Ambrose.J. Chakre
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact both their minds and consciences are corrupted. Titus 1:15
When it comes to the subject of prayers, the teachings related to the subject of purified prayers are very rarely preached and it is now the time to preach more of it. The prayers prayed in thousands of languages are a gift in itself and just as every soul is precious, the prayers of everyone is valuable. To speak of prayer, it is the very power of God manifesting itself in us through Christ. As far as the sacredness and the uniqueness of prayers are concerned, everyone prays, even adulterers, prostitutes and killers. The truth of this reality is that there can be no life without prayer and it is only because of prayers that we see the light as it is. The different languages of the tribes and nations of the world are a rare jewel and it will be by how well it is used which will determine the quality of the faith of everyone.The church has to understand that prayer is also a gift and the worshippers can also be judged by how they prayed. To come to the point of this sermon, there are many believers who prays with impure motives and such polluted prayers are an abomination in the eyes of God. It is also often noticed that some prays to dampen the faith of others, while others prays to build them up. To this we find that there is a clear distinction between the prayers of the wicked and the righteous and between the prayers of the true and the false. The truth regarding this stance is that, as the heart is so will the prayers be. In regard to this the Scripture states “ What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of man’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander arrogance and folly. All these evils comes from inside and make a man unclean. (Mark 7:21-23) The truth of these verses are not just referred to the sins of the wicked but it is also a clear depiction of the sad spiritual state of many who professes to follow Christ. Remember, it is God who judges and weighs everything and it will be foolishly unwise to continue praying unrigtheously.
Notice this, there are some prayers which heals and some which wounds and it is only in the truth that prayers can be prayed in God’s will. Strange as it is while there are some who does not even know how to pray, the prayers of some veterans are like the prayers of Joab, the evil Commander -in -Chief of David’s army. The Word has been taught to the matured and immatured alike and it will prove to be disastrous if any one is to reject the messages inscripted in the scripture. It is true that there are some who after experiencing the fiercest battles like Joab, tends to backslide like him in the later stages of their lives. The church does not expect this from any member; neither from any of its leaders and it is in the truth that we urge the guilty ones to come to the mainstream. In the authority of Christ I declare that the prayers of many has to be purified, washed and sanctified in the truth. The Word has this to say to the guilty ones “ If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. To the pure, you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. ( Proverbs 28:9 ( Psalm 18:26 ) Further in the 16th verse of the headlined verse, the scripture states “ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. ( Titus 1:16 ) The sternness of this warning are to be feared and obeyed by the disobedient but for the ones who are free from the guilt of this sin, our prayers are for them to rise higher in all that they do.
Every church has to understand that that since we are now in the end times, the prayers of the saints must be refined and polished as gold. And the Church’s authorities must also be ready to hook out every unrighteous, unholy and unhealthy prayers from the church. Remember the failure to teach this can also mean greater harm to the church and greater judgment against the elders of every church. Though it sounds harsh, it is in the truth I write that our prayers will always be against the evil doers in every church. The Wisdom of God thus speaks “ Things that causes people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a mill stone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones who believes in me to sin. So watch yourselves… ( Luke 17:1-3a ) This truth is to confront the wicked of their wicked sins and to perfect the prayers of unscriptural prayers. As it is written “ Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being; so it is with whatever is written in regard to it. ( Proverbs 20:30 ) Let the prayers of the pure in heart increase and it is in the truth that we choose to bless the prayers of ‘such as these ‘. Remember , every line we utter in our sacred prayers must be in conformity with the Word. Even in Christ’ own word, the gospel of Matthew accounts “ I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ( Matthew 18:18 )The truth must be accepted, the reality must be acknowledged and it is only in purity that our prayers can reach heaven. The prayers of the saints must be holy as God is. And even as we write this to build you up, we trust and we expect everyone’s prayers to become better, to grow stronger and to rise higher in the truth. God is what prayer is.
N B: The teachings related to this subject may be sensitive and complicated but these truths are written to bring to the fore the importance of correcting deceitful and undignified prayers. Though it condemns the evils of the wicked, it promotes the virtue of love, passion and uprightness even in prayer. It is our heart’s desire that the prayers of every church be stainless, spotless and blameless. May the wisdom of God guide everyone in prayer.
