Introduction
How not to Pray
Introduction
Apostle Paul gave a prediction for the endtimes in 2 Timothy 4:3, “A time will come when they will not endure Sound Doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside
to fables.”
These days, I believe, are already upon us. Everywhere, even though there is an abundance in preaching, we find that the Scriptures of God are highly twisted and there is so much of famine for the Word of God. We hear more of stories and personal experiences from pulpits than pure exposition of God’s Word. This study is based on two admonitions that Paul gave, one to Timothy and the other to Titus. 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the Word.” Titus 2:1, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for Sound Doctrine.” “As for you...” This means Paul was speaking to a minority and he was calling for a difference that these young men should maintain in the ministry of God’s Word.
How not to Pray
You may wonder, “Why teach how NOT TO Pray” instead of, “How TO Pray.” Why this “negative” approach? This was the method Jesus Christ adopted while teaching divine truths. Recollect His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5,6 & 7. In Chapter 6, He dealt with three spiritual disciplines: Charity, Prayer
and Fasting. This is how He proceeded: “When you do a charitable deed, do not sound the trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men” (Mt 6:2). “When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of streets” (v 5). “When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites with a sad countenance” (v16).
I would like to follow this pattern in this study, because I believe that unlearning is a prerequisite for learning. Unlearning is of course more difficult than learning. Nevertheless it is absolutely necessary and important. God called Jeremiah to be a Prophet to the Nations. The Commission God gave him was to first of all “to root out, to pull down, to destroy and to throw down.” Only afterwards he was “to build and to plant” (Jer 1:10). Dear friends, be mentally prepared to unlearn all that is unscriptural in the exercise of prayer so you may learn what is proper. Here are 10 lessons on How not to Pray.
Interestingly all these 10 lessons are beautifully enshrined in the Lord’s prayer.
1. Do not force God.
“Your will be done.”
2. Do not accuse Satan.
“Deliver us from the evil one.”
3. Do not forget the Father.
“Our Father who is in Heaven...”
4. Do not seek mediators.
God is our “Father” and we, as His children, can go to Him directly. He is in “Heaven” which is now open for us.
5. Do not harbour hatred.
“Forgive us as we forgive others.”
6. Do not be selfish.
“Our” daily bread, not my daily bread. Forgive “us our” sins, not just my sins. Deliver “us,” not just me.
7. Do not be earthlyminded.
Only one of the seven requests is about our material needs:
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
“Your Kingdom come.”
Yes, we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
8. Do not speak too much.
The Lord’s Prayer is the shortest but the sweetest and the stoutest prayer.
9. Do not act artificially.
“In this manner, pray: Our Father...” Pray naturally as a child talks to his father.
10. Do not boast of praying.
“For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever.”
How not to Pray
- Do not force God.
- Do not accuse Satan.
- Do not forget the Father.
- Do not seek mediators.
- Do not harbour hatred in heart.
- Do not be selfish.
- Do not be earthlyminded.
- Do not speak too much.
- Do not act artificially.
- Do not boast of praying.
Introduction
Apostle Paul gave a prediction for the endtimes in 2 Timothy 4:3, “A time will come when they will not endure Sound Doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside
to fables.”
These days, I believe, are already upon us. Everywhere, even though there is an abundance in preaching, we find that the Scriptures of God are highly twisted and there is so much of famine for the Word of God. We hear more of stories and personal experiences from pulpits than pure exposition of God’s Word. This study is based on two admonitions that Paul gave, one to Timothy and the other to Titus. 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the Word.” Titus 2:1, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for Sound Doctrine.” “As for you...” This means Paul was speaking to a minority and he was calling for a difference that these young men should maintain in the ministry of God’s Word.
How not to Pray
You may wonder, “Why teach how NOT TO Pray” instead of, “How TO Pray.” Why this “negative” approach? This was the method Jesus Christ adopted while teaching divine truths. Recollect His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5,6 & 7. In Chapter 6, He dealt with three spiritual disciplines: Charity, Prayer
and Fasting. This is how He proceeded: “When you do a charitable deed, do not sound the trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men” (Mt 6:2). “When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of streets” (v 5). “When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites with a sad countenance” (v16).
I would like to follow this pattern in this study, because I believe that unlearning is a prerequisite for learning. Unlearning is of course more difficult than learning. Nevertheless it is absolutely necessary and important. God called Jeremiah to be a Prophet to the Nations. The Commission God gave him was to first of all “to root out, to pull down, to destroy and to throw down.” Only afterwards he was “to build and to plant” (Jer 1:10). Dear friends, be mentally prepared to unlearn all that is unscriptural in the exercise of prayer so you may learn what is proper. Here are 10 lessons on How not to Pray.
Interestingly all these 10 lessons are beautifully enshrined in the Lord’s prayer.
1. Do not force God.
“Your will be done.”
2. Do not accuse Satan.
“Deliver us from the evil one.”
3. Do not forget the Father.
“Our Father who is in Heaven...”
4. Do not seek mediators.
God is our “Father” and we, as His children, can go to Him directly. He is in “Heaven” which is now open for us.
5. Do not harbour hatred.
“Forgive us as we forgive others.”
6. Do not be selfish.
“Our” daily bread, not my daily bread. Forgive “us our” sins, not just my sins. Deliver “us,” not just me.
7. Do not be earthlyminded.
Only one of the seven requests is about our material needs:
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
“Your Kingdom come.”
Yes, we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
8. Do not speak too much.
The Lord’s Prayer is the shortest but the sweetest and the stoutest prayer.
9. Do not act artificially.
“In this manner, pray: Our Father...” Pray naturally as a child talks to his father.
10. Do not boast of praying.
“For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever.”
AMEN
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