God’s Prayer Pattern (2)

Lesson 2

In my last post I looked at the need to learn how to pray. The disciples asked for lessons on how to pray and they were given the lessons. In this session I will begin by looking the Lord’s answer.

In response to the request the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:5-13 said, “…... 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.  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The first lesson that the Lord Jesus Christ gave is “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly ……. where everyone can see them.” The fundamental lesson every prayer warrior must grasp is not to be like a hypocrite. A hypocrite is a person who fakes some desirable or publicly approved attitude, particularly one whose private life, opinions, or statements contradict such public declarations. A hyposrite can also be defined as a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs and principles which he does not actually possess, explicitly a person whose actions contradict the stated beliefs.

When a hypocrite prays, the motive is nor to get God’s attention but to impress people listening to the hypocrite’s prayer. The hypocrite’s aim is to captivate the accompanying crowds with the pretender’s poetry. The pretender impresses people with his long and winding prayers which are designed to make him appear very pious. In most cases the long prayers are a tool of conning people whilst appearing very spiritual. In Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47 the Lord Jesus Christ says that hypocrites, “……. shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be fervent by making long prayers in public.” Peter also describes a similar portrayal of a hypocrites in 2 Peter 2:3 where he points out that through covetousness they exploit unsuspecting believers with deceptive words that are designed to abuse teachings of the Bible for personal and obscene gain. Read my book Saints Made Merchandise which is currently available at
http://www.amazon.com/Saints-Made-Merchandise-Analysis-Offerings/dp/0797469141 or at Pearl Press Media.

During the first century, Pharisees, Seduces and Scribes were a very good example of hypocrites. The Lord was always at logger heads with this group of obsessive religious pretenders because of their insensitivity and distortion of religious teachings. At one time he said, “…. woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You lock up the kingdom of heaven from people. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.” This is a clear message that a hypocrite is outside the kingdom of Christ. Even when they preached or taught the truth, they never lived what they taught. The other identifying mark of a hypocrite is his unappeasable desire to be respected, honoured, praised or even worshipped. In Matthew 23: 6,7 the Lord said the hypocrites, “… love the place of honour at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.”

What exactly then the Lord say we must avoid being like hypocrites? In short the Lord was saying we must;

• practice what we teach and believe,
• be sincere about our beliefs,
• seek the approval of God and not of men
• be honest and not exploitative
• not unnecessarily over burden others with demands which we are unable to fulfil
• always be guided by the principles of Christ

in my next post I will look at the worshipper’s relationship with Christ. Be blessed and meditate on the following scripture. Matthew 23:  1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.  3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, [a] that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.  4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.  6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’  8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, [b] and you are all brethren.  9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.  10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.  11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Be blessed