Let us pray – Part 34

(4) Holiness is God’s purpose in making us a new creation and in giving us the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:2-15; Gal 5:16-25; Eph 2:10).
(5) Without holiness no one can be useful to God (2 Tim 2:20-21).
(6) Without holiness there is no nearness to or fellowship with God (Ps 15:1-2).
(7) Without holiness no one will see the Lord (v.14; Mat 5:8). 12:15 “root of bitterness.”

A “Root of bitterness” refers to a deep-seated resentment in one’s heart that continues to grow and has consequences for others. Here it may refer to an attitude of bitter resentment toward God’s discipline instead of humble submission to His will for our lives.

Bitterness can also be directed towards persons in the church. It results in defiling the person who is bitter that is, making him or her unfit to approach God in prayer. If not dealt with, the root of bitterness can also spread and defile many others in the church community, destroying the “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (v.14).

Why Would God Not Listen To Prayer? (Read Isaiah 1:10-19)

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”says the Lord.“I have had enough of burnt offerings of ramsand the fat of fed cattle.I do not delight in the blood of bulls,or of lambs or goats. 12:“When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? 13:Bring no more futile sacrifices;incense is an abomination to Me.The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting,” (Isaiah 1:11-13)

1:11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?” Isaiah condemns the people for participating in evil deeds and injustices (vv. 16-17), while continuing to bring offerings and sacrifices to God and to pray and worship Him. Worship and praise become an abomination to Him if our hearts are not sincerely devoted to Him and to His holy ways (cf. 66:3; Jer 7:21-26; Hos 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; Mic 6:6-8.

“When you spread out your hands,I will hide My eyes from you;even though you make many prayers,I will not hear.Your hands are full of blood,” (Is 1:15).
“Will not hear.” Sin in our lives will cause God to turn away from our prayers (see Jas 4:3; 1 John 3:22).

1:10-14 God was unhappy with their sacrifices, but he was not revoking the system of sacrifices he had initiated with Moses.

Instead, God was calling for sincere faith and devotion. The leaders were carefully making the traditional sacrifices and offerings at holy celebrations, but they were still unfaithful to God in their hearts. Sacrifices were to be an outward sign of their inward faith in God, but the outward signs became empty because no inward faith existed.

•Email:[email protected]: Yetunde Mercy Olumide