Hindrances to Your Prayer Closet

The Bible says to examine ourselves to see if we be of the faith. With this statement in mind, we should also examine our prayer lives to see if there are things that may be stopping us from spending quality time with the Lord. Everything that we do that keeps us from time with the Lord may not be sin, however, these things may consume our time and keep us from our prayer closets either totally or where we will spend very little time with the Lord.

There are many activities in this life that are required for those that have a family. Some of these activities include: Taking care of a family but going to a nine to five job and maintaining a home. These activities are very important but should not stand in the way of our spending time with the Lord in prayer.

Samuel Chadwick once said: The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.

A Christian in order to be successful and at peace with himself must seek the Lord in prayer. The things of this world have such a powerful pull on most people and even believer’s that go to church every Sunday. There is a race to see who can buy the next newest car or to have the nicest clothes, phone, house etc. There is nothing wrong with having nice things. Nonetheless, when this desire takes precedence over our seeking the Lord in prayer they will become hindrances to your relationship with the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:4:No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

There has to be a time of separation from the ways of the world and come apart with the Lord for a fresh outlook and a fresh vision for our spiritual lives.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Questions that you might want to ponder:

Is there someone or something in this life that means more to you than Jesus Christ?
Is there anything in this life that you possess that you just cannot or refuse to live without?
Are you more interested in the things of this world than the things of God?
If Jesus came to take you today would you be ready to meet Him?
There are questions that we need to ask ourselves in examination of our spiritual lives and relationship with the Lord.

Yes, this world offers things that are good and in some cases it is not a sin to participate. We commit sin when we permit the things of this world to pull us away from prayer and our relationship with Jesus. When we do this we could be placing an “idol” above the Lord.

Let’s worship and serve the Creator above His Creation and avoid

Hindrances to Your Prayer Closet

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Use Caution when Interpreting the Bible

There are basic principles that can be used when interpreting the Bible. One important issue is staying clear of false interpretations that will twist the Word to mean something that is not true. The Bible says to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Some Bible scholars and Bible students have come up with several ways to assist in this interpretation. Remember you may use a commentary in your study of the Word of God; however, caution must be used due to the fact that a group of theologians contributed to the compilation of the commentary. The Holy Spirit is the final authority in the Bible.

2 Peter 3:16: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2 Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

A Literal Translation of the Bible

A literal translation is a natural or correct way of translation. The Bible should not be figured out using codes. When we see a verb or noun in the Bible they are still verbs and nouns. We should use the normal rules of grammar and not some special types of coded interpretation. When the Bible states things like: Mary was possessed by seven devils or Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed the multitudes, this is the Word that should be received.

The use of metaphors and figures of speech can be accepted also in the literal translation of the Bible. For example: Jesus spoke of Himself in the Bible as “the door”. We know that through reading the scriptures that Jesus meant that He was the way to eternal life.
The Bible will also use “symbolisms” to convey a message. In Revelations 1: Jesus speaks of holding seven stars in His hand which are the seven churches. However when we study these scriptures we see that they were the angels of the seven churches. In these scriptures the Bible explained the use of the symbolism of the stars.

Revelation 1:16-20: And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 20 the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Again, use extreme caution in the interpretation of the Bible. Many people have been led astray through false teaching and by following the wrong “spirit” when interpreting the Bible. Open up your Bible studies with prayer.

Use Caution when Interpreting the Bible

A Christian Bible Study

Christians have a wonderful privilege of being able to study the Scriptures. The possibilities are endless because we have the Holy Spirit as our teacher. The Holy Spirit shines light on the scriptures and supernaturally gives the believer the ability to understand the scriptures. We see scriptures in the Bible that illustrate this truth.

1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
John 16:13: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Matthew 16:17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Christians must yield themselves to the Holy Spirit in order for Him to be the teacher of the scriptures to them. The scriptures can be understood by all Christians because the Holy Spirit is there to make the scriptures simple for them. When a Christian first reads the scriptures, they may not make much sense yet. However, as the Christian prayerfully and daily yields to the Holy Spirit and willingly picks up the Bible and reads, there will be more clarity day by day.

Be diligent and persistent in Christian Bible Study

One of the biggest challenges for a Christian Bible study is to be faithful in their study of the Bible. Every Christian should attempt to read a measure of the Bible on a daily basis. The Bible is considered to be a source of spiritual food for a Christian. When a Christian starts to feel “spiritually starved”, neglect in the study of the scriptures may be the issue. Study of the scriptures cause a victory to come in a Christian’s life and neglect will cause defeat to come. A Christian cannot survive spiritually on yesterday’s Bible studies; the study of the Word of God must always be fresh in a Christian’s life.

Assuredly there will be days that one may not “feel like” reading the Bible or may even be too tired to read the Bible. These are times when we can just listen the Bible. This can be done over the internet or one may prefer to listen to another source of media i.e. CD or DVD. This form of reception of the Word of God is popular for those that have a 40 hour work week or a very busy schedule. Moreover, when a Christian is persistent and consistent in receiving the truth of the Word of God into their spirits, the rewards will be great in the physical and spirit realm.

Be Faithful in your Christian Bible Study and God will reward you!

Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Once Delivered You Can Remain Free

Since I have been in the deliverance ministry I have seen many Christians obtain deliverance from evil spirits then lose this deliverance. This can come from being careless in their Christian walk, prayer life and Bible studies.

The Christian that receives deliverance must not become a demon hunter. If a Christian that has gone through deliverance stays away from unclean living, fear, and participation in activities that were identified in their initial deliverance there will be no fear of getting repossessed. When a person initially receives deliverance they see the power of God operating against the power of the devil and they may become so overwhelmed with the power of the enemy that they will not fully acknowledge the power of God. To remain free the Christian must always acknowledge the fact that the power of God will always be superior to the power of the enemy in every single case.

When we look at deliverance from evil spirits we see different levels of demonic influence. Some people were deeper into the clutches of the enemy than others. This means that every case of deliverance is different. What worked for one person may not work for another and each individual “walking out” of the deliverance will be different. The “walking out “of deliverance describes the aftercare and the way that the Christian adjusts to the freedom that has been experienced through the liberation of evil spirits. During this period the deliverance candidate must follow the instructions of the person that has administered deliverance to them. This is a period where the person that has just received deliverance is the most vulnerable. The new candidate must learn how to defend themselves through binding and loosing and other spiritual warfare prayers.

Ephesians 6:11-13: Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

A Christian must learn to protect themselves through prayer and the Word of God. Another way is for the Christian to always be joined in with someone that has an understanding of the Deliverance ministry. The best place for that new deliverance candidate is with the ministry that administered deliverance to them in the first place. A person that is seeking deliverance must be very prayerful and fasted in seeking deliverance. This is due to the fact that there are many false ministries that do not know what they are doing in this ministry. When a deliverance candidate gets involved with these types of ministries there will be more harm than good caused. The person will leave confused, frustrated and in worse shape than before.

The new deliverance candidate must know in their own heart that they can be free and remain free by staying close to Jesus and the people that the Lord has placed around them.

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How to Defeat Demons

When Jesus came to this earth as a man being 100 percent man and 100 percent God, He operated under the power of the Holy Spirit. We as Born again believers operate under that same power as New Testament Christians.

Matthew 12:28: Jesus said But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Luke 4:18:The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised

The Word of God shows that Jesus used the scriptures to defeat the devil. The Born again Christian that has been taught to use the Word of God can do the same. Some Christians are not using the Word of God because they have not been taught how to use the Word of God in prayer and in supernatural spiritual warfare. Yes the Holy Spirit is our teacher; however, the Bible shows that the Lord uses people as Pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.

When the enemy tries to ensnare us we must use the Word of God against him.

Isaiah 54:17:No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
The works when the enemy comes to put a spirit of fear on us. We can quote 2 Timothy 1:7.

2 Timothy 1:7:For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

We can not fight the devil with our bare fists (although at times we wished that we could) nor can we just scream at him at the top of our voices in anger (although at times we do).The enemy can also defeat us if we allow him to bring up our past sins and past life and put us under condemnation. When this happens he will torment us in the mind and thought life and cause us much torment and defeat. We are overcomers only by the cross of Jesus Christ and the Word of God that we speak and by taking dominion over our minds in Jesus name.

Revelation 12:11:And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

If we begin and end with the Word of God we will be successful in our warfare against the powers of the demonic realm of Satan.

Visit Pastor Dennis at Answers to Life !

The Substance of Things Hoped For is Faith

Without faith it will be impossible to please the Lord. Faith will come and increase as we read and study the Bible. Faith cannot be conjured up. Moreover, faith must be cultivated by a relationship with the Lord through His Word.

Faith is a belief in the unseen

• 2 Cor 4:18: We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.. which are eternal..
• 2 Cor 5:7: We walk by faith, not by sight
• Heb 11:27: By faith he…. endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible

Faith is important and real

• Heb 11:1: Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen

We are saved by Faith

• Jn 3:16: Whosoever believeth in Him (Jesus) should have everlasting life
• Jn 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life
• Lk 7:47-50: Thy sins are forgiven. They faith hath save thee
• Acts 10:43b: Whoever believeth in Him… receive remission of sins
• Acts 16:31: Believe on… Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved
• Rom 5:1: Being justified by faith , we have peace with God
• Gal 3:26: Ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus
• Eph 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith

We must live by faith

• Gal 2:20: Life which I live, I live by the faith of (Jesus)
• Heb: 10:38a: The just shall live by faith
• 1 John 5:4: This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our
  faith

We cannot please God without faith

• Heb 11:6: Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)
• Rom. 14:23b: Whatsoever is not of faith is sin

Faith gives us strength to keep moving in the Lord

• Psa 27:13: I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
• Rom 11:20a: Thou standest by faith
• 2 Cor 4:16-18: We faint not.. while we look not at things which are seen, but at things which are not seen

The Substance of Things Hoped For is Faith