HINDRANCES TO PRAYER
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LESSON #10
THE PRAYERS OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN
THE CONCLUSION
TEXT: JAMES 5:16
REVIEW:
What was last weeks lesson?
Domestic problems.
Who ordained marriage?
God.
Marriage is the foundation of everything else in society.
What makes a good home?
Discipline.
Devotion.
Communication.
Determination.
READ TEXT:
James 5:16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(KJV)
In the past several weeks we have been looking at things that can hinder our prayers
This week, in wrapping up this study, I want to look at what kind of prayer will be heard by God.
In our text it says that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
What is righteousness?
Webster’s dictionary defines it this way.
Acting or being in accordance with what is just, honorable, and free from guilt or wrong.
My dad states it much plainer.
Righteousness is simply doing what is right.
Now this sounds simple enough.
It sounds like this is something every body would be doing.
But the truth is very few are
We live in a day and age where the boundaries are constantly being moved and shifted.
Words continually change their meaning to suit a certain group.
- Gay used to mean happy
- Bad used to mean bad
- Rap used to mean knock
Now all these words have changed
- Gay means homosexual
- Bad means someone that is cool or macho
- Rap is now a popular music
We live in a time of situational ethics.
We live in a time that society says you only have to be righteous if the situation allows it.
They say it is alright to lie
- If it means getting a raise on the job
- If it means getting ahead in life
- If it is not going to hurt someone’s feelings
It’s alright to gossip
- If it is true
- If it doesn’t hurt anyone
- If I tell it in confidence
It’s all right to betray a trust or stab a friend in the back
- If it means I get ahead
- If it advances me in some way
- If I get what I want
This is the day and age we live in
How is your righteousness?
There is another thought that is prevalent today.
That is ‘your good will out weigh your bad’.
- Well I don’t lie most of the time
- I do what is right most of the time
- I have never killed anyone
- I have never raped anyone
God will not weigh your good against your bad. In His eyes you are ether right or wrong, saved or lost.
Isa 64:6-7
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
(KJV)
If we attempt to come to God in our own righteousness we will not be heard.
It says in this scripture “he will hide his face from us”
The problem is our definition of righteousness and God’s definition of righteousness are not the same.
We say
- I am righteous most of the time
And God says
2 Tim 4:2
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(KJV)
Being righteous is not seasonal
Just because you have been righteous for the past week doesn’t mean that you can take next week off and live like the devil.
Example:
I have seen men and women over the years
They have been saved for a long time.
- They have served God faithfully
- They have been faithful to church
- They have been faithful to outreach for 3,4 5,10 years
But now as a “reward” for their faithfulness they think they can slack off
- They think they can miss church
- They think they can miss outreach
- They begin to neglect their daily prayer and bible study
They think that their past faithfulness will excuse them
The reward for faithfulness and righteousness will never be a season of unfaithfulness.
Luke 12:48
48 … For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
(KJV)
The truth is the longer you are saved the more will be expected of you.
Some may think “well that is not fair”.
I have seen men and women give all kinds of great excuses for their lack of righteousness and unfaithfulness.
Like:
- Well it is now the young people’s turn
- I am just making room for new ministry
- I deserve a break
Anywhere else in life we would consider this foolishness
Example:
This would never work on the job.
- Been there for years
- Gained some position of authority
- Placed into a position of leadership
Now suddenly because of your years of faithfulness you decide
- I am going to miss work for a few days
- I don’t need to go to all those meetings
- I don’t need to be faithful
What would happen?
You would be demoted or fired
If you as an adult started suddenly to act like a baby
- Started sucking your thumb
- Bringing your blanky to church
- Peeing in your pants
We would think there was something wrong with you
The same is true in the Kingdom of God
There is no middle ground
- You are either in or out
- Hot or cold
Because if you become lukewarm God will make the decision for you.
Rev 3:16
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
(KJV)
God is not interested in the
- Talent
- Rank
- Wealth
- Or office
Of the man or woman
He is not interested in any of these things when it comes to our prayers.
He is only interested in the righteousness of the man
There is an old saying
“Prayer moves the arm that moves the world.”
If there is anything that can prevail with God it is the prayer of a righteous man.
There is another thought here in our text
Righteousness is a mark of maturity.
We serve a righteous God who speaks words of righteousness.
Isa 45:19
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
(KJV)
God does not have time for foolish words
If the mark of maturity is righteousness then one of the marks of righteousness must be a lack of foolishness.
Ask yourself
- What comes out of your mouth
- What kind of words do you speak
- What words of wisdom do you have to impart
Every child as they begin to develop goes through different stages
They go through the
- Asking stage where they have to know about everything why why why
- Then they go through a talking stage were they just talk about everything and anything nonstop
- Then they go through a stage were they say some of the foolishest things. Things that make you wonder if they are yours or not. This stage usually hits around their early teen years.
- Then they hit that ‘know it all’ stage wear you cannot tell them anything. This stage usually begins around 15- 17
But as they grow and develop we expect them to pass through these different stages of life.
We expect them to grow up.
God expects the same from us.
He is gracious
He is a God of mercy
He puts up with all our nonsense as new converts and as young believers but there comes a point when he says it is time to put away those childish things
- It is time to set aside the foolishness
- It is time to lay aside the vain conversation
- It is time to grow up
2 Tim 2:22-26
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
(KJV)
1 Pet 1:13-16
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
(KJV)
What comes out of your mouth?
How is your conversation?
Prov 15:14
14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
(KJV)
The heart is always revealed by what comes out of the mouth
- What are you feeding on
- What are you placing into your heart
- What are you allowing yourself to listen to
Prov 15:29
29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
(KJV)
God has promised to hear the prayers of the righteous
