Prayer



The topic of prayer is very important for a believer as it is our communication to God in worship and supplication.  The Greek word for pray is:
proseuchomai

pros-yoo'-khom-ahee

From G4314 and G2172; to pray to God, that is, supplicate, worship: - pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer.

Believers are instructed to:
Pray without ceasing.  (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

This represents a direct connection from an individual believer to our heavenly Father in that we are in continuous communication with Him on a daily basis.   Unfortunately the subject of prayer has been grossly perverted in the modern mainstream/denominational/evangelical system in that they most often pray unbiblically by inviting in the unbelievers to participate with believers, praying by a clock instead of being led by spirit , by using repetitious prayers, standing out in public view and one man praying for all.

As we look to God’s Word for instruction we have Jesus telling us this:

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 6:6)

Jesus lived out private prayer Himself and we hold to it keeping prayer a very private matter with God and ONLY other true saints we know and are united to. 

 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. (Matthew 14:23)

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. (Mark 1:35)

 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. (Luke 3:21)

So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:16)

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”  (Luke 9:18)

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed (Luke 22:41)

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there. (Matthew 26:36)

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.  29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.  30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:  31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.  32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 
(Luke 9:28-32)

That’s not to say that true believers who know each others lives cannot pray together 
as we see by God’s Word, they did and should…

 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  (Acts 2:42)

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:14)

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. (Acts 12:12)

But the difference we see in God’s Word, compared to the modern denominational/evangelical system is that it is not one person being the spokesperson for the group.  Also, allowing the world in and non believers/those not born again to join in prayer is sinful! We see that prayer is an individual communication from a true believer to God or with other true believers. 

 Indeed we see instructions of praying on behalf of another...


John 17, Matthew 11, Luke 22, Luke 23, Luke 11

 …but not saying their prayer for others as we see today with a leader and blind followers and uniting to the world in false evangelistic attempts like sinners prayers. 

See this article on the false sinner prayer method:
http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2014/12/sinners-prayers-are-unbiblical.html


Believers are to pray in the spirit.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:18)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20)

1 Corinthians 14 shows us that we are to pray in the spirit (in the proper way).

Jesus warned about vain repetition before He showed us an example of how to pray, but sadly there are some denominational/evangelical organizations that have taken that example of prayer and turned it into vain repetitious prayer. 
We reject it out right.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  11 Give us this day our daily bread.  12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  13 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.  14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  (Matthew 6:7-15)


The modern mainstream denominational/evangelical organizations would have you believe that we are to schedule our prayers and come together as a group on certain times for a specified length of time to pray about a predetermined subject.  The modern prayer meetings and prayer rallies you see today are not biblical as they are not in alignment with praying in the spirit but are instead praying by man’s organized schedule.  They also unite in sinful ways with unbelievers and those is false theology.

  We must also beware of the modern denominational insinuations that we must always pray as a group when we gather.  If it is not a spirit led prayer then it is not a prayer we should offer to God.  This mindset causes bondage to a believer in that they feel they are not being obedient or are lacking in the spirit if they do not feel  led to group prayer. We must be spirit led per Romans 8:1

We do have to be very careful when speaking of praying in the spirit because there are those out there who seem to ‘think’ that the more the merrier and having many people pray at once, all together, is more powerful and will manifest the Holy Spirit more.  Quite often those people will comment how they ‘felt the Holy Spirit moving powerfully’ and in man-made systems, emotionalism is being used or taking over, when we are to be led by God’s Spirit and not by our emotions and feelings.  Scripture does not teach us that and such ill theology must be refuted.

Believers also must be careful in assuming that when there were multiple people gathered to pray that it was all vocal as prayer can be done as a group through silent individual prayer.  We need to be sure we are not adding to, taking away or inferring to God’s Word.

So what we see in scripture is that prayer is most often from a believer to God on their own in private.  Along with that we see multiples of people praying ‘in one accord’ but we see no direct instructions that one person is to physically speak the prayers of others but instead to pray on their behalf. 

As in all things we have to make sure we are following God’s Word, what we see in Scripture and that we follow the apostolic model 2 Thess 2:15 and not being swept away in man’s vain traditions.  (Mark 7)

Jesus said to worship in spirit and truth and obviously praying should be done by those seeking spirit and in truth. John 4:24

 ****************************************************


See our resources below that will help you in the biblical faith.

God be praised
Labels: