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Originally posted by MMike:
Matthew Chapter 6 speaks of prayer. 1-16
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Ibrahim says: Dear Mmike , let me quote the verse you have mentioned
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Matthew 6
"Be careful not to do your ** `acts of righteousness' ** before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So ** when you give to the needy, do not announce it** with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
** so that your giving may be in secret. ** Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
** "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.** I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, ** do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. **
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
** "This, then, is how you should pray:** "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
** "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do,** for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
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Ibrahim says: Obviously ** According to Matthew ** it looks as though one must pray alone , whilst not revealing it to others.
Now let observe this is contradicted by the Prophets who were actually chosen by God to deliver the message.
Gen 17:3, ** Abram fell facedown,** and God said to him,
Gen 24:26, ** Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,**
Gen 24: 52, When Abraham's servant heard what they said, ** he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.**
Exo 34:8, ** Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.**
Exo 4:31, and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, ** they bowed down and worshiped.**
Num 20:6, Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting ** and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.**
Num 22:31, Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. ** So he bowed low and fell facedown.**
Jos 5:14, "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." ** Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence,** and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"
Nehem 8: 4. Ezra the scribe ** stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.** Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and ** as he opened it, the people all stood up. **
- Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and ** all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!** " Then they bowed down and ** worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.**
Dan 6:10, Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.** Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.**
Dan 9:3, 3. So I turned to the Lord God and ** pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.**
1 Chro 29:20, Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; ** they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.**
2 Chro 29:30, King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. ** So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.**
2 Chro 7:3, When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple,** they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD,** saying, "He is good; his love endures forever."
2 Chro 20:18, Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground,** and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.**
Esra 10:1, While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping** and throwing himself down before the house of God, ** a large crowd of Israelites--men, women and children--gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.
Job 1:20, At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. ** Then he fell to the ground in worship**
Ezek 43:3, The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, ** and I fell facedown.**
Mt 26: 39, Going a little farther,** he ( Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ** "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
42, He went away ** a second time and prayed,** "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
44 , So he left them and went away once more ** and prayed the third time,** saying the same thing.
Mk 14:35, Going a little farther, ** he (Jesus) fell to the ground and prayed ** that if possible the hour might pass from him.
Acts 1:14 ** They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.**
Rev 19:4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures ** fell down and worshiped God,** who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, H*alle*lujah!"
Ibrahim says: from the above you can see, that what you have understood in Matthew 6:1 to 16 is more with regards to the hypocrites who used their acts of charities and prayers as a ploy to make money and not with regards to the correct method of worship as practiced by all the Prophets including Christ ( read acts 1;14 again)
In addition all these prophets and Christ ( 24 in number ) also do the same method of worship and address it to Alle (Pronounced Allah) in heaven too ( read revelations 19:4)
Thus the only method approved by God was submission by prostration and as well as praising God whist standing , sitting, kneeling or even lying down as practiced by the Prophets and believers at large.
I trust you have been shown a clearer picture by the above verses.
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I realize certain postures are more common place in other cultures or religions.
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Ibrahim says I believe you are mistaken all messengers and prophets had only conveyed the same method but mankind due to their laziness , pride aned desire had altered them again and again.
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Yes Ibrahim, Once during a very difficult time in my life I prostrated myself in during my prayer to God.
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Ibrahim says: what made you do such a thing! As you yourself have mentioned it, it was due to difficulties you had experienced, which means only when God tested you, you on your own had submitted to him as approved for mankind whereas the believers are to submit to Him in gratitude not when one is in difficulty alone.
I pray you will see the true meaning behind prostration in prayer (humbling oneself in front of his Creator out of gratitude not out of need) as compared to other methods of worship as practiced by mankind.
At the same time If Christ had done it why would a follower of Christ not do it?
Regards
Ibrahim
** A single grateful thought addressed in humility and reverence , raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer **