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It
is time for a Spring Cleaning
Luke
19:41-46
May
21, 2000
We need to open the windows of heaven, in order that a fresh
wind of the Holy Spirit might move across our lives and bring revival.
In our text Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem because she was
backslidden from God. Yet he did
not stop there he went to the temple and removed many of the obstacles of
revival in his day. We need to follow suite. Let us open our hearts to what God
might reveal as hindrances to revival in your life. May God bring a spiritual
spring-cleaning in us today.
The Barrier of Prayerlessness “…ye have not because ye ask not.” (James 4:2)
· It’s the reason for our backslidden state “and them that are turned back from the Lord…have not sought the Lord nor enquired from him.” (Zephaniah 1:6)
·
Its result is a barren spirit “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall
wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12)
Obstacles
of Fainting “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them
that they should always pray and not give up.”
(Luke 18:1)
·
Time and place often presents a difficulty to prayer
·
Tiredness will cause us to faint
·
Thoughts that are uncontrolled will interrupt our prayers
·
Unconfessed sin “If
I had cherished sin in my heart the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm
66:18)
·
Unforgiving spirit “If you forgive men when they sin against
you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men
their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
·
Unfulfilled obligations “Husbands in the same way be
considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect…so that
nothing will hinder your prayers. (I Peter 3:7)