A Little Talk With The Spirit Of False Teaching

A Little Talk With The Spirit Of False Teaching

A Jehovah’s witness refused to pray with me today, February 16th 2016, quoting Matthew 6:5-6. “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

He was telling me that I will be a hypocrite if I prayed with others. I said, “Jesus was calling the Pharisees hypocrites because they wanted attention.”

Now, let’s look at the word “closet”. Where else is it used in the Bible and what does it mean? The Greek word for closet is tameion. Strong’s 5009. It means an inner or secret chamber.

This word tameion is also used in Luke 12:3 when Jesus is talking about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”

Unless the Word of God contradicts itself, I’m pretty sure that you are allowed to pray with other people. I mean, what would happen if you did? Is Jesus going to throw you into Hell for praying with a homeless person? Please don’t make me fall off my chair from laughter.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:19

Let’s look at the word “ask” in Greek. Strong’s 154 says that it is aiteó and it means a petition. What is the definition of a petition? The Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary informs us that a petition is a document signed by a large number of people demanding or asking for some action.

The fact is that Jesus never specifically states that we are only allowed to pray in closets. He never commands us to refrain from praying with others, instead, He actually tells us to make petitions in His sanctified name so that we can come together in agreement about some things and work together, praying together to bring His Kingdom here.

Let me point out some places in the Bible where the disciples came together to pray...together.

1. “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14
2. “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42
3. “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31
4. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25
5. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” James 5:14-15
6. “A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Psalm 133:1
7. “When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.” Acts 12:12
8. “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” Acts 12:5

Do you get the point? Remember, the Bible is not trail mix and if it’s not in the Word of God, then it’s not true.

Don’t take my word for it, look it up yourself!