Series Foundational Scripture: Amplified Version of Psalm 91:1. It reads:
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no Foe can withstand.]
Sermon Part 2B: "Praying In Secret With God Moves You From, A Man or Woman of God, To The Man or Woman of God!"
Good Morning and Praise the Lord Saints. I cannot speak for you, but all that I desire in life is to be “The Man of God in Christ Jesus. I am possessed with possessing God, and I hope you are too. God does not hold first place in our lives—God is “All.” God is our life and length of our days! (Deut. 30:20)
As we learned last week, prayer in secret with God, is the second of three holy actions born-again Christians take that God rewards openly. God has given to us the gift of prayer with Him, to transform every man or woman of God into, “The “Man or Woman of God—so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God, and do the works of God ordained from the foundations of the world. (Eph. 3:17-20 & 2:10)
Here me now, this is very important. God intends for every born-again Christian to “SEE HIM.” Jesus Christ said this in the sixth Beatitude:
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matt. 5:8)
This promise of the Lord, immediately begs the question: Who are the “pure in heart?”
The Answer is: Every born again Christian.
By the finished works of Jesus Christ on His cross, the "heart" of every person who receives Jesus Christ as Lord, has been made perfect and sanctified unto God. Our New Covenant with God assures us that God has written His laws on our hearts, placed them in the mind of our souls; and our sins, iniquities, and transgressions, He remembers no more. (Heb.10:12-18 & Ps. 103:12)
Therefore, I submit to you that the person’s “heart” that has been made free from sin, iniquity, and transgression—has been given by God a “holy heart,” “clean heart,” “righteous heart”—A “PURE HEART!”
Now that your life is hidden in God in Christ, you no longer have to worry about “skeletons” lurking in your closet (heart and soul). Your past cannot hurt you anymore, because God has removed every skeleton and bad acting bone—even the worst things you have ever done in life—from your closet forever and forgotten them all! (II Cor. 5:17)
Your closet space is filled with God, and is chock-full of your “Future,” and not the “Past!” So what, if Satan tries to remind you of your past behavior? So what, if he uses some people to hold your past against you, speak evil of you, and neglect you. From the foundations of the world, God has called and made you holy, blameless, and accepted of the beloved in His sight for all eternity. (Eph. 1:4-5 & I Peter 1:16) Let God be true and every man a liar. (Rom. 3:4)
Right now, somebody ought to shout unto God saying, “Through Jesus Christ, my heart has been made pure, therefore, I SEE GOD!”
Jesus Christ promised that the pure in heart shall, "SEE GOD." What a blessing this is; and there is none greater! The pure in heart shall SEE GOD, not just when they get to heaven, but continually right here on earth!
The pure in heart SEE GOD whenever they pray with God in secret. Prayer with God—which is talking with God, listening to, and adhering to His Voice, enables “The Man or Woman of God,” to SEE GOD.
In prayer with God, we see the unseen eternal things of God. (II Cor. 4:18) In the spirit, The Man or Woman of God hears and sees what GOD says and does—just as Jesus Christ did while on earth. (John 8:38 & 12:49-50) Please do not consider this so far-fetched. Your heart has been made pure just like Jesus’ heart, and you can do all the works of the Lord. (I John 4:17, John 14:12, I John 2:6)
In the place of prayer with God, the pure in heart, see the works of GOD. As they behold the works of God—they SEE “LOVE” in action. Thus, they SEE GOD, for God is Love. (I John 4:7-10)
Let’s have a side bar for a moment please. In case you don't know what love does, the Love of God unconditionally strips off and takes away the sins of every person, and only sees every person as good, useful, and having purpose unto God. And, then the Love of God goes about giving to every person Heaven sent God-goodness, regardless of treatment, until every person comes and says, “What must I do to be saved?”
Oh Yes, your heart has been made pure by God and you SEE GOD! Let me prove it to you in a couple of ways. First, I will ask you a question: Are you saved—are you born-again from above by God through Jesus Christ? Your response is: “Yes.” This knowledge of the truth that you are saved, did not first become known to you through your human brain, rather it came from your heart.
Immediately, when I asked the question are you saved—within in a twinkle of an eye—you searched your heart, and the Holy Ghost (who has shed the love of God throughout your heart, according to Romans 5:5), testified to your heart (spirit and mind) that you are saved. The mind of your soul then transmitted this truth to your brain, and you opened your mouth and said, “Yes, I am saved.” In fact, if you continue to search your heart, you will see that there is no trace of sin in your heart, because God has made it pure! Any thought of sin that you may think of, is in your head, and not your heart. It’s just the enemy, Satan, trying to remind you of your past, how imperfect you are in your behavior, and to tempt you to sin again.
You may not realize it but through this simple example you just had prayer with God—a conversation with God about whether you are saved. You asked God if you are saved and the Holy Ghost affirmed that you are saved. You may not realize it but you just beheld God—for God is Love, and it was the Love of God that saved you! (John 3:16)
Let me give you another example. By faith in the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross, look now in the imagination of your heart (your born-again spirit) and see a person in a wheelchair coming into our Church Service. You don’t have to close your natural eyes to see the image—the eyes of faith in your heart will show it to you.
Notice, in your spirit, the person rises up out of the wheel chair, healed of the disability that put them in the chair. You can see yourself standing in front of the disabled person and decreeing, by the name of Jesus Christ, to rise up and walk, or you may see yourself laying your hands on their body and healing them—watching as they recover.
These are just two quick examples of the eternal workings of God that the pure in heart can see. You are seeing God at work. The picture in your heart of the person in the wheelchair being healed, belongs to your future! This is not fantasy, its prophecy! God through the Holy Ghost is showing and telling you secret things that are to come—secret things that demonstrate His kindness toward all people. Again, you are having prayer with God and seeing God (Love) at work, in the “secret place of the Most High God.
It's not a one-time miracle that you see the person healed. In your heart, imagine that you are trying to push the person back down in the chair. Watch how they immediately pop back-up. Imagine 10 people sitting in wheel chairs, and watch them all get up out of the wheelchairs! The results never change, because God never changes, and these are the eternal works of God. The pure in heart always see recovery and restoration when they pray with God, as we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. (II Cor. 5:18-19).
Scripture tells us that God longs for His people to pray (talk openly with integrity) with Him. From the Message Bible check-out Psalm 145:18-19. It reads:
God’s there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it. He does what’s best for those who fear him—hears them call out, and saves them.
Also, see King David’s instructions to Solomon recorded at I Chronicles 28:9 reads:
…God examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he’ll make sure you find him…
When we pray with God, the Lord is searching our hearts not to condemn, shame, or blame us for wrong behavior. (Rom. 8:1-3) No, no, no God only seeks to make a love connection with us in prayer. He wants to know that you mean what you talk about with Him in prayer, to reward you openly with His Best—so you can SEE GOD!
Prayer with God is the workshop of worship. Where the Man or Woman of God can see and hear what God is doing, and then imitate God! (I Cor. 11:1 & John 15:16-17) Like Jesus Christ, “The Man or Woman of God,” fully understands that God has made them righteous (equal with Himself). (Php. 2:5-6) As such, they go forth doing God-good, healing all that are oppressed by the devil, because God is with them. (Acts 10:38)
Prayer time with God is never taken for granted by “The Man or Woman of God,” as they treasure and hold time spent with God in the highest esteem. They monitor their speech with God to order their conversations aright with God, as they live by every Word of God. They study and learn how to pray the way God orders it, and not as religion or man has fashioned prayer. Only Jesus Christ can teaches us how to have right conversations with God.
Thus, at the end of last week’s Lesson, I shared with you instructions Jesus gave to His followers regarding prayer with God, as recorded in Matthew Chapter 6.
The Table below highlights The Master's Instructions.
Given that praying with God is so vital to our development and maturation in God, and seeing and doing the eternal things of God, every born-again Christian must take heed (a warning to pay close attention) to the instructions Jesus Christ is giving to us regarding prayer. Do not be offended if you find during this lesson that some of your actions in prayer have been opposite of what Jesus teaches. Let’s just make the corrections needed so we may be rewarded by God openly.
The Master's Instructions on Prayer. (Matt. 6: 5-8)
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What not to do when you pray |
What to do when you pray |
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v. 5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they "love" to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. |
v. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. |
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v. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling (vain repetitions) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
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v. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. |
In verses 5 and 7, Jesus Christ tells how we should not pray. In essence, Jesus is saying:
IN PRAYER: DO NOT BE A SHOW-OFF AND/OR A BABBLER. THOSE WHO DO SO ARE JUST PRETENDING TO PRAY WITH GOD!
First, in verse 5, we can see that Jesus expects His followers to have a lifestyle of praying with God. For Jesus said: "when you pray." God has placed every born-again Christian in the “secret place” of the Most High God so we can pray (have our conversations) continually with God in secret. Thus, God expects, and it is essential, that daily His people steal away and pray! (Luke 18:1)
Also, from verse 5, we should be exceedingly glad that Jesus Christ admonished His followers when they pray, “not to be like the hypocrites.” No doubt Jesus was referring to the Pharisees of that day, as hypocrites.
Jesus was saying to His followers, and all who believe on Him, they are not hypocrites, but the “real deal.” Therefore, we have absolutely no need to pretend we are holy, as our hearts have been made pure by God. Real Christians, pray real prayers with God, live real holy lives before God, and get real God-good results that glorify God before men. (Matt. 5:14-16)
Further, in verse 5, Jesus shows us exactly how some Christians go completely off-the-rails in prayer—that is by praying like the hypocrites. The motives of their hearts are, they "love" to stand up and out during prayer in Church, and other public settings, to be seen by others. Remember earlier we read, I Chronicles 28:9: …God examines every heart and sees through every motive. If you seek him, he’ll make sure you find him…
This is what marked the Pharisees, who prayed three-times a day in the synagogues and Temple, as well as on the street corners hoping to garner the attention of people. They prayed as loudly as they could so others would be in awe of their holiness, commend their prayers, and be thought of as God’s point person.
We have Christians like that today too. Christians who have an outer showing of godliness. They love to be called on to stand up in Church and in other public venues and put on a show. They pray as loud and as long as they can to be heard above everyone else’s voice in prayer.
They seek to impress people with their expansive vocabularies, rhyming, quoting of Scripture, sweat and tears even in prayer. However, it’s all an act; in an effort to gain acceptance, approval, and acclaim from of other people.
Inwardly, they cannot wait until the Service is over to get in the pathway of fellow congregates to receive commendations for their prayer effort. And, when they receive recognition from others, outwardly they love to pretend as if they are humble, modest, and un-desiring of flattery. Saying to the compliments of others, “Oh, thank you, but I’m just letting the Lord use me.” “Please continue to pray for me.”
But in their hearts, they adore the attention, and people telling them how great their prayer was. It makes them feel so holy, anointed, and superior to others. If no one says anything about their prayer performance, their faces turn to frowns, they sulk, and go and seek out somebody—anybody to applaud their performance.
For these people, Jesus Christ said they had their “reward” when they got the personal recognition from others.” But, receive no reward from God.
I tell you, God hates a “big-headed prayer,” as they are full of pride. The following Scriptures from Proverbs and James witness this truth. God hates pride because the pride of men blocks the “love connection” God seeks to make with us in prayer, so we can SEE GOD!
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 16:5
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
James 4:6
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
At the time prayer is made, most often, it’s very difficult to tell who is being real or phony when they pray. This is why we are not to judge others, but to take heed less we fall! We must continually examine our own selves to ensure our motives are pure before God when we pray, as well as pray for all Saints daily that they enter not into temptation. (Matt. 7:1-3, I Cor. 10:12 & Php. 2:12)
When Christians allow themselves to get in pride (puffed up) about their own performance in prayer, do you know what happens? They are simply taking the bait of Satan to become self-centered, rather than God-centered. In so doing, the person who prays in pride magnifies their own beauty above the holiness and beauty of God. They see themselves, rather than SEE GOD! It’s all just the trick of the enemy playing head games with the Christian to draw them away from the “secret place of the Most High God,” the Love of God.
Satan wants the Christian to become a credit-taker like himself. He wants the Christian to fall into the delusion that they alone are responsible for their prayers being answered—so much so that the Christian thinks they are the one responsible for miracles, healings, deliverance of captives, and the prophetic. When you get caught up into listening to the approval of people, it becomes easy to develop an “I complex,” as Lucifer possessed, the Father of all lies and pride before his great fall. (Is.14:12-15)
I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard Christians say after having a prayer answered by God: “I prayed, and so and so got healed.” Or, “I gave a word of knowledge to so and so, and it came to pass.” Or “I prayed, sang, or preached and the crowd roared with approval.” Do you see how these statements draw attention to yourself, and away from God? Where is the humility, honor, and praise given to God in such self-boasting?
Self-boasting is the height of childishness!
The Apostle Paul wrote that, “charity” (love) does not vaunt itself (call attention to itself), nor is it puffed up (think of itself as important). (I Cor. 13:4) Satan wants the Christian to become so consumed with the cheaper (the praise of men for personal gratification and boasting), rather than the deeper (God rewarding in secret, the Christian in prayer with intimate knowledge of Himself, which produces great faith, wisdom, power, and so much more).
The more a Christian boasts of their own self-achievements in prayer, the further they move away from the love of God in their own heart. As time goes on, the Christian will find themselves relying on self-ability and human knowledge to pray, which has its origins in the flesh, rather than a real love connection in prayer with God in the Spirit.
Their prayers become words borne solely from manufactured thoughts of the human brain, rather than from earnest heart expressed thoughts with God in the secret place. Thus, their prayers are routine, religious, repetitive, and powerless. Their words are like a merry-go-round, and never get off the ground.
When Christians pray like the hypocrites, they cannot see nor hear the secret things that God has prepared for them, because they are only revealed to those who love God. (I Cor. 2:9-10)
This is what happened with the Pharisees and Jews who did not believe in Jesus Christ. Their hearts were so hardened against God and His love, that they could not recognize who Jesus was, the Messiah, who the prophets of old foretold would come. Instead, throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, the Jews—led by the Pharisees— stalked, chided, belittled, and sought to kill, and ultimately crucified the Lord of glory.
The Jews didn’t seek to kill Jesus because of His works (miracles and good deeds) but because, He said He was the Son of God, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18) They were so blinded with hatred for Jesus Christ, that they could not even believe in Him for the sake of His works.
So mighty were the Lord’s works that even, Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus Christ by night with candid admission that, “no man could do these miracles, except God be with Him.” Yet, many of the Jews said Jesus, had a devil! (John 7:20)
These same Jews who claimed to know God, know Abraham as their father, feverishly rehearsed all the Law of Moses, religiously prayed three times a day in the synagogues and Temple, and prayed on the street corners of Jerusalem—but still could not recognize and receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Truly, their hearts were corrupted and far from God. (John 1:1-13) And, truly this is why Jesus Christ wept over Jerusalem; Israel’s hearts being darkened and far from God.
Next, in Matthew 6: 7, Jesus Christ stressed that in prayer, His followers are not to be “BABELERS,” like the pagans (heathens) by using vain repetition and meaningless words. Here again, as born-again Christians, we should rejoice. Not only did Jesus say we are not hypocrites, but we also are not heathens. Praise God!
We do not worship false gods. We worship the only true and living God. God Almighty—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—who created All things seen, and unseen in heaven, in the earth, and beneath the earth. There is no other god like our God and He is to be compared with no other god. (Ex. 20:3-5)
Therefore, when we pray, we know we are communicating with God. God is our Father, in whom we have access to forever, through the name and blood of Jesus Christ. (Heb. 10:19-20) And, when we converse with our Daddy, we are not to use vain repetitions like the heathens do.
Biblical commentary notes, that in Jesus Christ’s days on earth, (Gentile, pagan worshippers) made very long prayers thinking that this would impress their many gods. Often, they would continuously say the same phrase, or names of their god’s in hopes the gods would hear them, respond to them favorably, and also to draw the attention of others to their religious practices. But a false-god can never answer back—because it’s false!
A classic example of pagan worship can be seen in the story of the prophets of Baal and Elijah the prophet. (I Kings 18:20-40) Before all of the children of Israel at Mt. Carmel, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal (450 in total) to a test to see whose god is the Lord God.
Elijah proposed, and the prophets of Baal agreed, to see whose god was greatest by calling on the name of each god to see who would answer by fire. Each side would be given one bullock to dress and prepare for sacrifice, and then each side would call on the name of their god. The only stipulation was no fire could be placed under the sacrifice altar.
Elijah suggested that the prophets of Baal go first. After preparing their sacrifice, all morning long, afternoon, and into the evening the prophets of Baal feverishly called on their gods to come down and consume the sacrifice with fire. They chanted and called on the name of Baal, and even cut themselves with blood gushing out—pleading, begging, and prophesying for their gods to respond—but they got no results!
Then, Elijah told all the people to come near to him. He rebuilt the altar of the Lord that had been broken down. Elijah then took 12 stones, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he made a trench all around the altar. Then he put the wood in order and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid it on the wood.
Next, Elijah instructed the people to fill four-barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. Then Elijah instructed that water be poured on the sacrifice a second and third time—and the water ran around and filled the trench—a total of 12-barrels of water.)
Elijah prayed unto the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob “one time,” then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed not only the burnt sacrifice—but also the wood, stones, dust, and “licked up the water that was in the trench!” And, when all the people saw this, they fell on their faces, and declared that, “The Lord, He is the God.”
The key to Elijah’s prayer being answered was he made a “love connection” with God. In his heart, Elijah heard and saw what God was doing in the Spirit. You see, when Elijah built the altar he used 12 stones, which represented all 12 tribes of Israel unified offering the sacrifice unto God. Even though, the house of Israel had been sorely divided into two kingdoms.
The Northern kingdom consisting of 10 tribes and southern kingdom made up of 2 tribes. The tearing apart of the nation was prophesied by Ahijah (because of the nation of Israel’s worship of false gods, see I Kings 11:31-35) and occurred during the reign of King Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) over a bitter dispute of excessive taxation levied on Israel during Solomon’s reign, and made even worse under the rule of Rehoboam.
Elijah’s use of the 12 stones, no doubt angered some of the Jews because it was an unspoken reminder of the split between the kingdoms as they often warred with each other. While the 10 tribes of the north called themselves Israel, the two tribes to the south called themselves Judah—the name of the nation, “Israel,” was originally given by God for all 12 tribes together.
Elijah was signifying that all of Israel are God’s chosen people, and are to serve Him only together in love and unity. Elijah’s sacrifice was a reminder to both kingdoms that they were to love the Lord their God only with the “whole” of themselves.
Hear O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut. 6:4)
Elijah’s burnt offering with 12-stones (and even the use of a total of 12-barrels of water) was also consistent with Jeremiah’s prophecy that both Israel and Judah will jointly come to God.
“In those days and in that time, says the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; with continual weeping they shall come, and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces toward it, saying, Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten.” (Jeremiah 50:4-5)
This prophecy will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ establishes His kingdom on earth. God through Jesus Christ, will bind the kingdoms together into one Branch and make them One Nation under Him. Just as He promised King David He would do.
The kind of prayer and sacrifice that Elijah offered up is instructive to born-again Christians today. For we must always seek to make the “love connection” with God in prayer—praying for all people to be united in love with one another, serving the only true and living God. Oh yes, even more so, prayer must be made for the body of Jesus Christ, to become “One Church,” “One Bride”—free of denominationalism! You can see these things in your pure heart!
When we are united in love with God, God will grant anything we ask of Him in prayer. (John 14:13-14) We don’t have to beg and plead for God to hear and answer our prayers. We just need to let our motive for whatever we are asking for be out of love for one another, and it shall be done! This is what the world needs to see, that when the Church calls on God, through the name of Jesus Christ “one time,” the power of God falls to witness that the Lord God is God—because our hearts have been made pure, we have a real love connection with God, and we SEE GOD!
Further, Jesus Christ warns us not to pray pagan-like prayers. In prayer, we are not to repeat the same words over and over, like a “magic incantation.” (Incantations are formal chants or religious formulas in an effort to draw the attention of a spiritual power to one’s self.) Nor are we to rhythmically organize words as a part of a chant.
One example of this is in Catholicism, Catholics repeatedly say, “The Hail Mary prayer,” with rosary beads in hand, in reference to the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. However, there is no power in the name of Mary. All prayer is only in the name of Jesus Christ and His precious blood. (Col. 3:17, Acts 4:12, John 14:6, & Heb. 10:19-22)
Many times unknowingly, and perhaps innocently, many Christians have fallen into a religious habit of vain repetition. When praying, many Christians have a tendency to invoke the name of God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost over, over, and over. We must stop this! Some examples are, we commonly hear when prayer is made Christians say:
---“Father God we ask you to____, Father God we ask you to___, Father God we ask you to ______,” “Father God, Father God, Father God on and on.”
--“Heal in the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus heal, right now heal Lord,” “With your stripes we were healed, we are healed.” Heal, touch, Heal right now—on and on we go!
--Oh, Holy Spirit you are welcome in this place. Holy Spirit be with us today. We invite you Holy Spirit into this place.” You are wanted in this place Holy Spirit. Rain down on us Holy Spirit now, right now, right now!”
Anybody ever prayed like this?
Sometimes Christians pray this way because they do not know what else to say in the moment—so they will fill the airways with constantly repeating God’s name or asking for the same things over and over. Also, in public, Christians have heard other people pray like this, and it sounded good to them, so they made it apart of the standard way in which they pray.
However, when you continually call on the name of God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost in prayer we signal to God, that we really doubt and/or disbelieve that God heard us. And perhaps, even for some Christians, they have doubts whether God is truly their Father, or that God really exists! As a parent, when having a conversation with your child, do you expect for your child to call you Father or Mother every time they start a sentence? Of course not. Why then, do we think God is any different?
But, we can avoid repetition in calling on the names of God, as well as asking Him repeatedly for the same things, if we remember when we pray what Jesus Christ said in Matthew 6:8. “Your heavenly Father knows what you have need of before you ask.”
Until you have come to know this truth, I strongly urge you to sow Matthew 6:8 into your heart: Remember, “God knows what you need before you ask Him.” Thus, God is never a stranger to your prayer request.
Furthermore, until you know who you are in God in Christ Jesus meditate on these truths. As Jesus Christ is, so are we in this world. (I John 4:17) God is your Father and abides in you, and you in Him. (Rom. 8:17 & I John 4:15) You have continual access to God through the name and blood of Jesus Christ. (Heb. 10:19-20) Whenever you pray according to the will (Word) of God, God hears you and you have the petition desired of Him. (I John 5:14-15) For every promise of God in Christ Jesus is already stamped approved! (I Cor. 1:20) Pray the promises of God in His Word, in faith, and then hold onto to it until you see the physical manifestation of it. (Mark 4: 14-29 & 11:22-26)
The reason why we ask God for things, “one time,” is not to inform God of our need, but to honor God by showing Him that we trust Him as our source and provider of all we need. Just like Elijah, all we need to do is say our prayer petition “one time and mean what we say, when we say it in love.” And, then listen to and adhere to what God has to say. Then move on to the next prayer request. Got it? Say your prayer petition “one time, mean what you say in love, listen and adhere to what God says do.” Then, move on to the next request.
You see, when we use vain repetition in prayer, we allow Satan to tempt us with doubt and unbelief, which again is a device he tries to use to draw us away from the “secret place,” the Love of God. Without faith it is not possible to please God. (Heb. 11:6)
Now, I am going to close out this session with a bombshell concerning what we call in Christian Circles, “The Lord’s Prayer, which is a part of the last instruction Jesus Christ gave to His followers on how to pray at Matthew 6:9-15. This is not the Lord’s Prayer, more accurately, it is a pattern of prayer Jesus Christ gave to His disciples.
Here is the Bombshell: Jesus did not intend for us to make a tradition out of reciting this prayer—as we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer. Nowhere in the New Testament is it recorded that the disciples ever prayed “The Lord’s Prayer, as written in the text.
In Christian Circles, what we have done, is lift this passage of Scripture, (Referred to As the Lord’s Prayer) as well as the same prayer advice recorded at Luke 11:2-4 out of the Bible, and taken it out of context. For many generations, in all sorts of public venues, the pattern of prayer Jesus taught to the disciples is recited. The prayer has even been turned into a song that has become like a ritual—almost like singing the national anthem—that we sing at funerals, weddings, and Sunday Services.
Sadly, the very manner in which Jesus taught the disciples to pray, “Religion,” has turned it around to pray like the pagans—just saying and singing words repetitiously without understanding.
If you notice, Matthew 6: 9-15, is a continuation of what Jesus Christ is saying in Matthew 6:7—“but when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Then in verse 9, Jesus says, “after this manner, therefore pray ye: Our Father...”
Notice, in Jesus’ instruction, the way in which we are to pray. Jesus only says our Father “one time,” honors His name, and thereafter makes specific petitions of God. In this way, Jesus Christ is trying to teach us to avoid repetition, as the pagans do in praying to their gods.
Of course the petitions Jesus Christ makes in the prayer itself can be used in our conversations with God, but they are not intended to be rehearsed and recited over and over and over again—like a broken record! To merely recite the words in verses, as prayer, is nothing more than an act of doubt and unbelief, as it is completely contradictory to what Jesus said in Matthew 6:8—that “Our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask.”
Moreover, reciting the prayer continually, contradicts the method of prayer given to us at I John 5:13-14, which says, “…if we ask any thing according to His will we know that He (God) hears us, and if we know he hears us, we have the petitions we desire of Him.”
Finally, on how we are to pray with God, in Matthew 6:6, Jesus Christ said when we pray we are to “enter into our closet, shut the door, and pray to our Father God who is in secret, and sees in secret, and our Father will reward us openly.”
These instructions reinforce everything we have said about effective prayer with God last week. That is, prayer is a private time between God and you, the worshipper. In this verse, Jesus Christ is emphasizing the vital necessity of making time to be alone with God in solitude. Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus setting the example for us of stealing away to pray—we must too. (Matt. 14:23, 26:36-44, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, 6:12, 9:18, 22:39-46)
We should take Jesus’ words both literally and figuratively when He said when you pray enter into your “closet.” The Greek word for closet is “tameion,” which denotes one’s secret chamber or private room. A place that you have designated and devote to prayer. A place free of distraction where you can give yourself totally to God in prayer. This is the place where you can, “shut the door,” as Jesus said.
A private and secluded place with God in prayer, is not just confined to where you reside. But, it can also be while you are walking, riding in a car, sitting on a park bench or by the dock of a bay—anytime and anyplace where you and God can talk. Wherever your prayer closet is, give your undivided attention to God there. God wants you to SEE HIM—TO SEE LOVE.
But, even more important than the physical location of where you pray, as we have continually reinforced, is the motive of prayer—abiding in the secret place—seeking God with all of your heart (your inner closet) is what matters to God and has great rewards from God. (Psalm 27:8, 51:6, 119:2, Deut. 4:29, Heb. 11:6).
Making the “love connection” with God is where you find God. Expressing from your heart Love for God, and Love for every person, including your enemies. In prayer with God, I notice that many times, though I may want to talk about one thing, God tends to want to talk about my attitude and treatment of others, including my enemies. God desires that we major in “Forgiveness.” (Matt. 6:14-15) With God, people are not to merit, earn, nor desire forgiveness before we grant it. Jesus Christ forgave us for all for our sins, therefore we owe every person forgiveness unmerited. (Rom. 5:8)
In secret, God loves to give instructions on forgiving others, and share with us His wisdom on how to go about showing kindness toward those who have hurt you. It’s so you can SEE GOD! Then, God watches in secret, expecting you to go forth and do as He has commanded—waiting and longing to reward you openly—when your obedience is fulfilled. (Matt. 6:6)
Wow, I have to close now, the hour is far spent. All of this preaching on prayer has made me hungry for prayer with God. I can’t wait to make my way back to my prayer closet to SEE MORE OF GOD. How about you? Remember, with God anytime is prayer time, for we are to always pray and not faint. (Luke 18:1) Call on the Lord and ask Him anything and He will answer. Have your conversations with God in integrity of heart. (Ps. 91:15 & 51:6)
Listen with the hidden ears of your heart to the Voice of the Lord, in the Person of the Holy Ghost, converse with you, as He wills. If you are a born-again Christian hearing the Voice of the Lord speak is easy. The Voice of the Lord always confirms the written Word of God contained in the Bible. Also, you should always pray in the Holy Ghost, in other/unknown tongues—the hidden wisdom of God—and then ask God for the interpretation. The Holy Ghost will reveal to you what God has said. God will prophesy through you, give you words of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, discernment, and more.
I encourage you to talk with God all day long, and do whatever He commands. Then watch the Lord take you deeper into Himself—molding you more and more into, “The Man or Woman of God,” He ordained you to be. (I Cor. 14:1-5, 2:10, & Rom. 8:26, Jude 20-21)
Next week, we will examine “fasting,” which is the third holy action we take to receive the open rewards of God. You don’t want to miss it!
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