₦airaland Forum

ERRONEOUS PRACTICES IN PRAYER
Prayer is a form of communication between a man and his GOD; it’s a medium by which man beseeches GOD with entreaties and supplications. Prayer has been an inextricable part of man since time immemorial; carvings and antiques of the early man reveal sacrificial mode of worship, depicting invocations to diverse deities. In the bible, the Old Testament is replete with stories of men who prayed. Daniel, for example prayed a lot while in captivity, David who authored the book of psalms wrote a plethora of prayers. The New Testament Is not left out as one can see various examples of Jesus Christ and his apostles pray.
However, as Christians today how do we pray? Do we pray in the manner of the early man or the Old Testament pattern? What should be our guideline when we pray? Do you know that just any form of prayer to GOD is wrong? Do you know that there is a specified manner of prayer that GOD would you have pray by?
As Christians the bible should be our spiritual compass in procuring the right answer to our questions on prayer. It is rather appalling that many Christians today do not pray in the manner designated by GOD in the New Testament. Let us see how Jesus Christ taught his disciples to pray in the bible. In the book of Matthew 6:9.
Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version (KJV)
After this manner therefore pray ye: OurFather which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Here we see Jesus teaching his disciples a particular pattern of prayer indicating the fact that we can’t entirely rule out pattern in prayer.
However, the bone of contention and the reason why this article was written is to clarify the erroneous mode of prayer rampant among Christians today. Below are but a few of the common sinful errors made during prayer.
1) Cursing of enemies: This is an everyday occurrence in churches and Christian homes, where curses and invectives of all sorts are rained on enemies during prayers. Their prayers are at most times full of bilious words and spiritual assaults against adversaries. Enemies are commanded to die by fire, to run mad, go blind, lame or be maimed. Some even go as far as using a supposed spiritual cane to whip such enemies. The bible―the New Testament shows Jesus’ clear rebuttal on these practices. In the book of Matthew 5:44-45
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Jesus denounced these acts widely practiced at that time and commanded his disciples not to do such, He further averred that, if GOD gives these enemies life and blesses them here on earth; beckoning on them to repent and acknowledge him, why then should Christians who proclaim Christ, rain curses on these enemies. The book of Luke chapter 6 verse 27&28 also shows this point vividly.
Love Your Enemies
“But I say to you who hear: Love your thosees, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
Should a christian in all good conscience after witnessing these words from Christ, continue to curse enemies during prayer?
2) Vain repetition: A practice excessively rampant in modern Christendom. In fact, speculations are that 8 in every 10 Christian indulge in such sinful, contravening act. The act of vain repetition where a Christian keeps repeating a phrase ad nauseam. For example, take the anecdote where a person asking GOD for a job, begins saying over and over ‘Lord give me a job, lord give a me job, lord give a me job’ for so long a duration. In the book of Matthew chapter 6 here see Jesus debunks the erroneous practice of vain repetition. He further buttressed that such egregious practice was fueled by the myopic cognitive nature of man; thinking that GOD is a mortal and must be yelled at to propel him to action. In verse 7ff of Matthew chapter 6, Jesus categorically said that ‘they think they will be heard because of their much speaking’. Do you shout the name of the ‘Holy Spirit’ or ‘Hallelujah’ ten times in prayer? Does your pastor tell you that the person with the loudest and longest ‘amen’ will get the most blessing? See what Isaiah said in Isaiah chapter 59:1-2
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
GOD is not deaf neither is HE a mortal that needs to be shouted at. Come to think of it, assuming GOD was your literal, physical father and in the quest of requesting something of him you shout ‘daddy give me a job, daddy give me a job, daddy I say give me a job’. Ask yourself how ugly the outcome. Let alone a GOD who should be revered and feared.
The book of John chapter 4 verse 24 says that: GOD is a Spirit and those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. GOD is not man that you should shout at HIM, instead ask him gently, respectfully and avoid repetitions, HE will acquiesce your request. See Matthew chapter 6 verse 8.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask HIM. Here Jesus admonished his disciples not to be like those who curse enemies and use vain repetitions. This goes for all Christians today. Do not pray erroneously.
TO BE CONTINUED… Have a blessed Sunday. CC lalasticlala
CC Ishylove
CC Mynd44

Knowing who the enemy is very vital in prayer, there are manipulative spirits that tend to control a man, e.g. the one sent against the IGP on Tuesday.




The enemy in prayer should not be seen as a fellow human being

Cursing one "enemies" is unchristian
Repetition is useless

True talk bro. More wisdom

AK6464:
Knowing who the enemy is very vital in prayer, there are manipulative spirits that tend to control a man, e.g. the one sent against the IGP on Tuesday.




The enemy in prayer should not be seen as a fellow human being

Should cursing 'spirits' be the right approach then? Please reply with irrefutable back-up from the scriptures.

AK6464:
Knowing who the enemy is very vital in prayer,
there are manipulative spirits that tend to control a man,
e.g. the one sent against the IGP on Tuesday.

The enemy in prayer should not be seen as a fellow human being

Damdeyz:
Should cursing 'spirits' be the right approach then?
Please reply with irrefutable back-up from the scriptures.

"Away from me, Satan!" Jesus declared.
"For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'"
- Matthew 4:10

But He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind Me, Satan!
You are a stumbling block to Me;
for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
- Matthew 16:23

¹⁶One day as we were going to the place of prayer,
we were met by a young servant woman who had an evil spirit that enabled her to predict the future.
She earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes.
¹⁷She followed Paul and us, shouting,
“These men are servants of the Most High God!
They announce to you how you can be saved!”
¹⁸She did this for many days, until Paul became so upset that he turned around
and said to the spirit,
“In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her!”
The spirit went out of her that very moment.
¹⁹When her owners realized that their chance of making money was gone,
they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities in the public square.
- Acts 16:16-19

²³Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
²⁴“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have You come to destroy us?
I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
²⁵But Jesus rebuked the spirit and said,
“Be silent! Come out of him!”
²⁶At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions
and came out with a loud shriek
- Mark 1:23-25

As "spirits" are already cursed
the right approach then, especially the wayward ones, is to REBUKE them.

Notice above, how Jesus and Paul, without sweating
and void of theatrical performances often seen displayed today, successfully read the Riot Act to spirits.

MuttleyLaff:
"Away from me, Satan!" Jesus declared.
"For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'"
- Matthew 4:10

But He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind Me, Satan!
You are a stumbling block to Me;
for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
- Matthew 16:23

¹⁶One day as we were going to the place of prayer,
we were met by a young servant woman who had an evil spirit that enabled her to predict the future.
She earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes.
¹⁷She followed Paul and us, shouting,
“These men are servants of the Most High God!
They announce to you how you can be saved!”
¹⁸She did this for many days, until Paul became so upset that he turned around
and said to the spirit,
“In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her!”
The spirit went out of her that very moment.
¹⁹When her owners realized that their chance of making money was gone,
they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities in the public square.
- Acts 16:16-19

²³Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
²⁴“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have You come to destroy us?
I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
²⁵But Jesus rebuked the spirit and said,
“Be silent! Come out of him!”
²⁶At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions
and came out with a loud shriek
- Mark 1:23-25

As "spirits" are already cursed
the right approach then, especially the wayward ones, is to REBUKE them.

Notice above, how Jesus and Paul, without sweating
and void of theatrical performances often seen displayed today, successfully read the Riot Act to spirits.

I appreciate the fact that you took out time to attach scriptures. However,I do think your observation is out of tangent and ambivalent. One time you're opposing the article, another time you're slightly defending it. My topic is centred on vain repetition and cursing of enemies during prayers and Spiritual warfare even. Does a Christian need a baying rendition and excessive repetition to oust spirits?

Damdeyz:
I appreciate the fact that you took out time to attach scriptures.
However, I do think your observation is out of tangent and ambivalent.
One time you're opposing the article, another time you're slightly defending it.

My topic is centred on vain repetition and cursing of enemies during prayers and Spiritual warfare even.
Does a Christian need a baying rendition and excessive repetition to oust spirits?

I am at ease with the commendable points you raised in the thread's original post

It is clear in you original post that you arent conflating personalities with principalities and power of Satan

It is further clear in your original post, you are positing that, in Matthew 5:44, where Jesus gave the advice:
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you..."
the enemy to love and bless, is the personality, and not principality and/or power of Satan

You see, I wasnt responding to the topic nor the original post

I jumped on board the thread, only after you responded to AK6464's rightfully dropped succinct very good comment.

AK6464 in the post, alluded to the identity of the enemy
and backed it up with a social media well publicised still fresh in the mind recent example
(i.e. the one that plagued the IGP on Tuesday past)

Remember AK6464's bottom line?
Where he posted:
"The enemy in prayer should not be seen as a fellow human being"

Do you also remember your response to AK6464's comment was:
"Should cursing "spirits" be the right approach then?
Please reply with irrefutable back-up from the scriptures."

These "spirits" are already cursed as they are,
and even if one's tries cursing them, they arent going to get more cursed than they already are

One, in the name of Jesus Christ, rebukes spirits, principalities and/or power of Satan
That is the right approach, not cursing.