Neglect Of Mercy Series

HINDRANCES TO PRAYER

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LESSON #5 NEGLECT OF MERCY

TEXT: PROV. 21:13

REVIEW:

What was our lesson last week?

Unforgiveness

Will god hear your prayers if there is unforgiveness in your heart?

No unforgiveness will stand in the way of your prayers being answered.

Is being right an excuse not to forgive?

No

Sometimes the only way to forgive is by asking for forgiveness.

Why is that?

They may think they were the ones that were wronged or they may be waiting for you to take the first step.

READ TEXT:

Prov 21:13

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

(KJV)

Another hindrance to our prayers is an unwillingness to hear the cries of the poor

What poor is he talking about?

In the word of God we can divide the poor into two basic groups

1.Physically poor

- In the church

- Out of the church

2.The spiritually poor

- In the church

- In the world

1. Physical poverty outside the kingdom of God

There are a number of physically poor outside the kingdom of God. There is not a lot we can do for them to aleve their poverty on a large scale

- Few of us are in a position to create jobs

- Open soup kitchens

- Open shelters

And the bible when speaking about this kind of poverty, usually deals with nations and rulers of nations

- Kings

- Princes

We can be sensitive to political issues and vote for rulers

- That will create jobs

- That will institute programs to help the handicap

And those that can’t help themselves

What is your definition of poor?

- Someone without a job

- Someone without a home

- Someone with no clothes

- Someone who doesn’t have a car

What is the biblical definition for the physically poor?

The biblical definition of poor is someone that is either too young, too old, or too crippled to help themselves.

This eliminates a lot of the so called “poor”

A lot of the so called poor are only acting a part

I have seen blind beggars raise their dark glasses to count their money.

I have seen the “will work for food” people refuse the easiest of jobs.

I have seen child prostitutes and thieves pose as beggars while looking for opportunities.

And much of the poverty we see around us is a self-imposed poverty.

Prov 6:9-11

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Prov 18:9

9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

II Th 3:10

10 , that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

We need to be sensitive to the truly poor but at the same time we do not need to be ignorant of the devil’s strategies.

We have a responsibility to be good stewards of what God has placed into our hands

“Biblical charity does not subsidize sin nor should it encourage irresponsibility” Peter Hammond

2. The physically poor in the church

I believe we do have a responsibility to help those that are truly in need in the church.

James 2:13-16

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

There will be times in the church when people will have real needs

We need to be sensitive to those needs

We need to help

Even now, in this church, we are trying to help “Colleen’s House of Hope”

- She attends our church

- She is trying to take care of over twenty abandoned children

- Many of which have AIDS

- Very little help from the government

- We collect food for them every month

- Not something they asked for

- We saw a need and stepped in to help

I believe this is what God wants us to do

Help and support each other

We have given money for

- Men and women to purchase train fare to look for jobs

- We have given money for electricity when somebody was down