit to be heavy also but, you all need to realize, as I do, that apart from prayer, letters, face to face encouragement there is little else you can do. You chose to be here, and others chose not to come. You want the fellowship together, others do not. Your soul is in the hand of God, and so are the others. God will judge you, and God will judge them. There is a song which I often sing to myself when I get into a funk about this. The Song is Farther Along.

Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long
While there are others living about us, never molested, though in the wrong
When death has come and taken our loved ones, it leaves our home so lonely and dreary
Then do we wonder why others prosper living so wicked year after year
Farther along we’ll know all about it; farther along we’ll understand why
Cheer up, my brother; live in the sunshine, we’ll understand it all by and by
Faithful till death said our loving master; a few more days to labor and wait
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing as we sweep through the beautiful gates
Farther along we’ll know all about it…
Yes, we’ll understand it all by and by…

This song reminds me that in the end – if I myself am faithful – I’ll understand why – and that for now – I just need to live and serve and put all my trust in Him who saved me. That is also true of all who believe whether you knew it or not – you want the same things.

IDENTITY OF THE CHURCH
WALK WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING

Paul wrote, “1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

The moment after one is baptized “all” their sins are forgiven, they are added to the body of Christ, which is the church, and then something truly wonderful begins.

That person now has a purpose.
They are now the chosen, redeemed, predestined, adopted, heirs, saved, reconciled and now they begin a glorious transformation as they are recipients of wisdom from above.
Why? So that God will be glorified through His saints!
His glory and His wisdom would be on display as Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:21 which summarizes the calling, that God would be glorified through us (the church) and through Jesus for all generations forever and ever. That is our calling in this life.

So, in this less we’ll learn a bit of what it means to be…

We can love each other all the while still not seeing “eye to eye” on various points and still draw closer when we differ in our understanding.
Those who are more mature in the faith must remember they didn’t start where they are now.
We all must, with all lowliness and gentleness longsuffering, bear with one another in love.

In this lesson I will stress three points…

Walking worthy is necessary if we are going to have unity.
Christ Like Character brings Christian Unity.
And Three, there is a charge, or command from Paul to maintain Christian unity.

We begin with understanding that for this to happen we must “Walk Worthy” (4:1)…

THE CHURCH THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD

Let’s read 1 Tim. 3:15, and we will expound on it later in the lesson. The the saints, the children of the Heavenly Father, Paul wrote, “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15.

There are blessings available only to those who are members of the household of God. Blessings that cannot be claimed by those outside the family of God. As a member of God’s family, a Christian enjoys these benefits 1. An Heir of God – Rom. 8:15-17, 2. Access to God as Father – Matt. 6:9. 

Notice that Paul used the terms “church of the living God” and the “house of God”: The word “oikos”, “house” can mean “house, the material building, household, family, lineage, nation”.  Paul used it, not as a physical house, rather here referring to the spiritual family of God. Translated as “household” in Hebrews 11:7 referring to the family of Noah. There are a number of lessons about the church which can be learned from this comparison.

1. An Heir of God – Rom. 8:15-17
2. Access to God as Father – Matt. 6:9 (Matt. 5:45, 7:8; Eph. 1:3)
3. God’s Fatherly Correction – 2 Cor. 12:9-10
4. God’s Fatherly Protection – Psalm 121
5. God’s Fatherly Love – Rom. 8:35, 38-39

STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT

In our lesson today we begin with seeking understanding of the apostle Paul’s prayer for Strengthening

Thus the title today is strengthened with might which comes from verse 16. . .

That God would grant these saints be, “strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man”.
The prayer is a continuation from chapter 1 verses 16 and 17 where Paul said…
I, “do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,”.
But here in chapter 3 verses 14 and 15 we see Paul’s prayer is for the entire family of God.
The word Paul uses for “family” is derived from [πατήρ] meaning father.
The family in heaven and on earth is of the Father.
That is a family made because of the great love the Father has for His creation.
Remember, we are all named after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who is seated at God’s right hand…
His name is above “every name that is named” ( 1:21)
a name “above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth” ( 2:9-10).
In fact, Paul proclaims that the day is coming when “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (11).
So, whether you are saved or not saved – you will bow, you will confess Christ as Lord.

Now let’s turn to chapter 3 and not a few things beginning at verse 16…

MIND OF CHRIST – PART 4
WHY JESUS

Ever consider how powerful the little word Come is?

My House – Movie – Walk – Visit my Church

Jesus:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” – Matt. 16:24
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden” – Matt. 11:28
Jesus said to Peter “Come…out of the boat, walk on the water and walk to Me” – Matt 14:29
“…come to Me and drink…out of YOUR heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38

Jesus invites all to come to Him, come live as I lived, come raise your children right, come and follow me to heaven where I Am!

IT IS THE INVITATION OF GOD

Therefore, for a little while today we’re going to talk about why Jesus.