Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the next window of the temple of truth, namely prayer. This is an extremely important theme in which we began this online teaching, including showing you the Bible passages of the seven pylons of prayer. We then brought out important observations about prayer, examples of remarkable prayers, and examples of prayer and intercession and remarkable shouting to God. After that, we continued our sharing with the promises of God.
We will deepen our study to make our prayers more enjoyable, focusing on a few verses from Matthew 6.5-15: “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. 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. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
In fact, praying while standing, even in the synagogues or in the temple, according to the custom of the Jews of that time, looking towards the most holy place, is not exactly what the Lord Jesus blames, but their hypocrisy, that is to say, to be seen by men.
This means that when you choose to isolate yourself in a secret place to pray, God listens to you and knows that it is to Him that you speak, and above all he will return it to Himself and publicly. So your Father Himself, and not the men. It will be done publicly, on the last day, in the light of eternal judgment, and not in secret. It is useless to seek to be seen by men.
Thus, the word of Jesus Christ implies that we will receive a retribution for the alms we will have made, and we must not, however, attach to these alms any idea of merit or of our own justice; for all that is done out of love for God has its reward in God himself. This is what we read in Matthew 6.1-2: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be seen; otherwise you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you give alms, do not sound the trumpet before you, as hypocrites do in synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. I tell you truly, they receive their reward. “
It should also be noted that the room in question simply indicates any enclosed space in the interior of the house, as opposed to synagogues and streets where it is impossible to gather alone with God, because the prayer It must be between the soul and God alone, for by his all-presence he is everywhere and above all he sees in the secret. He will reward us because if we are sincere, we will receive our reward, and the one who asks receives.
This is why he asks us not to multiply vain words when we pray. Ecclesiastes had already mentioned it in these terms: “Do not be in a hurry to open your mouth, and let not your heart hurry to speak a word before God; for God is in heaven, and you on the earth, so let not your words be few “(Ecc 5.2). Let us not forget the distance that separates the creature from its Creator, and do not seek to pay God with words or sacrifices. This is why it is written in Philippians 4.6 “Do not worry about anything; but in all things make your needs known to God by prayers and supplications, with thanksgiving. “The following verses have been gathered in order to edify you on our theme.
I. THE “OUR FATHER”
But it is not only the brevity of the prayer that the Lord Jesus Christ will teach, it is above all the spirit in which we must pray, the graces we must ask for, and which answer to the deepest needs of our Lord. every Christian soul.
Beginning the prayer with the word ‘Father’, this invocation already contains all that can inspire the soul who prays trust and love. For this Father’s name given to God is both the revelation and the work of Jesus Christ. Rarely it meets in the Old Testament; Isaiah 63:16 “But you are our father, because Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not know who we are; It is you, O Jehovah, who are our father, who, from eternity, call you our Savior “and Psalms 103.13 “As a father cares for his children, the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. ” And we must be reconciled to God by Christ and have received the Spirit of adoption, to be made capable of pronouncing this name in truth. Two other verses show it: Romans 8.15 “And you have not received a spirit of bondage, to be still in fear; but you have received a Spirit of adoption, by which we cry: Abba! Father! ” Galatians 4.6 “And because you are sons, God sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, who cries, Abba! Father!”
It then follows that to pray that way is the glory of the faithful of the New Testament; and whoever says to God ‘Father’ can ask everything.
It is necessary to remark again that the Lord Jesus does not make us say, isolating us each in his selfish individuality: ‘my Father’, but ‘our Father who is in heaven! Whoever is born of God on earth is a member of this immense family of the redeemed of Christ, with whom we are united; a new bond of imperishable kinship embraces the children of God, from the most obscure Christian whose whole religious knowledge consists in knowing how to pronounce with love the name of his ‘heavenly Father’, to the spirits of the just who already surround the throne of God.
“Who is in heaven”, not only expresses the greatness and power of God, but the idea that God, though present everywhere, resides and manifests especially his presence and glory in a higher world, that the Scriptures call “heaven” or “heavens”. The following verses build us there:
Isaiah 66.2 “Heavens, listen! earth, listen! For the Lord speaks. I fed and raised children, but they rebelled against me. “
Psalms 2.4 “Whoever sits in heaven laughs, the Lord mocks them.”
Psalms 102.20 “For he looks from the high place of his holiness; From the heavens the LORD looks on the earth, “;
Psalms 115.3 “Our God is in heaven, He does all he wants.”
Acts 7.55-56 “But Stephen, filled with the Holy Ghost, and staring up to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, Behold, I see the heavens open, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.
1 Timothy 6:16 “who alone possesses immortality, who dwells in an inaccessible light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom belongs honor and eternal power. Amen!”
That is why the Son of God came from there and returned to it in his glory; it is from heaven that the Divine Spirit comes and over him and his people. It is from there that the voice of God sounds and the angels of God come down. The Christian who, while praying, raises his eyes and heart to heaven, knows that he aspires towards his country. And nothing will take away that privilege.
II. THE MIGHT OF GOD
Matthew 3.16 “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came out of the water. And behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. “
Acts 2.1-2 “On the day of Pentecost, they were all together in the same place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound like a rushing wind from heaven, and filled the whole house where they were sitting. “
Matthew 3:17 “And, behold, a voice uttered from heaven the words, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”;
John 12.28 “Father, glorify your name! And a voice came from heaven: I glorified it, and I will glorify it again. “
John 1.51 “And he said unto him, Verily, verily, ye shall see from henceforth the open heaven, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man.”
So to sanctify this name is to recognize God, to confess him, to fear him, and to worship him as a saint; it is especially to have it as a saint in the heart. Through this prayer, we ask God that all men come to sanctify His name in this way. We understand more 1 Peter 3.15: “But sanctify in your hearts Christ the Lord, being always ready to defend you, with gentleness and respect, before anyone who asks you reason for the hope that is in you,”
For the knowledge and the adoration of the holy name of God is the principle on which his reign and his domination over souls are established. This is why John the Baptist forcibly preached in Matthew 3.2 “He said: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This spiritual reign is first hidden in the hearts of believers (Luke 17:21), implanted in them by the Word and the Spirit of God; but the Spirit does not leave them alone, he unites them in a holy and living community. And to ask God that this reign come: i) it is to implore it first that this reign will grow in power where it is, so that nothing is more removed from its absolute domination; ii) it is then to pray for this reign to spread, to spread from soul to soul, from people to people, until it has penetrated the whole of humanity, iii) it is finally to call for the final triumph of this reign, the day when he who is its Savior and the King will come to gather and raise it to perfection.
To understand it better, let’s read the following verses: Romans 8: 21-23 “With the hope that it too will be freed from the bondage of corruption, to share in the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 Now we know that to this day the whole creation sighs and suffers the pains of childbirth. 23 And it is not she alone; but we also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. ” Rom 2:13 “For those who hear the law are not righteous before God, but those who practice it will be justified.” 2 Peter 3: 12-13 “as you wait and hasten the coming of the day of God, because of which the fiery skies will dissolve and the fiery elements will melt! 13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. “Revelation 22:20 And he that testifieth these things saith, Yea, I come soon. Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! “
The sky is considered the norm of the earth. For before asking God for the spiritual graces we so sorely need, the Savior Jesus Christ allows us to unburden ourselves of our earthly worries: 1 Peter 5.7 “and discharge all your worries on him because he takes care of you. “
This is the way to understand this demand, giving it as its object “the bread of life.” This is why we must recognize this divine mercy which authorizes us to expect it for all things.
Our sins are our debts to God, huge debts that no one can pay. This very prayer, taught by the Savior, is a touching statement that Almighty God, in His mercy, forgives every repentant soul who implores Him. His forgiveness is much more than the forgiveness of a debt to a debtor, for by removing the penalty from sin, he puts us in possession of all his love and eternal life. And yet, the need for forgiveness is constantly renewed in a delicate consciousness, because every day we contract some debt that must be handed over to us.
After receiving the forgiveness of his sin, the Christian fears nothing as much as falling back. God does not tempt us, “he tempts no one” inwardly (James 1:13); not only that it “does not let us fall into temptation” when we are already there; but that it does not bring us to it, that is, since all the events of our life are in its hand, it does not allow us to be placed in external situations such that we would find the temptation and fall opportunities. (Matthew 26.41) But as such situations, such trials are almost inevitable in this world, this prayer is based on divine promises: 1 Corinthians 10.13 “No temptation has come to you that has not been human, and God, who is faithful, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength; but with temptation he will also prepare the way out, so that you can bear it. “
“For to you is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for the ages, amen.” This expression contains biblical expressions that inspire great confidence in the One who hears prayer.
Finally, the new directives of the Lord Jesus exhort us to be concise when we want to address God in our prayers, knowing that everything we ask is already known to Him. Let’s trust the Lord God entirely. Let’s ask him in secret and he will answer us publicly, and often God responds beyond our requests. Our prayers accompany you all in your efforts in this direction.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the next window of the temple of truth, namely fasting.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord Almighty.