Prayer
18.PrayerinPublic
Matthew6:5"Andwhenthouprayest,thoushaltnotbeas thehypocritesare:fortheylovetopraystandinginthe synagoguesandinthecornersofthestreets,thattheymaybe seenofmen.VerilyIsayuntoyou,Theyhavetheirreward."
Meaning:Publicprayerisnotwrong,ifitisdoneright.Jesus, Solomon,David,andElijah,allprayedinpublic,buttheynever lostfocusoftheOnetoWhomtheywerepraying.Whenwepray inpublic,wearenotprayingtoman,buttoGod.Whenour prayersaremadetobeseenandheardbyman,wehavegained anemptyreward.Publicprayerofferedinprideisan abominationtoGod.
Application:Wemustpraypubliclywithhumility. ThestoryofthePhariseeandthepublicanisagood reminderofhowweshouldpray."ThePharisee stoodandprayedthuswithhimself"andhewasthe onlyonewhoheardit."Godresisteththeproud,but givethgraceuntothehumble"(James4:6).Public prayershouldleadotherstoanaudiencewithGod overspecificmatterswithoutdrawingattentionto self.Pridewillmakepublicprayerineffectivefor theoffererandtheoneforwhomtheprayeris offered.
OtherVersesforStudy:IIChronicles6:13-15;7:14;Psalm42:4; 95:6;Proverbs16:5;Matthew18:20;Luke18:9-14;Acts1:13,14; 20:36
1.Wemustpraypubliclywith_______________________________.
2.Whatwillmakepublicprayerineffective?
3.Whatkindofpersonlikestopraytobeseenofmen?