The Tone of Prayer • Devotion 6: Hypocritical vs. Authentic Prayer
Pastor John Carter
As we continue to dive into this chapter of Matthew, we will keep looking at the comparison and contrast of hypocrisy versus real (authentic) believers who are walking according to the Word of God. This week we see Jesus comparing and contrasting the ways in which we pray.
Maybe this week the Holy Spirit convicted you of a sin or a lack of time with God. The first step in fixing something is to identify the problem. Once a problem has been identified, we need to commit it to the Lord and continually seek Him. Jesus was teaching His disciples in the garden this very thing. In the midst of trials and difficulties, we need to make sure we are going to the only One that has all the power to forgive and the power to heal.
Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
The warning Jesus is telling us that our flesh is a force to be reconned with. We need to continually be taking time to be alone with God and making sure we are not distracted by outside influences. In the disciples’ case, the outside influence was sleep. Taking time to be alone with God can be a place of rest and comfort, but we need to be diligent to put “one another’s” burdens before God.
Paul also teaches us Who we can go to when it comes to the power of prayer.
Ephesians 1:15-21 says, “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
These are passages of serious encouragement! Our faith in Jesus Christ and the love we have for each other should be a source of hope, knowledge, and wisdom for the awesome privilege we have in serving God the Father. Jesus is the One who sits at the right hand of God. He has been given authority, power, and dominion in our lives. to do great things in our lives to change our wicked hearts to be drawn closer to Him. This promise that Paul so eloquently points out is not just for the age Paul lived in but also for the age we live in. It is for right now!
Be encouraged this week that God is not silent! He is not deaf! He reigns and rules. Hopefully, He has shown you something to work on. I pray and hope as we continue to study through Matthew chapter 6, He will continue to encourage and draw you closer to Him. Desire that He will open your hearts to His powerful truth and the amazing love He has for you.