REPETITIOUS PRAYER !

REPETITIOUS PRAYER !: Jesus went on to say, "But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking" (v. 7). Thus, we have two admonitions from the Lord: [1] don't be like the hypocrites in our praying, that is standing in the street corners or the synagogues to be seen and heard of men. And [2] don't be like the hypocrites in our praying. And that is repeating vain words trying to get an audience with God with much speaking. Jesus said the heathens think they will be heard by their gods because of their repetitious praying. Sad to say, some of this heathen thinking has shipped down into the believer's thinking ! Many have the idea that God will hear them because of their much speaking -- their lengthy and repeated calling on God. They repeat the same prayer -- they say the same phrases and words --- over and over again, thinking they will be heard because of that. But this is actually what Jesus condemned when He said, ". . . Use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do. . ." Then He said, "Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things you have need of, before ye ask him." He knows before you ask, yet He wants you to ask, as we shall see in the next lesson of Matthew, where He said, "Ask, and it shall be given you. . ." (Matthew number 7:7). God does not hear you simply because you repeat the same prayer over and over. Some seem to have the idea that if they could just pray long and loudly enough, eventually they could talk God into hearing them. But God is not going to hear you because you prayed loudly or quietly. As we have seen in previous lessons, it is the prayer of faith that God hears. And the Word of God is the object of your faith are how you gain God's kind of faith. He hears you because you believe: believe what ? His Word and Him when you pray, and you, according to His Word. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER: in the next few verses in Matthew, Jesus taught his disciples some basic elements of prayer. Commonly referred to as the Lord's Prayer, it is more accurately the Disciples Prayer, or the model for praying that He Gave to Them While He walks with them on the earth. Dispensationally speaking, this is not the Church praying, for the disciples did not ask anything in the name of Jesus, or the Word of Jesus. When the Church prays, she prays in the name of Jesus or the Words of Jesus. However, we can learn many truths concerning prayer here. Jesus was not telling the disciples to pray this prayer word for word. He was given them some principles in connection with prayer that will work for the Church which is the body of believers today.