"THOU RESTRAINEST PRAYER"


A. "YES, THOU CASTEST OFF FEAR, AND RESTRAINEST PRAYER BEFORE GOD." - Job 15:4
  1. This was the charge made by Eliphaz against Job:
    1. It was based upon Job's misfortune and their applied reasons for his misfortune.
    2. They blamed Job for his trials.
  2. Job, on the other hand, sought to deny Eliphaz's charges:
    1. He pointed out to him that he had lived uprightly - Job 1:1-3
    2. He blamed his trials to other causes beyond his knowledge.
B. "YES, THOU CASTEST OFF FEAR, AND RESTRAINEST PRAYER BEFORE GOD"
  1. Meaning of the word "restrainest":
    1. This word comes from the Hebrew word "gara" and signifies "to diminish", "to reduce", "to hold back", "to draw back".
    2. Albert Barns, the noted commentator, defines the word "restrainest" to signify "to shave off, like a beard; to cut off, to take away, to detract."
  2. How prayer is restrained:
    1. We know so little about prayer that this may be the root of our restraining prayer - Rom. 8:26
    2. We restrain prayer by preventing its efficacy. If prayer had its heaven designed way, it would be very effective - Jas. 5:17, 18
    3. To restrain prayer means to be remiss in using this heavenly privilege to make and keep connections with heaven.
    4. David and Daniel had their devotions morning, noon, and night - Ps. 55:17; Dan. 6:10
    5. It means that we relegate prayer to the things that are of less importance to us - Matt. 6:33
    6. We restrain prayer by being unprepared when we do pray.
    7. We restrain prayer by an unbelieving heart.
    8. Our inconsistent life is still another means by which we restrain our prayer - Ps. 66:18
    9. Finally, we restrain prayer when we expect too little through prayer - Matt. 15:28
C. SOME REASONS FOR RESTRAINING PRAYER
  1. Presence of secret sins:
    1. Sin is, in itself, a barrier to the efficacy of prayer - Josh. 7:6-12
    2. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." - Ps. 66:18
  2. A broken relation is another barrier to answered prayer:
    1. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that he cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." - Isa. 59:1
    2. That was the case of King Saul - 1 Sam. 28:6
  3. Removal of grounds for supplication in prayer is still another reason for unanswered prayers:
    1. "I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." - Rev. 3:17
    2. "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." - Luke 12:19
  4. Effect of restraining prayer:
    1. It is impossible to evaluate the effects of restraining prayer. A prayerless life is beyond my comprehension.
    2. I can think of five specific effects of restraining prayer -
      1. Losing out on the blessings prayer brings to all who have free access to God in prayer. The measure of these blessings is stated by Paul in Eph. 3:18-21
      2. Indifference or coldness is a sad effect of neglect of prayer. When we fail to use prayer as we ought to, we grow cold and indifferent to God, His word, His people, and His cause.
      3. Worldliness is another effect of restraining prayer. Think, if you please, of the charges Paul makes against professed religionists - 2 Tim. 3:1-9
      4. Blindness is another effect - 2 Pet. 1:9
      5. Spiritual death is the final effect, too serious to contemplate.


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