What I understand from today's teaching.
Brother Eli made me understand that there are false Prophets who claim to teach the ways of Christ but in reality they don't.
But what does the Bible says concerning this?, we were told that it is what the Bible says we should accept and what the Bible say is in the book of Romance 12:9 it is our obligation to find out what is good or evil. He said that we should listen to only the teachings of Christ as it is in the bible, 1 John 4:1 and 2 Peter 2:1 gave a more explanation of this. He said that the bible is the standard and we should accept what is written in it. He explained why he makes comparison when teaching the doctrines using Ecclesiastes 7:27.
Prayer
Today, I also learnt that prayer is a commandment of God, but many prayers are in Vain. John 9:31, the Lord heareth not sinners but the doers of God's will. I learnt that if the person praying is evil, God doesn't listen but takes delight in the prayers of the upright Proverbs 15:8.
How should we pray?
From Matthew 6:7-8, I learnt that when we pray, we should not use vain repetitive words because God in heaven knows our intentions even before we say them. He stated that repetition is more of pestering God and insinuating that God is deaf. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, teaches us not to be rash with out mouth nor let Hasty our hearts. If we are to pray, let thy word be few.
Furthermore,, he said that many prayers done these days are show off. Noting what was said in Matthew 6:5, which warns us not to pray like the heathens or hypocrites who prays so loud. He said according to the bible, such people have already received their rewards. So when we pray, we are to enter our closet, lock the door and prayer to our Lord in private and the Lord in return will reward us openly. He said prayer is a private matter between we and the Lord.
He also taught us that kneeling down is important when we pray, if we can. Noting that the early Christians knelt down when the prayed Acts 26:38. He noted that kneeling should be horizontally, kneeling and bowing showing a full respect to God.
In conclusion, about prayer, Matthew 6:5&6 we should pray not to show off to people that we are praying, because prayer is a secret communication between us and our God. The Bible says when we pray we should not pray like the hypocrites who pray so that others will see them, Mark 11:25.
Thanks be to God.