Pray Out The Hindrances

In my previous post I wrote about how much character counts. The church is struggling today in many areas. Apathy abounds. The love of many has grown cold. Hypocrisy is more frequent than holiness. Religious gatherings are soiled with gossip and character assassination.

I talked to a minister today who has been beaten down by liars and rumor mongers from his congregation. It sucks the joy and life out of ministers. Some churches repeat the same cycle one pastor after another for as long as anyone can remember. They destroy lives and gain a terrible reputation in the very town they supposedly exist to help. That minister told me today numerous times he will talk to people and as soon as he mentions the name of his church people will say, "I will not have anything to do with that place or those people."

I read the title of this blog in a book about the 1904-05 Wales Revival. The author wrote that in the revival, "They prayed out the hindrances." He specifically referred to disobedience and unforgiving hearts. These two sins still plague churches. How did they deal with it? They prayed them out. God blessed a pure and purged church.

We need to pray out some hindrances still today. It seems we would rather meet, plan, discuss endlessly about problems instead of praying them out of the church. If I have learned anything about prayer over the past 33 years it is that real praying is hard work. When you pray with all your heart, soul, mind, and spirit it is taxing. Fervent prayer is still effective.
James 5:16 (NASB)
16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

 Prayer is the belief that God can still move mountains.
Mark 11:22-24 (NASB)
22  And Jesus *answered saying to them, "Have faith in God.
23  "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
24  "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

That includes hindrances. Sometimes those hindrances can be people. Troublemaking people. Yes, even people can be prayed out of the church. I have witnessed it. Truth be told I have asked for it on more than one occasion. In each case, once God removed the hindering people He blessed mightily. I have seen Him remove them to other churches or communities. On one occasion He removed someone by death. Once the hindrances were removed God poured out His Spirit on those congregations.  They worshiped and worked together in harmony.

Do you need to pray out some hindrances in your church? Before that do you need to pray out some hindrances in your own life? That is where we all should begin. To pray out any and all sin holding back God's blessing. Perhaps there are people you need to pray out because they continually stir up strife among the congregation, which God hates by the way.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NASB)
16  There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17  Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
18  A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19  A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

 Sometimes you have to pray the hindrances out. ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TO PRAY TO KEEP THE HINDRANCES OUT! Satan is always striving to gain a foothold in individuals as well as churches. May God cleanse, renew, revive and restore His church to His intended purpose. Let us pray the hindrances out.