An elder on prayer

One of our elders wrote this article on prayer. I thought I would pass it along.

What are some of the following basic truths that God teaches us?

1- By dying on the cross, Jesus reopened the Way to the Tree of Life—our free and eternal salvation. A huge move.

2- By dying on the cross, Jesus became our Mediator, reopening our communication lines with the Father.

3- By dying on the cross, Jesus became our one and only Mediator. He paid with His life for all this.

The purpose of Prayer—how and where we should pray

We pray to the Father to glorify and acknowledge His purposes. We pray ONLY through the Name of Jesus, because the Holy Spirit prompts us when and what to pray. Jesus details this further: "When you pray go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Mt 6:6-7.

Notice: It's all about Jesus! He is the only way we can get to the Father to be heard of His redeemed believers

He said of Himself: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jn 14:6 That is an indisputable truth, and an irrefutable fact.

How has history distorted these scriptural directives, truths, and teachings?

a- Our mother church, the Catholic Church, has placed mere mortals into a wooden box with a black drape covering a hole the size of a window. Behind the drape sits a Priest, who acts in place of the true Mediator by listening to the sins of human (hypocrites all) who confess their sins to a mere human and seek his forgiveness for a penance fee. Then the Priest by-passes Christ by forgiving the sinner--for a price. This is bad news, because it is not God's way. It is false doctrine! The blind leading the blind.

b- When Jesus said "No one comes to the Father except through me," the Catholic Church further distorted Scripture by placing Jesus' Mother Mary into Jesus' earned place. "Hail Mary's" are babbled as they pray to her instead. This is also bad news because it violates God's Word. (Jn 14:6 above). Therefore more untruths peddled off as "Gospel truths."

c- God's house is to be a house of prayer and worship. Not violated by money traders. Money grew to become a prominent part of the Catholic Church, and it still is. More man-made mistakes. Jesus over threw the money changers tables and kicked them out of the temple area in Holy anger!

Summary:

1- Mankind has assumed God's prerogative of forgiving sins, and are misleading the blind.

2- Mankind has substituted Mary for Jesus—striping Him of His sacrifice, which made Him our Mediator.

3- Mankind has introduced money making penance in exchange for God's prerogative of free forgiveness through Jesus' death—the One who paid the ultimate price. It is His FREE gift to us.

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