by

Pastor Charles L. Stevenson, Sr., Senior Pastor

Praying with Persistence

The Lord taught that righteousness manifests itself in prayer:  Prayer is perhaps the greatest manifestation of faith a child of God can demonstrate.  In praying, we address words to a God we cannot see but we believe exists. 

We are one among multitudes who are praying, yet we believe God singles out our petition and hears it specifically.  We believe God is not alienated from His creation and is able to move in answer to our prayers.  The very act of praying is based upon faith.  “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

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With a sweep of His hands, the Lord Jesus Christ brushed aside the righteousness of the Pharisees.  He said, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 5:20).

 In chapter 6, the Lord showed that not only their interpretation of the Law but also their practice of the Law was erroneous.

The Pharisees were characterized not only by hypocrisy, but also by avarice (greed), or covetousness.  The two go hand in hand.  An earlier example of this is recorded in I Samuel 2.  The two sons of the high priest, Eli were men of responsibility in the religious life of Israel.  But they were hypocrites, and this manifested itself in greed.  The Law had provided that a priest was to be supplied food from the offerings brought to the Lord.  But the offering was the Lord’s offering and belonged to Him. 

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