The Strand Study Bible

JOB JOB it did not seem to matter to God if the oppressed cried out to Him in prayer because God was too mighty to care. Job concluded that since God did not appear to hear him in his struggle that He must not really be concerned. Unfortunately, Job based his assumption on his own personal experience and thus assessed the matter incorrectly. The Bible is plain: God cares (Exo 22:21-24). Just because we experience the pain of waiting to be delivered does not mean God does not care (Lk 18:1-7). NOTE - Job’s suffering and oppression ceased and his prayers were answered when he learned the lessons that God was trying to teach him (Job 42:1-10). 35:3 In essence, what Job was saying was, “So I live right. Does God really pay attention to mere human beings?” 35:8 Swing at God all you want –you’ll never hit Him. Outside of grieving His heart (Eph 4:30), you can never hurt God like you can a man. 35:13 According to Scripture, there are twelve hindrances that keep us from getting our prayers answered: Pride 1. Failure to take God’s Word over our own ( Job 35: 12- 13 , Jere 11:10-11 and Ezk 8:1-18) Giving God the “last say” is an act of humility on our part. Improper response to God’s nudging 2. Failure to learn the lesson that God is trying to teach us ( Job 35: 1- 3 ) God was “trying” to get Job’s attention in order to teach him a truth, however, Job was not listening at the moment. Not willing to pay the price to get a hold of God 3. Failure to need God all the time (Job 35:4-13 and Lk 18:1-7) There is a “cost” involved in needing God all the time ( Prov 17:16 ). Improper response to proper counsel 4. Failure to accept biblical correction ( Prov 1:23-33 & 12:15 ) There is a difference between “advice” and counsel . Advice is what you seek when you don’t want counsel ( biblical correction ). Whereas the fool may or may not listen to advice, the wise man will hearken to counsel . Wrong motive 5. Failure to respond biblically to right and wrong (Mic 3:1-4, Psa 5:1-5 & 18:41 & 34:15 & 66:18, Prov 15:29 & 28:9 and Jms 4:3 ) We have not because we have the “wrong motive” for why we do what we do for God. Not knowing the Word of God 6. Failure to become a part of God’s family and thus a true worshipper of God (Jn 9:31) Seriously, how can God be our “ FATHER ” if we are not in the family? In order to get into the family of God, we must be born-again (Jn 3:1-3 and I Jn 5:1). 7. Failure to please the HOLY SPIRIT (Rom 8:14-16,26) “Grieving” the THIRD PERSON of the Triune Godhead ( HOLY SPIRIT ) means “grieving” God ( Eph 4:30 -32). 8. Failure to keep on asking (Mt 7:7-11 & 15:21-28 and Lk 11:9-13 & 18:1-8) Placing a “limit” on how many times you will ask God for something is a hindrance to getting your prayers answered. NOTE 833

Failure to know the Scriptures and to become a part of God’s family or to please the HOLY SPIRIT or to keep on asking means not getting your prayers answered. Not obeying the Word of God

9. Failure to honor one’s spouse (I Pet 3:7) “Getting along” with one’s spouse is a must to getting one’s prayers answered. 10. Failure to help the less fortunate (Zech 7:8-13, Isa 1:10-15-17 and Prov 21:13) The “less” you help the least, the “less” you get your prayers answered. 11. Failure to forgive others (Mt 6:14-15 and Mk 11:25)

“Unforgiveness” equals prayers not answered. William Steuart McBirnie in Secrets of Successful Prayer notes: An unforgiving spirit is one of the commonest hindrances to prayer. Prayer is answered on the basis that our sins are forgiven. But God cannot deal with us on the basis of forgivness while we harbor hatred toward those who have wronged us. Anyone nursing a grudge against another has closed the ear of God against his own requests. Are you wondering why some earnest prayer of your’s is not answered? Many a person is paying a bitter price for the miserable gratification of hating someone.

12. Failure to try and reconcile with those you are at odds with (Mt 5:23-24) “Reaching out” to those at odds with you means “reaching out” to God. NOTE

Failure to obey the Scriptures and to honor one’s spouse or to help the less fortunate or to forgive others or to try and reconcile with those you are at odds with means not getting your prayers answered?