SIMPLE PRAYER (Part I)

By Odon Bulamba

If you are blessed, we can pray and receive something from God, not only for us but for all our descendents. If you are saved, your whole family will be saved. In the early church three thousand were saved from different countries and this is the result when we pray earnestly. When the spirit speaks, it’s not with a human tongue; it’s the way we act that will attract people to Jesus.

Acts 13:3, they fasted, prayed and laid hands. Fasting and prayer go together, Jesus used to fast. The early church used to pray only and the Spirit was there. Now we have been taught to fast.

There are three types of prayer:
1. simple
2. fast – harder, prayer and strength in difficult cases, efficient
3. watch – Jesus could pray all night

This message is about the simple prayer. Mathew 6:5-13, this is the pattern Jesus gave us to pray. In verse 5 it talks about hypocrisy and God is against that. We can be hypocrites before humans and before God. If I want people to know it is me preaching or praying, I am a hypocrite. When some pray before a crowd, they use complicated words to frighten people or to put people in confusion and to show off. Don’t be like the Pharisees who want to be seen and are proud.

Mathew 6:5, “do not be seen by others”. It is not about seeing you but seeing the glory of God through you.
Be humble, Hebrews 5:7,8, Jesus prayed and cried and tears would run down. The one who wants to be exalted will be humbled and the one who is humbled will be lifted up. To be humble is to admit what sin means. If I do this, will it be sin? If yes, ask God to forgive. If I say those words, will people be happy or shocked? If I am a Christian, I represent Jesus; will I give a good image of you if I pray with really high standards? Some one who sees me must see Jesus through me.

We have been created in God’s image. Like a negative of a photo, you can recognise who is in the photo but you can’t see very well. But if you develop it, you can see well. Even if you don’t see the face, you can know from the pants they are wearing, who it is. We must reflect God’s image. God doesn’t want us to be seen but for Him to be seen. In our prayers we must make ourselves disappear completely; it is only through us something comes out. If we pray and others know we are praying, God is jealous and we must worship Him alone. If you want the success you make yourself equal to God and remember that satan wanted the glory also.