"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
Today's lesson should be a very important one to every child of God, and should be diligently taught to those who are new in faith.
In spite of the fact that in Matthew chapter six Jesus made an explicit point of teaching His disciples how they should pray, there is not a church in existence today, that I am aware of, that don't promote just the opposite of what Jesus demanded. Not only did Jesus directly condemn the boastful prayers of the Pharisees, He gave very specific instructions and examples as to how His disciples are to pray in private. "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:5-8)
Many of the rituals of Catholicism and Judaism have been carried over into today's "worship" services and have distorted the very principles that Jesus Himself established. I believe that publicly "leading" prayer is one of them.
I have found NO scriptural authorization for what is today called "leading" prayer, and neither have I found any scripturally established condition under which it should be practiced. So far as I have been able to establish, the only possible purpose for "leading" someone in prayer is to presume to know their innermost thoughts and spiritual needs.
Prayer is the most important tool the child of God has in his/her arsenal against the power of Satan. We should be very quick to humbly pray for our spiritual and physical needs as well as the spiritual and physical needs of those around us. However, we should also be sure to offer those prayers in the manner that Jesus demanded of His disciples.~
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