Text: Genesis 18:22 KJV

Further Reading: Genesis 18:20-23

And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

Genesis 18:22

MESSAGE

One of the major hindrances to prayer is sin. To stand before a holy God, you must be a holy man. Scriptures say can two walk together except they agree (Amos 3:3)?  And without holiness, no man can see God (Hebrews 12:1).

Intercession requires a man to stand before God on behalf of a sinful person or people. All the prophets of old who have walked with God and interceded for nations have been holy and Faithful men.

Abraham in our text of the day could stand before God because he was a friend of God, and he walked with God in holiness and faithfulness.

The truth cannot be clearer, that sin blocks a man from accessing God’s holy presence. That’s why the Bible says,

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:1‭-‬2

Because many believers have not yet come into the possibility of a life of holiness, effective prayer has become almost an impossible task. No wonder there are few men who could prevail with God in the place of prayer.

The psalmist says, who shall ascend into the hills of the Lord or stand the holy God in His holy Mountain? He who has clean hands and pure heart. Men who have not lifted their souls to pursue vanity nor sworn deceitfully (Psalms 24:3-4).

Do you have clean hands and a pure heart? As long as you have not been delivered from sin, prayer becomes hard work. Since the secret of power for a believer is prayer, and the ability to pray lies in holiness, you must endeavour to ask God to bring you into the life of victory over sin.

There is no bigger hindrance to a victorious prayer life than sin, some of which are unconfessed sin, disobedience, restitution that was not made, presumptuous sin, and besetting sin. Ask God to have mercy on you today, apply the blood of Jesus to cleanse you, and make the necessary restitution.

God is looking for intercessors, will He find you to prepare His ways in the place of prayer? Think about this.

REFLECTION

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

Psalms 66:18

If you want to have an effective prayer life, deal with the sin in your life.

PRAYER

Father, please deliver me from sin and give me your holiness from this day. Amen.