THE BIBLE AND MALICIOUS PRAYER

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

 

THE BIBLE AND MALICIOUS PRAYER

MAIN TEXT:

“Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully

 use you” (Luke 6:28)

WRITER QUOTES:

 “A prayer as against man is equally a prayer against God,

 for such a prayer, also attracts the image of God in man”

INTRODUCTION:

Malice is great sin against the Lord (Romans 1:29), and any action borne out of it negates His will. This includes prayer. By malicious prayers the writer means any prayer that tends to harm or work against the interest of a person, family, society, nations or establishments. Such a prayer is never answered by God, but by Satan, thus demonic and wicked. Furthermore;

MALICIOUS PRAYER SEEKS TO DESTROY

 BUT GOOD PRAYER SEEKS TO SAVE

        The primary aim for the institution of prayer is to have people in the “gap” between God and man. By nature, man is sinful and always in the habit of provoking God to anger. Thus, the need for people with the spirit of penitence who would play mediatory role in holding back His wrath through prayer. God is never on the look-out for those who would ask Him in prayer to destroy their fellow human beings, but, for those who would always advocate for mercy. Please confirm this in (Ezekiel 22:30).

Contrary to the “Holy ghost fire” invoking prayer of today which seeks to destroy human beings, the Bible intercessors were always in the efforts of saving through prayer and not destroying by it:

i)      The Apostle Paul prayed to save Israel, (Romans 10:1);

ii)      Abraham interceded to save Sodom, (Gen 18:18-31)

iii)     Jesus prayed to save the world, (Luke 23:34); etc

Furthermore, the refusal of Jesus, to invoke fire on those who opposed Him when asked to do so, is a clear indication that those who make malicious prayer are on their own. (Luke 9:51-56)

MALICIOUS PRAYER IS AGAINST HUMAN BEINGS

BUT GOOD PRAYER IS AGAINST THE POWERS OF DARKNESS

        Prayer is a wrestle against evil forces and not against human beings, (Eph 6:12). Put differently, prayer is designed for human begins and against the powers of darkness. “To pray for” means praying for the good of someone. Whereas, “praying against” is praying to harm. The concept of prayer in the Bible does not support the idea of praying against human beings, but against the powers behind their evil actions. On this note, we are asked to pray;

i)      for those who mistreat us and not against them (Luke 6:28)

ii)      against principalities and powers and not against

 flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12)              

iii)     for the forgiveness of those who offend us and

 not their harm, (Acts. 7:60) etc.

Therefore, the fact of malicious prayer in some religious quarters clearly shows that the spirit of anti-Christ is in operation. Biblically speaking, those who through prayer cast death, destruction or misfortune on people, society or establishments are not in the principle of the Lord, but in that of the devil, (John 10:10).

MALICIOUS PRAYER LEADS TO ETERNAL DAMNATION

        Malicious prayer is informed by hate. Without mincing words, the Bible holds that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life in him, (1John 3:15). This includes those who murder or destroy through prayer.

        The master-mind of malicious prayer is the devil. By it, he implements his strategies of killing and destroying of the human souls, (John 10:10). But, as God’s word puts it, Jesus came to seek and to save, (Luke 19:10). So, to work in the principle of destruction in whatever guise, is working against the Lord, and this, will eventually lead to eternal damnation. Based on the cited implications;

i)      “Father forgive them” type of prayer should replace the “back-to-sender” method of prayer, (Luke 23:34)        

ii)      committing judgment into the hands of God in prayer becomes ideal, instead of passing death sentence in prayer, (Romans 2:19) 

iii)     blessing people in prayer should replace cursing them in prayer, (Luke 6:28), etc.

In conclusion, let it be stated that malicious prayer stems from lack of divine love and forgiving spirit. For where there is love, hate disappears, as forgiveness flourishes. Under such an atmosphere, there will be no room for the “Holy ghost fire” and “back-to-sender” prayers which are all forms of malicious prayer. BE INFORMED.