PRAYER: A DESPERATE SEARCH FOR RELEVANCE OR GOD?

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*PRAYER: A DESPERATE SEARCH FOR RELEVANCE OR GOD?*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Matt 6:5-8

*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.*

*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.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Some people pray to earn themselves honour and recognition.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

People pray to earn themselves honour, recognition and respect yet knowing they are none of these.

They play the ruse and deception. Jesus refers to them as hypocrites. Prayer and miracles are two, out of many, Satanic weapons used to deceive many gullible people. Prophecy stands as one of the most endangered ministry gifts used by Satanic agents. Heresy remains one of the most delusional ways to distort and polute the gospel of Christ. Paul refers to these agents of darkness who use these ways as false prophets, teachers and apostles, 2 Cor 11:1-15.

Peter co-joined them in 2 Peter 2:1 *But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.*

Jesus explains the meaning of vain repetition, not as asking God the same thing several times, but as where people think more words or when people think that being heard of *".......much speaking.*(Matt 6:7).

They think being seen to pray in public uttering more words and repetition of their prayers, often aloud, would make their prayers more effective, rather than prayers out of the sincerity of the heart.

Jesus teaches that though some may fool people when they pray as if they are righteous but God can not be mocked, Gal 6:7

Not to say people who pray publicly or openly at revival or crusades are all hypocrites, there are sincere people who pray in the same environments.

People who however pray for fame/popularity, attention are not lovers of God.

People who are *"......lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;* people who have

*"........a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:......."* will tell you that if you want to be popular pray publicly than privately.

Paul says they are a ruse, *".....turn away....."* from them!, 2 Tim 3:1-5

Remorse corner.*

Prayer is not a desperate search for fame, power, money, relevance etc.

*Call to Word action.*

While those who want to be popular pray aloud publicly in pretense, Jesus teaches those who want to be powerful to pray more privately.

Matt 6:6

*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.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Prayer is a heart. It is a desperate search to find God.

*Prayer.*

Lord help me to desperately search to find You in my prayers and when l do, let me find You, in Jesus name.

Good morning all and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.