What Are the Principles of Secret and Public Forms of Prayer

LESSON 5

WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF SECRET AND PUBLIC FORMS OF PRAYER?

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on Biblical Perspectives on Prayer and Fasting. The topic for this study is: What are the Principles of Secret and Public Forms of Prayer? For us to understand the various aspects contained in these forms of prayer, the lesson has been categorised into three sub-sections as follows:

1) SECRET PRAYER

Secret prayer is a form of prayer whereby one communes with God alone. From the gospel of Matthew, we read the following words of Christ in relation to secret prayer:

"6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

(Matthew 6:5, 6) From the passage above, the guideline for secret prayer is very clear. Christ would have us to enter into our closet and shut the door. In other words, this prayer session is to be done in a very secret place where we can give all the attention to God. The reason for this is to obtain a quiet time alone with God. There are several examples of God's people who engaged in active secret prayers. Ranging from patriarchs (Genesis 32:24-30), prophets (1 Kings 17:17-24), kings (2 Samuel 7:18-29), and the disciples of Christ in the New Testament (Acts 10:9), the sweet incense of secret prayers ascended before God. Our Lord Jesus Christ was able to overcome all the devices of Satan as a result of secret prayers. He who had laid down His Divinity to tread the path of a servant so He could save humanity (see Philippians 2:5-8), thought it necessary to obtain strength daily from His heavenly Father. In fact, the gospels are filled with several accounts of how Jesus was found alone in prayer in the morning (Mark 1:35), during the day (Luke 5:16), in the evening (Matthew 14:23), and at night (Luke 6:12). If our Lord found it important to always commune with the Father so He could obtain strength to overcome Satan, and be able to finish His salvific work for humanity, how much more those of us who have been weakened as a consequence of our own submission to sin over and over again?

Friends, secret prayer is an indispensable spiritual exercise for everyone who wants to experience and know God. At this point, I will want us to consider some spiritual benefits of secret prayer:

A) In the place of secret prayer, one is able to open the heart completely unto God. All the pretense and hypocrisy are laid aside as we lay bare before the One with whom we have to do (Hebrews 4:13). Shut in with God alone, we are able to open up unto Him our innermost longings such as the confession of grievous sins, the narration of our deepest sorrows, our fondest joys and our highest aspirations. In the place of secret prayer, God becomes our dear Friend and Confidant; One that we are able to share the little and big details of everything that happens in our life with.

B) It is from the place of secret prayer that we obtain strength to live the Christian life. Through secret prayer our relationship with God blossoms and grows as we pray unto Him and meditate on His Word. We begin to experience God in a personal way for ourselves. We get to the point where we begin to long for that time alone with God (see Psalm 42:2).

C) One who consistently comes to God in secret prayer will learn to forsake and abhor sin. For it is impossible for anyone to continue to savour a joyful relationship with God in prayer while holding on to a particular sin. Either the person will cling on to the sin and stop approaching God in secret, or will hold on to God in secret and let the sin go.

D) Secret prayer is the place where we struggle with God on any issue that perplexes our hearts. On the ground of secret prayer, we are able to hold on to God even as Jacob struggled with God and would not let Him go (Genesis 32:24-29). Here, amazing victories over self and sin are won. Here, the child of God experiences the moving of the hand of Omnipotence.

E) Secret prayer enables us to place our implicit trust in God. When we see unique prayer requests that we filed to God in secret answered beyond our wildest imagination, our trust and confidence in God grows. We begin to realise that God is not for some other people but also for us as well. We come to know the truth that God is not actually a distant Being but rather a close Friend who is interested to assist us in all our daily affairs.

2) PUBLIC PRAYER

Public prayer is a form of prayer whereby two or more people commune with God. Examples of public prayer include prayers said during family worship and church assemblies. Public prayer is also a vital part of the Christian experience. Family worship and prayer is what gives breath to congregational assemblies. When members of the family pray together, it means the church is praying as the church is composed mainly of various family units. It is difficult for a family that prays together to fall apart. Satan is well aware of this and so has instituted a very busy system of lifestyle in our society which makes it very difficult for families to meet and pray together. Despite this busy system of the world, it is incumbent upon every Christian family to make time at least in the morning and evenings for family worship which should include a vibrant form of prayer from the members of the family. From the pen of inspiration, we read the following in relation to this point: i) "Family worship should not be governed by circumstances. You are not to pray occasionally and, when you have a large day's work to do, neglect it. In thus doing you lead your children to look upon prayer as of no special consequence. Prayer means very much to the children of God, and thank offerings should come up before God morning and evening. Says the psalmist, "O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." -- (Pr 189.1) ii) "The Lord has a special interest in the families of His children here below. Angels offer the smoke of the fragrant incense for the praying saints. Then in every family let prayer ascend to heaven both at morning and at the cool sunset hour, in our behalf presenting before God the Saviour's merits. Morning and evening the heavenly universe takes notice of every praying household." -- (Pr 190.2) iii) "In every Christian home God should be honored by the morning and evening sacrifices of prayer and praise. Children should be taught to respect and reverence the hour of prayer. It is the duty of Christian parents, morning and evening, by earnest prayer and persevering faith, to make a hedge about their children." -- (Pr 190.5) Besides family worship, another important aspect of public prayer is the prayers said during worship services at church. We find several examples in Scripture in respect to public prayer sessions by God's people. In the Old Testament, we usually read about God's people gathering to praise, worship and put their petitions before the living God (see 1 Kings 8:22-24; 2 Chronicles 20:1-17; Nehemiah 9:1-6). The case is not different in the New Testament. Here, we find a clear picture of our Saviour engaging in several forms of public prayer sessions (see Luke 9:28; John 6:11; Mark 8:6; John 11:41-44). Moreover, the book of Acts records various events whereby the body of believers met and prayed together (Acts 1:13, 14; Acts 2:41, 42; Acts 4:23-31). A typical example of this is chronicled in relation to the story of Peter's imprisonment. From Acts 12:5-17, we read about how the body of believers met and prayed for Peter who had been put in prison by Herod. Through the effective prayers of the church body, God sent an angel to release Peter from the heavily guarded prison. All these examples help us to understand the point that in the life of a believer, both secret prayer and public prayer should be seen as essential, and duly practiced. From the pen of inspiration, we read the following: "Seek every opportunity to go where prayer is wont to be made. Those who are really seeking for communion with God will be seen in the prayer meeting, faithful to do their duty and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefits they can gain. They will improve every opportunity of placing themselves where they can receive the rays of light from heaven." -- (Pr 198.1) Because public prayer involves several people, the prayer session can easily be affected by negative human activity. Outlined below are some points that we should keep in mind to ensure an effective public prayer session:

A) Public prayers bring us into the presence of God. As we approach the living God in prayer, we must utilise appropriate words and prayer postures that show honour and reverence to Him.

B) Prayers offered in public must not be too long. Long prayers offered in public weary the congregation and lead many minds to wander from the place of prayer. An appropriate place where we can spend long sessions of prayer with God is in our secret place of prayer.

C) Public prayers must be straight to the point. We must avoid continuous repetitions (see Matthew 6:7, 8), and the unnecessary use of big words. We must endeavour to use appropriate language and words that can be understood by the large majority of the people present.

D) During public prayer sessions, persons appointed to conduct various prayers should focus on the prayer point that has been assigned them. Public prayer sessions are not the places to reveal the hidden secrets of one's personal life.

E) Public prayer sessions should be conducted with a reverence for the house of God. When we come to worship and pray in the house of God, we must not treat the place as a common market place. Two times in the ministry of Jesus, He found it urgent and important to sack people who had made God's house of prayer a den of thieves through the selling of their merchandise (see John 2:13-17; Mark 11:15-18). Today, you and I may not sell our various secular goods in the church house but can also show a similar attitude of gross irreverence towards the house of God. Some principles that we should consider in order not to desecrate the house of God are considered in the next section.

3) REVERENCE FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD

It is a fearful thing to desecrate in any way the house of Jehovah (see Leviticus 19:30). Many are those who go to various houses of worship without a regard that the place is the house of God, and hence should be treated in a proper manner. Outlined below are various practices that show irreverence in the house of God:

A) To habitually attend church services late. Many of God's people who make it their practice to be prompt in their secular and other work assignments often see nothing wrong in coming to the church of God late. By this action they clearly express to God that they do not regard their appointment with Him as of prime importance as their secular or other forms of engagement. If such people could only see the records of the heavenly angels in attendance regarding their poor estimation concerning the worship of God, they would quickly turn from this evil in horror. The church of God must not wait for latecomers in order to proceed with the designated format of service; for many of those who come late are likely to change their ways when they continually miss the blessings of the beginning portions of the service. From the pen of inspiration, we read the following in relation to this point: "The meeting should open at the appointed hour if possible, be there few or many present. Formality and cold stiffness should be laid aside, and all should be prompt to duty." -- (Pr 203.2) B) To chat on issues outside the main themes of worship as service is ongoing. Many people lose the blessings of God in the sacred assembly because of their engagement in unnecessary conversations. Others too busily engage themselves with their smart phones; replying to chats, watching photos and videos, following sports events, playing games etcetera. Due to these engagements, words that the Lord had prepared to save such people from their sins do not reach them as their minds are not concentrated on the worship service. To all of such people, the angel of God who has been instructed to oversee the worship service withholds from them the blessings that they should have obtained in coming to the place of worship. They return home worse than they came to the place of worship, and Satan exults over them.

C) To walk up and down in the church house as worship is ongoing. One of the negative activities that seriously affect public worship and prayer is incessant moving of the worshippers. Many come to the church house and busy themselves with one activity or the other as worship service is ongoing. It is as if they are not part of the children of God that need the salvific message of Christ that the Lord had prepared for His children for that particular day. Usually, pastors and church elders are found easy prey to this devise of Satan. They are usually impressed to be moving up and down, organising mini-meetings or standing at the back with the mindset to have a proper observation of what is going on in the church. This impression does not come from God. As they engage in these varied duties, they forget that the Spirit of the Lord had brought them to church to also worship and learn at the feet of Jesus (see Ecclesiastes 5:1).

Some ministers, elders and members return home from church services without the blessings that God has given His people through His Word. Instead of being humble like Mary to sit at the feet of Jesus at church (see Luke 10:38-42), such people would want to show off their administrative roles as church leaders by moving up and down in the course of the church service. Oh! What an example the ministers of God and their elders will have on the congregation if they reverently sat at church to focus on the entire worship service. It is important for us to note that the practice of a continuous movement by anyone in the church without a very critical reason is an offense before the One whom Seraphs cover their faces and bow their knee in worship (see Isaiah 6:1-7; Revelation 4:6-8; Revelation 7:11; Revelation 19:4).

D) To sleep or loiter at the rear of the congregation as service is ongoing. These activities form part of the negative activities that show disrespect for the house of God. It is at the church house that some of God's people decide to take their weekly siesta. Many people stress themselves so much throughout the week that they find the Sabbath worship service an appropriate time for sleep. All who sleep during worship and prayer services show gross disrespect to God. Angels take notice of this attitude, and place this deed in the record books of heaven.

For those that Satan cannot tempt to sleep, he tempts them to loiter around while the worship service is ongoing. While the family of God is busily engaged in worship and prayer, Satan tempts all he can control to separate themselves from the main congregation and loiter at the back. It is Satan's shrewd plan that through this separation he would make these people miss the bread of heaven that has been prepared to help them to overcome their weaknesses, sins and also serve as encouragement in their spiritual journey.

E) To litter the church house with various items such as food remains, toiletries and even gum. Many of us will usually keep our homes very neat and tidy. Yet, when we go into the house of God, we litter the place and leave the place desecrated. This attitude shows gross disrespect to the living God. Sometimes, some women will buy various food items for their children to use in the church house and through this activity litter the place of worship. All who engage in this practice will not be excused from the sin of desecrating the house of God. The children must be disciplined to go without food for the short period whereby the family will be at worship. A continuous application of this principle will make it a normal habit for them.

Moreover, under no circumstances should adult members eat and drink in a house that has been dedicated to the worship of Jehovah. For if we could see the countenances of the angels that attend our worship as we desecrate God's house in such a manner, we would speedily move all activities involving eating and drinking to an appropriate place outside the worship premises. As if eating and drinking in the church is not bad enough, some church members also engage in the spiteful habit of chewing gum at the church house. You see friends, this is not even something that we will dare to practice before prominent worldly leaders, yet out of ignorance or spitefulness, some amongst us chew gum on the premises that has been dedicated to the living God. Some hardened members even go to the extent of placing the gums on or beneath the various pews at the church house. If there are some things that are seriously abhorring to our heavenly Father, the practice of chewing gum at church is one of them. We will save ourselves from many curses if we change in our ways in how we treat the house of God. For the Lord delights that we honour His place of worship above all other places of human gathering.

F) To come into the house of God with a form of dressing that is not modest and appropriate. Several of God's people enter into the house of God with a form of fashion that is intended to draw the attention unto themselves. Anything that will make the congregation turn their attention from the living God unto a mere man should not be utilised as clothing for the house of God. Sometimes, the design and extravagance of a form of clothing, even though appropriate in its sewing, should not be utilised in the house of God as a result of this important point. On the part of women, clothes that reveal various sensual parts should not be worn at all in public let alone utilised for church assemblies. Women who adorn themselves with revealing clothing at church are yet to meet the Saviour they profess to know. It is the work of ministers and elders to teach the congregation about modest and appropriate forms of clothing that members can wear to the place of worship which pleases God and gives glory to His holy name.

G) To allow the mind to wander on business and other secular issues while physically present at the church house. Some abuse the time spent at church by focusing their minds on secular business engagements. It is here that they do all the planning in relation to their secular businesses. Such people usually think to deceive the congregation of their physical presence in the church but they forget that the One they have to deal with is the mighty God who knows all about our hearts and thoughts. From the pen of inspiration, we read the following in relation to how we must guard our thoughts during worship on the Sabbath: "The words and thoughts should be guarded. Those who discuss business matters and lay plans on the Sabbath, are regarded of God as though they engaged in the actual transaction of business. To keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even allow our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character." -- (CCh 269.3) H) The house of God should not be treated as a house designated for a social club meeting. It is not a place where people come for mere socialising and visiting, feasting or merrymaking or for worldly entertainment or amusement. The Scripture declares God's house as a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7). In the church house or temple where the Monarch of the universe is worshipped, the congregation must carefully observe holy silence and awe (see Habakkuk 2:20; Matthew 18:20; Psalm 29:2); only the sound of praise, thanksgiving, worship and prayer should be heard within its walls. At this point in our study, an important question that begs for an answer is this: What about the use of musical instruments in the house of God?

Friends, even though the Bible approves of musical instruments during worship services (see Psalm 92:1-3; Psalm 150:1-5), it is incumbent on the leadership of the church to ensure that the use of them is in harmony with the keeping of high reverence in the house of God. No tunes or harmonies should come from any of our instruments that will excite the people to desecrate the house of prayer through lewdness and dancing. On this issue, many have argued that dancing in the presence of God is acceptable because king David danced before the Lord with all his might (see 2 Samuel 6:14-22). But such people forget the fact that the grounds whereon David danced before the Lord was not a holy ground of worship but rather a common ground of merry celebration (see 2 Samuel 6:1-23). The pen of inspiration has this to say in relation to the popular dancing of David in Scripture: "The music and dancing in joyful praise to God at the removal of the ark had not the faintest resemblance to the dissipation of modern dancing. The one tended to the remembrance of God and exalted His holy name. The other is a device of Satan to cause men to forget God and to dishonor Him." -- (CCh 164.2) David’s example of methodical dancing that was performed outside the temple premises was not an isolated case of sacred dancing among the people of God. From the pen of inspiration, we read the following comment on dancing in relation to the Feast of Tabernacles as conducted during Jesus' ministry on earth: "At evening when the lamps were lighted, the court was a scene of great rejoicing. Gray-haired men, the priests of the temple and the rulers of the people, united in the festive dances to the sound of instrumental music and the chants of the Levites." -- (DA 463.2) Beloved, besides these sacred dances that were done outside the temple to the glory of God, one can go through the Scriptures from beginning to the end and will not find a single quote whereby any kind of dancing was performed by God's people in the temple worship service as it’s been done in some quarters of our church today. At this point in our study, another important question that begs for an answer is this: "How do you explain the passages of Psalm 149:1-3 and Psalm 150:1-4 which seem to encourage God's people to praise the Lord through dancing in the sanctuary? From Adventist Affirm, we come across an article titled "Shall We Dance?" by Samuele R. Bacchiocchi. In this article, the author considers in detail the primary question: Does the Bible support dancing as part of the worship service? I will encourage you to read the entire article online through the following link:

https://www.adventistsaffirm.org/previous-issues/volume-14-number-2/shall-we-dance

Here is a quote from the article which seeks to address the question which has been raised above: "It is important to note first of all that the invitation to praise the Lord with "dancing" is based on a disputed translation of the Hebrew term machowl, rendered as "dancing" in Psalm 149:3 and as "dance" in Psalm 150:4. Some scholars believe that machowl is derived from chuwl, which means "to make an opening"--a possible allusion to a "pipe" instrument. In fact this is the marginal reading given by the King James Version. Psalm 149:3 states: "Let them praise his name in the dance" [or "with the pipe," KJV margin]. Similarly Psalm 150:4 reads: "Praise him with the timbrel and dance" [or "pipe," KJV margin].

The marginal reading of the KJV is supported by the context of both Psalm 149:3 and Psalm 150:4, where the term machowl occurs in the context of a list of instruments to be used for praising the Lord. Besides machowl, in Psalm 150 the list includes eight instruments: trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, stringed instruments, organs, cymbals, clashing cymbals (KJV). Since the Psalmist is listing all the possible instruments to be used to praise the Lord, it is reasonable to assume that machowl also is a musical instrument, whatever its nature might be." (Shall We Dance by Samuele Bacchiocchi) From the clear explanation above, it is out of place for anyone to use the texts of Psalm 149:3 and Psalm 150:4 as a justification for God's people to dance in the house of God, and by so doing profane the worship service. From the pen of inspiration, we read the following strong words in relation to the issue of modern dancing in the house of God: "The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit." -- (2SM 36.2) Woeful are the judgements that the Lord can unleash upon those who transgress the principles of keeping holy the place which has been dedicated to His worship (see Leviticus 10:1-3). However, if through the grace of Christ, we purpose in our hearts to reverence the house of God, the Lord will give us the needed strength to meet this biblical requirement. We will then receive the blessings of God when we come to spend time in His presence; and like the second king of Israel, we can joyfully declare that "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psalm 122:1; see also Psalm 27:4; Psalm 82:2-4, 10; Psalm 76:11; Psalm 96:8).

Exhortation: If God's people will practice the good principles of secret and public prayers, they will experience the moving hand of the omnipotent God in all their assemblies. From the pen of inspiration, we read the following in relation to secret and public forms of prayer: A) "Secret prayer is very important; in solitude the soul is laid bare to the inspecting eye of God, and every motive is scrutinized. Secret prayer! How precious! The soul communing with God! Secret prayer is to be heard only by the prayer-hearing God. No curious ear is to receive the burden of such petitions. In secret prayer the soul is free from surrounding influences, free from excitement. Calmly, yet fervently, will it reach out after God." -- ( Pr 178.1) B) "Let small companies assemble in the evening, at noon, or in the early morning to study the Bible. Let them have a season of prayer, that they may be strengthened, enlightened, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This work Christ wants to have done in the heart of every worker. If you yourselves will open the door to receive it, a great blessing will come to you. Angels of God will be in your assembly. You will feed upon the leaves of the tree of life. What testimonies you may bear of the loving acquaintance made with your fellow workers in these precious seasons when seeking the blessing of God. Let each tell his experience in simple words. This will bring more comfort and joy to the soul than all the pleasant instruments of music that could be brought into the churches. Christ will come into your hearts. It is by this means only that you can maintain your integrity." -- (Pr 198.4) C) "When the word is spoken, you should remember, brethren, that you are listening to the voice of God through His delegated servant. Listen attentively. Sleep not for one instant, because by this slumber you may lose the very words that you need most—the very words which, if heeded, would save your feet from straying into wrong paths. Satan and his angels are busy creating a paralyzed condition of the senses so that cautions, warnings, and reproofs shall not be heard; or if heard, that they shall not take effect upon the heart and reform the life. Sometimes a little child may so attract the attention of the hearers that the precious seed does not fall into good ground and bring forth fruit. Sometimes young men and women have so little reverence for the house and worship of God that they keep up a continual communication with each other during the sermon. Could these see the angels of God looking upon them and marking their doings, they would be filled with shame, with abhorrence of themselves. God wants attentive hearers. It was while men slept that Satan sowed his tares." -- (5T 493.1) D) "True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the Unseen the heart of every child should be deeply impressed. The hour and place of prayer and the services of public worship the child should be taught to regard as sacred because God is there. And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor, the feeling that inspires it will be deepened." -- (Pr 199.3) In our next study, we will consider the topic: What is the Necessity of Fasting in Prayer? The Bible Study references for this study are Psalm 35:13, Nehemiah 9:1-3, Mark 2:18-20, Matthew 17:14-21 and Acts 13:1-3. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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