1. Prayer is part of every religion; Job of Christian preachers is to pray.

Prayer is an integral part of every religion. Muslims come in first rank concerning prayer at the present time. Jews ranked first in the old testament times. Hindus have some kind of statue in almost every house, they have respect and fear towards their gods. Every day they offer food, flowers, incents, and such things to them. Christians may come next in line concerning prayer. However, Christian preachers pray for a show and for income, but not for godliness. Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47, all these verses say that preachers pray "for a show or for a pretence, make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation." It says that God does not like their prayers and God will condemn them for their long prayers. They present themselves as brokers and agents between God and people. The pretense is that God will answer their prayers, since God has placed them to pray for people. But it is not true; and scripture says otherwise. "1 Timothy 2:5 ... there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, (that is) Christ Jesus; ... 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, (that is, we must pray, but not by brokers.) ..." It says that Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and people, there must be no other mediator between Jesus Christ and us; and so, we must pray. Preachers must teach people how to pray to Jesus Christ directly, rather than being brokers or agents themselves, between people and Jesus Christ. We do not have to speak in special style for prayer, but just talk as a child ask his father with respect. Your prayer must be in private; Matthew 6:6 says that. Group prayers are for a show, and it is for other people to hear, but God has nothing to do with them. A preacher or a pastor praying for you, is just a ritual. In the bible you cannot find that Jesus or an apostle, or a pastor or an elder pray for the congregation, and at the end the congregation say amen. This kind of litany prayers are the invention of the worldly church; they are manmade. But we think that preachers are friends with God; and so, they are brokers. So, people do not mind paying them money, salary, offerings, tithes, etc. Now, there are many big and small businesses, flourishing as prayer ministries. This is the present situation of Christians praying to God. God wants you to pray for yourself in private, but not by any broker preacher.

2. How Jesus Christ prayed: in submission, in distress, but not for the world?

Since prayer is also an important part of Christian life, let us see how Jesus prayed so that we may also follow him in our prayers. "Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." The water baptism was fulfilling the righteousness of God. When Jesus humbled to John the Baptist, obeyed a common simple ritual to fulfill all righteousness, he prayed; and God answered him immediately. God the Holy Ghost descended on him; and God the Father said in an audible voice, that Jesus was his beloved Son. But now a days, people do not obey God in anything, even in water baptism, finding many theological and social reasons not to obey God; but they pray, and nothing will happen, since God will not listen to their prayers.

John 17th chapter records a few important prayers of Jesus. It begins with "1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ... 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." Jesus made a prayer with commitment in both verses. The Son did glorify the Father by doing what the Father has send him to do even unto the cruel death of the cross. Jesus told the same statement on the cross also in "John 19:30 ... It is finished:" The grace gospel preachers twist them to preach nonsense. We see that the Father kept his manifest presence with the Son throughout his crucifixion, resurrection, and until his anointing as Omnipotent Spirit God again. This was how God the Father has glorified his beloved Son Jesus, and his prayer was answered gloriously. If we glorify God by obeying him until the end, God will glorify us by anointing us as his Sons to inherit his eternal kingdom in heaven. This is the doctrine of God; but false preachers, who are theologians and pastors, twist this doctrine and preach doctrines of Satan. The following verse of Jesus may surprise you. Jesus says in "9, ...: I pray not for the world, ..." Here Jesus says that he will not pray for the unconverted sinning worldly people. But our prayer warriors, pray only for worldly people, for them to have the blessings of this world and heaven, whereas, even they themselves will not go to heaven. And none of these prayers will save any sinning person from hell; and yet it is the prayer point for almost all Christians.

"Matthew 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." He came to Gethsemane to pray to the Father. Please notice, Jesus did not tell his disciples to pray together in his very critical time, but he told them to stay behind, and he will go alone to pray. "37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me." On the offset, it appears that Jesus asked his three intimate disciples to pray for him, but he told them to watch with him, that is to keep close company in his fearful weak moment, but it is not to pray for him. "39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." He prayed alone and poured his heart to his Father. So also, all our important prayers must be in the closet and in private, alone with God. "41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Jesus told them to pray for themselves so that they may not enter into temptation, but it was not to pray for Jesus. This is important for us to notice. It is our habit to ask anybody saying, "pray for me, pray for me." No! it is a bad habit, you must pray for yourself to God, and in private.

3. What things Jesus taught his disciples to pray: what things he teaches us to pray?

Jesus Christ taught his disciples how to pray and how not to pray. "Matthew 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." Our preachers and pastors also pray the same way as the Pharisees and Scribes; because it is their job, which are just rituals; and they are getting their rewards from people; and Jesus says that they will get nothing from God. "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." Please notice two things. First is, God is your Father; and so, you must be in the position of his child. Second is, your prayer must be in private. Then, God will answer you. "7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Our prayers may be with persistence, but it must not be nuisance repetition; if so, it will be in vain; and we become like heathens. "8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." Remember that God knows everything, including the things that you need. So, prayer is conveying your intimacy and love toward God, more than merely asking a bunch of things that you are in need of.

"Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." We must begin with hallowed be thy name. Hallowed means be sanctified or be holy; and so, we must pray to God the Father, let his name be sanctified, or be holy on earth. Then, "10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." As we pray, we must desire his kingdom to come on earth; righteousness and holiness will fill his kingdom; so, we must become righteous and strive to become holy. If his righteousness fills his people on earth, his kingdom has come, and his name be glorified and so, his name become hallowed. "11 Give us this day our daily bread." Secondly, we may ask our food for today, it is daily bread. This prayer may not be even relevant for us today, since we have our bread for a week in our fridge, and for a month in our freezer. So, asking todays bread to God is just a meaningless litany. The next point is, "12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." So, it is to forgive our debts, which is to forgive our sins. But there is a condition attached to it in 14&15. ["14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."] It says, if only we forgive those who harmed us, our sins may also be forgiven, or else it will not be. The next one is, "13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Here temptation is tribulation, and his disciples were always under persecution, but we are not in such tribulation; and so, it may not even apply to us. So, in a nutshell, we must forgive others for our sins to be forgiven, and we must be righteous and be striving to be holy for the kingdom of God to come to us and in us. So, what is prayer? In short, God knows what we need; so, it is not asking things. But prayer is to commune with God and to be one with him.

Disciples had to face many tribulations in the ministry, and they prayed for the power of the Spirit and boldness from God. They were group prayers for specific point of that need. They were not like our prayer meetings; we make lists to pray, including salvation for every criminal around the world. The prayers of our "prayer warriors ministries" are mockery and they are abomination to God. Please look at how do they pray, comparing them with scripture prayers, and know the difference. I have a few prayer references from scripture below. Please read them and compare them with the prayers of our preachers. Prayer of preachers are abomination to God. ["Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; 31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."]

4. Is it prayer to tell God what to do; like we drive a bulldozer to do our job?

Prayer must be our interacting with God, through an intimate, individual, unorganized form of petitioning, praising, and thanksgiving. Prayer must be our devout relationship with God, in a form of worship, spiritual communion, supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, confession, or such things. Such must be the general purpose and principle of prayer. If they are not, God may not listen to our prayers; then prayers go to thin air, and they will be in vain. And then, prayers will be just rituals, and we go through them only for religious obligations. In such prayers, we seem to recite something for a show, for people to hear and admire; and at the end they say amen, assuming that the job is done. So, prayers became meaningless religious rituals.

Bulldozer is a powerful machine. We do a lot of works with a bulldozer that without it we cannot do. God is omnipotent, he can do all things, and nothing is impossible to him. Do we pray to God as we drive a bulldozer, to do the things that we cannot do otherwise? Bulldozer as a machine, has no choice but to do as we operate. Most preachers command Jesus Christ to do what they want him to do. Does God submit to the preachers as a bulldozer? Preachers are arrogant; they do not even believe that God exists; but they are all for a show and for money. They advertise prayers for people to gather, for an all-night prayer, fasting and prayer, pray for India, pray for the nations, pray for the earthquake disaster relief, for great revival, for a breakthrough prayer, and many other kinds of prayer. They make new points as the meeting is going along to keep them enthusiastic, interesting, and entertaining. All such prayer meetings are organized efforts to collect money for themselves. God will punish them for using his name for a show and for money. You better escape from such people and from the wrath of God. Another group that prays is ignorant people; they ask God what all they want; tell God what is going on in the world; remind God what is in the bible; gossip and chitter-chatter with God, and such things. They are just irrelevant, but they do not do harm to others. They are religious, but they are not godly.