HINDRANCE TO WORSHIP

Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Always remember that worship is the Christian’s highest occupation, and is therefore contested by Satan. He will put whatever it may take in your way of worship.

Some of the greatest hindrances are:

A. Self-will. You can only worship when your will is surrendered to His will. To keep your will under your control is to hinder and prevent worship by any person. When you give yourself to worship you are stating your non-confidence in self.

B. Worldliness. John 17:14-16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
A Christian has been saved from the world. The world no longer has any claim to the believer. Thus, to cling on to the world or the things of the world is to reject worship of Christ. Worship is the person, mind and body concentrating on the Lord Himself, and letting Him have all preeminence.

C. A Critical Spirit. If after church you have a mouthful full of criticism for the service that morning, you did not worship. Do not look for something to criticize, rather look for that which you can commend.

D. Slothfulness. Prov 24:30-34 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
You will not see a lazy Christian doing much worship. Laziness is an enemy to worship.

E. Impatience. Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
You won’t get much worship done when you attempt to hurry God.
We live in a hurry, hurry, speeded up generation that can not wait for anything.
To worship requires a waiting quietly in His presence while in meditation and praise.

F. Pride. James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Pride and worship cannot occupy the same person simultaneously.