Why Christians Don't Pray - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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Why Christians Don’t Pray

James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Intro: Prayer is one of the most mysterious concepts found in the Bible.

A child of God can bow their head, talk to God, and He will hear and answer their prayer.

That is one of the most amazing, incredible things on the planet.

The other amazing thing is how little praying God’s people really do!

QUOTE: "What is it, then, that makes prayerlessness such a great sin? At first it is looked upon merely as a weakness... the deep guilt of the situation is not recognized." – Andrew Murray

QUOTE: "The sin of prayerlessness... represents an attempt at instituting an independence of God." – E. M. Bounds

Prayer is:

A. A Simple Endeavor

We have been given unlimited access to the very throne room of God.

·       We can pray anywhere.

·       We can pray anytime. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

·       We can pray about anything. John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

·       We can pray silently. (Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:13)

·       We can pray out loud. (Solomon on a scaffold before the people - 2 Chronicles 6:13)

The emphasis is not on the position of the body, but on the condition of the heart.

We can pray…

·       Standing - Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

·       Kneeling - Daniel 6:10 "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."

·       Bowing - Genesis 24:26 "And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD."

·       Prostrate on the Ground- Matthew 26:39 "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

·       Looking Up - John 17:1 "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:"

B. A Serious Engagement

You don’t pray by accident.

You don’t just wander into the Holy of Holies.

You don’t just meander into the throne room of grace.

C. A Supernatural Enterprise

Prayer is an activity that requires the cooperation of the Godhead.

We pray TO the Father.

·       Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

We pray with the help of the Holy Spirit.

·       Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

We pray in the name of Jesus.

John 14

·       13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

·       14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

D. A Spiritual Exertion

Every time we go to pray, we enter into spiritual warfare.

Praying is simple, but it is NOT easy.

When we pray, we are invading enemy territory.

When we pray, we are calling in reinforcements.

When we pray, we are recruiting the arm of Almighty God.

It would be a tragic mistake to think the devil won’t put up a fight.

So why don’t Christians pray?

I. The Distracting Activities of God’s People 

We are too busy to pray.

QUOTE: "This is what aggravates the sin of prayerlessness. It represents an attempt at instituting an independence of God, a self-sufficient ruling of God out of the life." – E. M. Bounds

Luke 10

·       41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

·       42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

II. The Diminished Affection for God’s Person

We don't love God enough to pray.

When you love someone, you want to talk to them.

You want them to talk to you.

If a Christian has left their first love, prayer won’t be a priority.

Revelation 2

·       2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

·       3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

·       4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

·       5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

QUOTE: "The sin of prayerlessness is a proof... that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." – Andrew Murray

III. The Disrupted Appeal of God’s Presence 

We are too intimidated in God’s presence to pray.

Being in the presence of God in prayer is uncomfortable if you’ve got unconfessed sin.

QUOTE: "Unrighteous conduct is born of prayerlessness... Prayer and sinning cannot keep company with each other." – E. M. Bounds

Adam hid from the presence of God in the garden because of disobedience.

Jonah ran from the presence of God because of disobedience.

1 John 3

·       20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

·       21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

·       22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

IV. The Doubtful Approach to God's Power

We don't believe God enough to pray.

·       Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

·       1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

QUOTE: "Better not to pray at all than to pray prayerless prayers, for they are but sinning, and the worst of sinning is to sin on our knees." – E. M. Bounds

James 1

·       6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

·       7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.