“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8 NASB
Religious tradition keeps people in captivity, in hostage. How many women are hostage because they are told their hair is to short or they cannot have on makeup? Or how many people believe it is wrong to have a tv? The church needs to stop telling people that certain things are Godly, and certain things are not. Why is the church trying to be religious about everything?
Guard yourself against men’s traditions, against religion. Men, when you get married, you have to guard your wife against herself. Wives, guard your husbands. Isn’t it amazing in the religious world how all the rules have to do with women? I went to a Christian School when I was a kid, and I felt so bad for the girls because they would have to play sports in culottes, which are like skirts. Boys were fine to wear shorts, but the girls had to wear dresses like girls can’t lust? I understand that there is not one guy that looks as good as a girl, but do you see my point? Why is it that all the rules have to do with the women? Like, you have to submit to your husband. Ok, well, when are we going to teach the women in the church that they can look at their husband and say, ‘you need to live your life submitted to Christ.’ The Bible says that husbands are to love their wives like Christ loves the church, then it says wives submit unto your husbands as they submit unto the Lord. Don’t get mad reading this because I am talking against some of your traditions if you believe the Bible then you have got to put it in context. Men should never tell a woman when they can or cannot talk. A woman should not have to go to her husband to ‘ask permission.’ If the husband is the head of the family, and he is leading it effectively, they are going to go to their wife and say, ‘honey, what do you think about this, or do you mind if I do this.’ And the wife will also go to her husband and do that. It is an act of mutual submission. Yes, the father is the head of the home, and no one is arguing that. But, the responsibility on him is much greater than on the wife.
How does the Bible define our role in prayer? Look again at 1 Thessalonians 5, it says, pray without ceasing. That word, without ceasing, in the Greek, means constantly reoccurring. If the Bible says to avoid repetition but to constantly be reoccurring in prayer, how do you balance those two out?
“Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit, he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? 1 Corinthians 14:1-6 NASB
If we are supposed to pray without ceasing but avoid vain repetition, pray in tongues. If you are hearing someone else pray in tongues and it doesn’t get interpreted, it does nothing for you.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NASB
Paul is writing the church at Ephesus saying, be imitators of Christ as a child. If you are honest, how many of you would say that your prayers in English are mostly the same? Now look at what Romans 8 says,
“Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:34 NASB
Here Paul is writing the church at Rome saying, listen, folks, Jesus is at the right hand of God, and He is interceding for us. In the amplified Bible, it says that He is pleading for us. Have you ever been stuck in sin? Alcoholism, drugs, adultery, lying, stealing, fornication? It says that Jesus sits at the right hand of God, pleading for you.
“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 NASB
In the amplified, intervene is used instead of intercession. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God intervening on our behalf. The Bible says in the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established. Here in two verses, we saw that Jesus is constantly making intercession for us. How do we have an effective prayer life? We pray in tongues. We pray the Word. We pray without ceasing. Ephesians tells us to be imitators of Christ; if Jesus is sitting at the right hand of His Father, making intercession for us, then there are times in your prayer life that you can say, God, I am going to immolate my brother Jesus. Let’s look at Matthew 18,
“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:18-19 NASB
The Bible tells us to be imitators of Christ, so the next time you are struggling, and you’ve prayed in tongues, and you have prayed in English, and you feel like it is vain repetition, this is what you need to do, say, ‘Father, I am going to be an imitator of Christ. The Bible says right now He is interceding for me. Lord, I’m going to come into agreement with my brother. I agree with what Jesus is praying about me. Father, I thank you that Jesus has pure prayers for me. I put myself into an agreement with Jesus right now.’ Why can you do this? Because it just said if two or more agree with anything that our Father will do it.
It doesn’t matter what you are going through in your life, Jesus is constantly pleading for you, interceding for you, and He wants to intervene on your behalf. He wants to step into your situation. Why would you not want to make your prayer life effective and partner with Him? Be imitators of Christ, do what Matthew says, and come into agreement with Jesus. He would not, in any way, pray something for you that is harmful, nonbiblical, or wrong. Then receive it, and put your faith with Jesus.
