GENERAL REMARKS

It is hypocritical of us to live wicked lives and then think we can go before the Holy God in prayer.

1 Timothy 2:8 therefore I will that everywhere men pray lifting up holy hands ...

The emphasis in this verse is not on whether we practise hand raising but on how we live. If we are habitually involved in deceit, lies, abuse, immorality - at home at work, in leisure or place of learning, how can we have the audacity to raise our tarnished hands in prayer before the throne of God?

If we cheat the poor and then make long prayers to impress people we will be judged more severely. The Messiah, the Lord Jesus, said:-

Matthew 23:14 Woe upon you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you devour widows’ houses, and for pretence make long prayers: therefore you will suffer greater damnation.

Some think that we should love our friends and hate our enemies but the Messiah said:-

Matthew 5:44 but I am telling you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who use you spitefully, and persecute you;

Our prayers should not be selfish. They should not sound like the proverbial prayer: "God bless me and my wife, our son and his wife, us four and no more." We should pray wholeheartedly for everybody.

1 Timothy 2:1 first of all therefore I encourage that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving, is made for all men; 2 for kings and for all who are in authority; that we might lead a quiet and peaceful life in all devoutness and honesty. 3 Because this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 who wants everybody to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, 5 because there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 who gave himself a ransom for everyone ...

Our prayers must be genuine.

1 Corinthians 14:15 ... I will pray with my spirit, ...

Our prayers must be understandable. There is no point in praying in a language we do not understand.

1 Corinthians 14:15 ... I will also pray with my understanding ...

PRIVATE PRAYERS

Private prayers are a private thing. They are between us and God. We should not make a show of praying. We should not make a display of praying to impress people how religious we are. The Messiah said:-

Matthew 6:5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites: because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and at street corners, so as to be seen by men. Emphatically I am telling you, They have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Also we should not repeat words and phrases over and over again like superstitious people do. The Messiah continued by saying:-

Matthew 6:7  Also when you pray, do not use empty repetitions, like the heathen do: because they think that they will be heard because they say a lot.

If we want God to forgiven our sins then we must be prepared to forgive others. The Messiah said:-

Mark 11:25 ... if you have anything against anybody, when you stand praying, forgive: so that your Father who is in heaven might also forgive you your faults.

Men who do not treat their wives with respect need not expect God to have any respect for their prayers.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, you husbands, live with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

PUBLIC PRAYERS

Each congregation of Christ is to allocate time in its worship when men can offer up prayers on behalf of the church.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and the sharing, and in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.

They must be said distinctly for all to hear. The membership must be able to understand what is being said otherwise they cannot honestly say the "Amen" to what has supposed to have been said to God on their behalf. So there is no point in praying in a language that members of the congregation don't understand.

1 Corinthians 14:15 ... I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding ... 16 Else ... how can the uninformed say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving, seeing he does not know what you are saying?

We have seen above that private prayers should be done in private. This time of prayer is for expressing the thanks and concerns of the congregation. It is not a time for giving a lecture to members of the congregation or for telling God what His Holy Word says.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Prayer is a privilege we do not deserve. We must use it humbly and respectfully.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to say any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and you upon earth: therefore let your words be few.

God's children should never give up praying, even when the going is bad.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Do not stop praying. 18 In every circumstance give thanks: for this is what wants in Christ Jesus for you.
 

Fasting is going short of food:-

Mark 8:3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint on the way: because several of them have come a long way.

Fasting is a private thing. It is between us and God. We should not make a show of fasting. We should not make a display of fasting to impress people how religious we are. The Messiah said:-

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when you fast , do not be like the hypocrites with a sad face: because they disfigure their faces, so that people can see that they are fasting . Emphatically I am telling you, They have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint thine head, and wash your face; 18 so that people cannot tell you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret: and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly.

Distress and intense spiritual activity cause one to fast. There is no point in fasting just for the sake of it.

Matthew 9:14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast frequently, but your disciples do not fast? 15 And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the time will come, when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then will they fast. [and Mark 2:18-20]

Being honest about oneself and Humility are essential.

Luke 18:9 And he spoke this parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed silently like this, God, I thank you, that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this publican. 12 I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all I have. 13 But the publican, standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went home to his house justified rather than the other: because every one who exalts himself will be debased; and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

God prefers lives of goodness to ritual fasting.

Isaiah 58:5 Have I chosen such a fast as this as a day for a man to afflict his soul: is it to bend down his head like a read, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Do you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6 Was not this the fast that I chose: to release the wicked shackles, to remove the heavy burdens, and to releave the oppressed, and that you smash every yoke? 7 Is it not to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the destitute homeless people into your house? when you see the naked, that you clothe him; and that you do not reject your own flesh?