That Your Prayers Not Be Ekkopto
9/13/1

I was sent an email and I responded to it on a topic that I�ve been fairly fired up about, but internal fired-up-ness, I haven�t been ranting about this all the time.

Basically, the citizens of the US could care less about God. Only 50% of people ever go to church and most churches are so watered down and frankly don�t care what the bible says, it�s just pathetic. And now, with the tragedy, everyone is talking about prayer, so I thought about prayer and what the bible says.

The writer of the email said that the good part about all this is that America will turn to God, which, true, they are. But they are asking for a handout. They want God to do something, when they never do anything that God told them to do. Here is some of the text that I wrote back:

And yes, people are looking to God this week due to the tragedy, and some good will come out of it, but most of that seed will not fall on good ground. Actually, what seed? No one is preaching Christ, they are just asking for stuff regardless of the fact that they have no interest in Christ. And check out some verses:

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with [them] with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as [being] heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

The word hindered there is ekkopto, which, of the 11 times it appears in the New Testament is translated cut off 4 times, hewn down 3 times, cut down 2 times, cut out once, and be hindered once also. The person who goes against the words of God doesn't get his prayers heard.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the LORD [are] on the righteous, And His ears [are open] to their prayers; But the face of the LORD [is] against those who do evil.'

God wont hear the prayers of the unrighteous. See Matt 7:23, etc for more data on how God feels about people who don't care what he says and just 'play the game'.

I also put a PS saying that they were just the first person who mentioned it to me. This is probably not going to be a very welcome email, but then again, I tend to be a person which will take speak the things which no one wants to hear. God said them, they�re true, and there�s nothing we can do about it.

The seed I refer to is from the parable of Christ you can read in Matthew 13. There�s an online bible you can read at www.olivetree.com.

The Wheat and the Tares, that says it all. A lot of the people that I really care about don�t care about God or what He says or have a �The Man, Not The Plan� way of thinking.

Sad, and more tragic than the attack, really.

Read your bible. Pray for God to give you great sorrow when you sin. Pray for wisdom, and meekness.

I love you.