SEVEN STUMBLING BLOCKS TO FAITH AND PRAYER

"And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to him which stumble at the word..." (1 Peter 2:8).

I. Ignorance - Hosea 4:6.

A. Faith building knowledge comes from God's Word - Rom. 10:17.

B. God has made provisions giving us His Spirit (1 Cor. 2:12).

C. God's Word works effectively in us to believe (1 Thess. 2:13).

II. Doubt - James 1:6-7 (NKJV).

A. Doubt is not always INTENTIONAL, nevertheless it is a stumbling block. (Matt. 14:22-32).

B. Doubt is a fear of the circumstances.

C. Once we rid of doubts our faith and prayers will work (Matt. 21:21-22).

III. Unbelief - Heb. 3:19.

A. There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt wants to believe, unbelief refuses to believe - Numbers 13-14.

B. Unbelief is the result of failure in the supernatural - Matt. 13:58.

IV. Sin - Isa. 59:1-2.

A. Good things are withheld from God's people because of sin - Jer. 5:25.

B. Confess and forsake sin and receive God's blessings - Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:9.

V. Unforgiveness - Mark 11:25-26.

A. When hurt by someone the flesh seeks revenge. God commands forgiveness - Matt. 18:21-35.

B. If we do not forgive others we cannot expect God to answer our prayers.

C. God has given us his love - Rom. 5:5; Eph. 4:31-32; 5:1-2; Gal. 5:6.

VI. Selfishness - James 4:3

A. Is what we want in line with God's will? - 1 John 5:14.

B. Many problems in the home are the result of selfishness - 1 Peter 3:5-7.

C. Are we delighting ourselves in Him? - Ps. 37:4-5.

VII. Impatience - Luke 18:1 (Amplified Bible).

A. Many give up too soon, God tells us to STAND - Eph. 6:13-14; Gal. 5:1).

B. We must become unmoveable when the storms of life come our way - 1 Cor. 15:57-58; Luke 6:47-49; 1 Tim. 6:12).

C. Patience and faith brings the victory to us (Heb. 6:12-19; 10:35-36).

Back to Home

Go to the Links page