Don't Pray Like The Hypocrites - Bliss & Fire Network Weekly Digest - January 19, 2010

Don't Pray Like The Hypocrites 

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." - Matthew 6:5-6

EXPLORATION

Reading the following passages - 1 Samuel 2:1-2, 2 Kings 6:17-18, Jonah 4:1-3, Luke 18:11-13, Acts 1:24-25. We can see that those who were said to have prayed talked to God either asking Him to help them in the time of need or thanking and praising Him for what He had already done for them. Therefore, prayer means talking with God.

It is important to have personal, quiet communion with God. It helps personal devotion and consecration. Christ lived like that for us to follow.

"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" - Mark 1:35

"And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray." - Mark 6:46 (Luke 5:16; 6:12, 22:41- 44, John 18:1-2).

INSPIRATION

The place for meaningful and true secret prayer is our heart - the innermost closet (chamber) where Christ dwells. Here, in secrecy and solitude we talk with the Lord or say our prayers unseen by men or heard by any except our Father God which seeth in secret. A person may be away from home, traveling, or among strangers but still carries his innermost chamber - his heart (mind) - with him. He can always open the door of his heart, enter and shut it and remain there in quiet and secret prayer to God.

Because we are in Christ when we pray, the Holy Spirit gives us the assurance of answer to our prayer and so, our heart is at peace. (John 14:26-27, John 16:33, Acts 10:36, Romans 5:1, Philippians 4:7)

The heart of a sinner is different because Christ is not there. It is "...like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." - Isaiah 57:20 (Isaiah 48:22, 59:8) and so his heart does not offer him a quiet resort for personal and secret communion with God. This is largely responsible for vain repetition because there is no assurance of answer to prayer.

The truth is that even before we pray, God already knows what we desire. "For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."- Matthew 6:32. So, making any public show of prayer is uncalled for.

Jesus further said to his disciples "therefore I say unto you, what things soever you desire, when ye pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them." -Mark 11:24

The scriptures say "...God is angry with the wicked everyday." - Psalm 7:11.

"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. (Psalm 66:18). "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." - John 9:31.

This week: If you know there is a sin in your life that hinders your prayer, you can be saved from it. Only receive Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior. (Ephesians 2:13-18, John 14:6, 1 John. 2:1 - 2, 1 Peter 3:18)

Beloved! If you have Jesus Christ in your life you should be assured that God answers prayer. So you should have no cause for doubt or vain repetition. Just pray with a focus of heart on God and not to be seen by men. Therefore, whether he prays aloud or silently, in private or public, it does not really matter because your heart is fixed on God.

Having a burden in your heart and wanting to pray through may require repeating one prayer point. This is not out of place for as long as there is no intention to show off as a prayer giant. (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 18:1-8).

Remember the Bible says: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" - Romans 5:1

You are blessed, we love you!

Pastor Wales Goriola

Bliss & Fire Network Team

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