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Why We Shouldn't Give Up on Prayer (184A)
By: Bill Hybels

What are hindrances to prayer. Big idea: We must persevere through hindrances to prayer. ***See outline of this message below.

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Why We Shouldn't Give Up on Prayer (184A)

Speaker: Bill Hybels

Date: 1/1/1900

References: Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:5-13

Introduction:

Jesus exemplified a meaningful prayer life.
Illustration: Hybels illustrates the disciples' longing for a Christ-like prayer life by comparing it to a story of five men spurred on to fuller relationship with their wives after encountering a couple deeply in love.

Many Christians find their prayer life diminishing over the years.

Illustration: Hybels shares the words of one man whose vibrant prayer life, steeped in awe and joy, suddenly cooled.

Lack of consistent prayer patterns contribute to this diminishing.

We hurt the heart of God when we only seek him in times of need.
Jesus, instead, directed us to establish a regular prayer life.
Make even routine prayer open and heartfelt.

Clinging to sin also tears us away from God.

Sin is strong enough to widen the gap in our relationship with God.
Refusing to live in submission to God damages that relationship.
- Illustration: Hybels shares a somewhat humorous, but poignant analogy between a dog who defies his master and a people who fear relationship with God, recognizing their own hidden defiance.

Disillusionment with God distances our relationship with him.

Unanswered prayers discourage us from asking.
We forget that God values simply our time together.
- Illustration: Hybels shares his joy as a parent of children who live far away in simply hearing their voice, and relates that experience to the joy of God in simply spending time with you in prayer.
We must not lose heart in awaiting answers to prayer.
- Illustration: Hybels shares the story of a woman who almost gave up praying again and again over twenty years, only to have her prayers answered at long last.

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