Day 10

" And when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the pagans do; for they think that they shall be heard for their many words " - Matthew 6:7

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. I need to balance this- some people equate this to repetitions in prayer. There are repetitions that are very powerful, and there are repetitions called vain repetitions. -

For you to understand what Jesus means by vain repetition - you have to understand the ancient religions. They had chants that they used, some of them were occultic ; of course- there are still some religions in the world that still practice it, they can chant a word or phrase 500 times at a sitting- just for the sake of the word or to impress listeners or as a magic formula.

This is what Jesus is speaking against, that when we approach the Father, to pray, we should not use vain repetition as the heathen do, for they think that shall be heard because of their many words, he is not saying you should not speak and emphasise prayer points, he is not saying you should not repeat prayer points.

A lot of people have misunderstood this scripture and every time they ask God for something, and remind God of the same thing, they feel guilty for asking again and again. The Bible said in Matthew 26: 39-44- that Jesus prayed 3 times- using the same words – “ O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt .”

Then Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8, in a certain town was a judge who feared neither God or man. And there was a widow who kept coming, with the same prayer intention, and repeating the same intention every time she came. The intention was " Grant me justice against my adversary "

She kept repeating till the judge granted her request. So Jesus will say Pray persistently at a time and do not lose heart.

Another of such is recorded in Luke11:5-10, the guy who went knocking on the door of the friend at night for bread because he had an announced visitor. And Jesus said " I tell you even though he will not get up and give him his request because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and attend to him "

Part of being Persistent is repetition.

So the point is that you should not repeat prayer points or use formula or words to pray- the use of vain repetitions refer to the use of words to impress listeners or as some form of a magic formula.

Vrs 8 “ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him .”  This is a very powerful information, but also very fearful. God why then should I pray, since you know the things I need.

Jesus is speaking and he says listen up- nothing about your request is a shock to the Father. This omniscient all-knowing God – knows everything before you even ask, but why do you have to pray and ask, many reasons- but let me give you one.

Am reading from Mark 6:47-51- “ Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.  He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them… They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. "

Why will Jesus want to pass by his disciples when they were supposed to be needing him the most? Had they not cried out, he will have passed them and they may have perished- let me explain- God gave man a WILL , the mystery of FREE WILL.

Free will is the capacity of humans to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded. The ability to act and make choices independent of any outside influence

There are -7 things God gave human, not spiritual man, human as the zenith of creation that stands us out from all other creations, one of it is the mystery of FREE WILL - and the day God gave human a will, it became scripturally and prophetically incorrect for God to veto on a human's will- and make assumptions without the humans making petition and demand.

Even at the expense of your eternal destiny- God did not impact eternal life upon you by force. As merciful and loving as God is, salvation is your choice, that is why Paul will say in Phillipians 2:12- "... Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling "

If you do not verbalize and make a declaration of your need for Jesus, God will respect your WILL, until you march straight into hell. That's how powerful God's honour for the will of man is. *So God knows what you need, but he wants you to verbalise or make a silent request, make a petition and a demand.

So sitting there and believing that God will arbitrarily just come into your life and take over your situation without you beckoning him is a JOKE, that will leave you in shock and in disappointment, there are people going to hell today and in spite of the reality of the finished work of Christ, the substitutionary sacrifice – God still respects their will.

Remember blind Bartimaeus. Jesus met blind Bartimeus on the way to Jericho and he says what should I do for you ?  JESUS paah, what do you think a blind man will want?

But hold on for a second, what if he didn’t want to see, but had another request?

Don't say the opening of eyes, what if he wanted money... In the book of acts, Acts 3:1-16- remember the Lame dude begger who was crippled and was always carried to the temple everyday to beg for money, I thought he would have asked  Peter and John for legs to walk- but he did not want legs, he was asking for money- He was enjoying the carrying so much. Peter had to literally scream, " Look at us " - and he was still expecting something. Peter then by the power of the Holy Spirit gave him something better- legs.

see errh, let me tell you-stop behaving like Captain planet- not everyone in trouble wants to come out ooh, be careful ooh -when you want to save everybody, oh I have learnt this ministry, not everyone who comes to me- wants help to come out, some just want to talk about their problems, they don't want out, so you got to to learn, honour and respect the will of such people. If they want to remain there leave them honourably, there, trying to feed a man who is not hungry, or is hungry but does not want food, will put you into trouble, that’s why God allows you to verbalize your desires sometimes in desperation then he responds to it.

Even God who created you will not save you without you. So you see Jesus is talking about things that can block and make your prayers ineffective- and he talks about avoiding

- hypocrisy

- shutting your doors

- avoiding vain repetitions and going straight to the point and asking-because your Father in heaven already knows even before you ask.

 So Jesus begins now begins to teach his disciples the protocol of the mystery of prayer and he begins by saying to them " WHEN YOU PRAY" say “- Luke 11:2 ... and that's where the name of our conference is gotten from... And when you pray...

TO BE CONTINUED....

#monkreflections

#26daysofpower

#WhenUpray

🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥