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I SAMUEL 12:22-23

"THE SIN OF PRAYERLESSNESS"

Intro: This had been a day of national failure, the nation through the insistence of
       the people degraded from a theocracy to monarchy. Insisting on second best, they
       had just seen the signs of God's displeasure and cried out to Samuel to pray for
       them. Samuel exhorted them then he said: "God forbid..."

I. WHY IS PRAYERLESSNESS A SIN AGAINST THE LORD?
        A. Think of the reproach it is to God.
                1. Who He is.
                2. He has invited you to come visit with Him.
                        a. You have snubbed His invitation.
                        b. You say you don't have time.
                                1. You have time to watch TV.
                                2. You have time to do the things you want to do.
                                3. God must then assume you don't want to fellowship
                                   with Him in prayer.
                                4. This is a correct assumption.
        B. Prayerless hinders the work of God.
                1. Isn't God sovereign?  Can't He overrule man's failures?
                        a. Yes, but He has chosen not to.
                        b. He has given man a free will, and He respects it.
                        c. "They limited the Holy One of Israel through unbelief."
                        d. "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have..."
                                1. "He may give it you" infers He has wanted to give, but
                                   was waiting for you to open the door through prayer.
                        e. I believe that we have seen less than a fraction of what God
                           wants to do.
        C. Because God commands us to pray, and failure is disobedience to the
           command of God.

II. "CEASING TO PRAY FOR YOU."
        A. We need to pray for each other.
                1. Paul said: "Prayer and supplication for all the saints."
                2. Pray one for another.
                3. "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."
        B. We need each other's prayers.
        C. Sometimes we get disgusted as another's failure and we quit praying just
           when they need it most.
                1. In the context Israel had failed.
                2. Samuel had been no doubt praying that Israel would not insist on
                   a King.

III. SOME OF THE GREATEST HINDRANCES TO PRAYER
        A. Lack of time.
        B. Lack of undisturbed place.
        C. Mind wandering.
        D. Drowsiness.

Solutions:
        A. Take time, you will never find time.
        B. Find a place, maybe you will have to walk around the block.
        C. Verbalize your prayers.
        D. Walk and pray.