Problem of Not Praying

Ephesians 3:12-13

By Rodney Holloman , January 11, 2026

Problem of not Praying

Ephesians 3:12-13

When a Christian Does Not Pray

  1. Lost Intimacy with God (James 4:8)

A prayerless life becomes a distant life.

  1. Lost Awareness of God’s Presence. (Psalm 16:11)

Prayer keeps the heart God-conscious. Without it, believers live as if God were far away, even though He is near.

  1. Lost Peace in Troubling Circumstances (Philippians 4:6–7)

Prayer is God’s appointed means for exchanging anxiety for peace. Without prayer, burdens are carried alone.

  1. Lost Spiritual Strength (Ephesians 6:18)

Prayer is the believer’s lifeline to divine strength. A prayerless Christian is an easy target for temptation.

  1. Lost Guidance and Wisdom (James 1:5)

God delights to guide praying hearts. Without prayer, decisions are made in the flesh rather than in faith.

  1. Lost Power Over Sin and Temptation (Matthew 26:41)

Jesus directly linked prayerlessness to spiritual failure. When prayer stops, sin often starts.

  1. Lost Joy (John 16:24)

Prayer fuels joy by keeping the soul aligned with heaven.

  1. Lost Confidence Before God (Hebrews 4:16)

Prayer cultivates boldness and assurance. Without prayer, guilt and fear often replace confidence.

  1. Lost Fruitfulness in Ministry (Psalm 127:1)

Prayerless service becomes powerless service.

  1. Lost Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

Prayer keeps the heart tender. Without it, believers grow dull to conviction, correction, and prompting.

  1. Intercessory Blessing for Others Is Withheld (Ezekiel 22:30)

God chooses to work through praying saints. When believers don’t pray, others suffer unseen loss.

  1. Lost Thankfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Prayer trains the heart to see grace. Without it, murmuring replaces gratitude.

  1. Lost Eternal Rewards (Matthew 6:6)

Prayer is labor that heaven records.

  1. Spiritual Growth Slows or Stagnates (Colossians 1:9–10)

Prayer is essential to spiritual maturity. Bible reading without prayer often becomes mechanical.

Attitudes of Prayer

1. Boldness

Hebrews 4:14,16; 10:19 Boldness is not Insolence

2. Access

Access is not Impetuosity. Communion

3. Confidence

Trust, confidence, total persuasion John 14:13, 1 John 5:14-15 Confidence is not arrogance.

4. Faint

“to turn out to be a coward, to lose one’s courage, to faint or despond in view of trial” “to quit”

A Adore C Confess T Thanksgiving S Supplication

Problem of not Growing Up

1 Corinthians 3:1-5; 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:11–14

Every church should have a zero-tolerance attitude towards those that cause division

schism – to rend a garment.

Every church should have a zero-tolerance attitude towards those who refuse to grow spiritually.

Every church should have a all-in attitude to help baby Christians to grow spiritually.

Where is your Bible?

How is your Bible?

How are you and your Bible?

“I keep going over the same stuff because you won’t grow up.” Show up

Carnal/Fleshly = Spiritual Infant/Babies

1. You act like non-Christians (3:1,4)

*Almost indistinguishable from unsaved.

  • temporary versus normal

2. You lack spiritual growth (3:2)

  • Have to be fed
  • Refuse to feed themselves
  • Need “meat” to grow

3. You nurse unconfessed sin (3:3-4)

  • Selfish/Self-Centered
  • Sinful
  • Schisms

Nothing causes us to ignore God’s truth more than not living it .

Three Assaults on Bible Intake

1. Keep Them Up Late

2. Distract Them

3. Make Them Rush

  • Dave Mathis

Five “Firsts” for Success

I. GIVE GOD THE FIRST HOUR OF EACH DAY.

  1. To Pray, Mk. 1:35. -To avoid anxiety, to remember others, to trust and hope in God each day, to be thankful, Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 1 Thess. 5:17.
  2. To Read, Psa. 119:33-40. -God’s word and its strengthening effects on our life.
  3. To Meditate, Psa. 1:1-2; 119:97. (Josh. 1:8) -To set our path away from sin, away sinful influences, and toward God.

II. GIVE GOD THE FIRST DAY OF EVERY WEEK.

  1. To Worship Him, Acts 20:7. -To do so we must first…
  1. Reconcile trouble, Matt. 5:23-24.
  2. Examine our purposes, cf. 1 Cor. 11:28-29.
  3. Cleanse our hearts and our conduct, Jas. 4:8.
  1. To Encourage Brethren, Heb. 10:24-25; Col. 3:16; 1 Cor. 14:26.

III. GIVE GOD THE FIRST PORTION OF EVERY PAYCHECK.

  1. According to Your Success, 1 Cor. 16:2 (prospered).
  1. Bountifully, not sparingly, 2 Cor. 9:6.
  2. Sets | keeps a proper perspective on life and things, 1 Tim. 6:17.
  1. Purposefully, 2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Chron. 29:3, 6, 9. -Heart set on the house (church) of God (3), willingness (6), devoted heart (9)
  2. Cheerfully, 2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Chron. 29:13-16. -Thankfulness and stewardship

IV. GIVE GOD THE FIRST CONSIDERATION IN EVERY DECISION.

  1. Priority Firmly Established, Matt. 6:33-34; Lk. 14:25-33. -Seek (goal), set (commitment), and sustain (endurance), Col. 3:1-3

V. GIVE GOD THE FIRST PLACE IN YOUR HEART.

  1. A Decision of Faith, 1 Pet. 3:15.
  2. Action of Love, Matt. 22:37 (Jno. 14:15).
  3. Sacrifice for Eternal Life, Matt. 19:16, 20-22 (Phil. 3:7-8).
  4. The Determination of Hope, 1 Pet. 1:3, 6-9.

*Basic outline by Heath Rogers, Five “Firsts” To Success, Knollwood Reminder, October 2014 By: Joe R. Price Posted September 3, 2019