SMUDGED PRAYING
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“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Main Idea: God does not hear, honor or reward all praying.
Main Idea: God does not hear, honor or reward all praying.
Key Question: Is God hearing and answering your prayers?
Key Question: Is God hearing and answering your prayers?
1. Smudged praying is prideful praying. (v. 5-6)
1. Smudged praying is prideful praying. (v. 5-6)
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
We are praying to God not to be seen!
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.
is
Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past.
2. Smudged praying is aimless praying. (v. 7-8)
2. Smudged praying is aimless praying. (v. 7-8)
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
We think about how we are praying more than what we are praying.
Vain Sayings: “bless us”, “be with us”, “bless our food”, ‘help us”, “just do something”
1 kings
So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.
In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;
for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
How to respond?
How to respond?
Pause before you pray to think carefully about what you are praying for or about.
Pause before you pray to think carefully about what you are praying for or about.
Find time and space to pray privately.
Find time and space to pray privately.