Ohana Prayer 267 – Matthew 23

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 

2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 

3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 

4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 

6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 

7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 

9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 

10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 

11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 

12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees

13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

Righteous and Holy, our Heavenly Father! Thank you! We observe the skyline and know that the daybreak is coming and the light will shine upon us. Have us also to shine forth the light before men as they see our good works and give glory and praise back to You.

Forgive us of our negligence that we study and study the Word and know of it throughout, yet, we failed to live out Your Word! We have become the likeness of the Pharisees, head knowledge and boast of great academic study. Failed to heed of the truth and the substances of Your warnings. Outward display of clean and godly living we have, yet, no deep knowledge of You, no deep experiences with You, claiming of a Christian in word and use it to gain other’s reverence, become of wolf in sheep’s clothing, giving in when temptations arise, failed to fight evildoers, and not even willing to lift one finger when it’s the right thing to do! We are now all talk but no walk. 

Father, we would love to do God’s will so far as our new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within us, in our lower nature, that is at war with our mind and wins the fight and makes us a slave to the sin that is still within us. In our mind we want to be God’s willing servant, but instead we find ourselves still enslaved to sin. Help us!

Blessed be he that comes in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. Praise and laud to our Lord Jesus! For You are our only salvation and deliverance! Only You can deliver us from the law of sins of the flesh and thoughts and guide us to rebuild the law of godly obedience.

Pray for the blood of the Lord Jesus to cleanse our body, mind and spirit deeply. It not only washes our external speech and actions, but also washes our inner secret chambers, disinfects our every thought with spiritual ultraviolet light, and measures our body temperature and enthusiasm with the truth of the Bible. To walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we were called, to live out the fragrance of Christ, and bring honored to God.

Holy Spirit, we ask you to light our heart’s lamp of prayer, and through prayer to climb up to the lampstand again, illuminate the people of our family. 

Dear Holy Spirit, we are totally humble and obedient to Your guidance. Please open our spiritual eyes and guide the way with the Holy Word, so as not to lead the way blindly, and fall into the pit with others. Tell us to put aside of our pride, walk with the brothers and sisters with humility, and build a protective wall of prayer and faith with the churches in the district. In the face of this pandemic and unstable political situation, we will stand firm, hold high the banner of the cross, and Raise the light of hope, be sensitive to your whisper in our hearts: “This is the right way, walk in it.” In these last days, be a worker of the age, working hard for the opened gate of heaven, and living for the Lord.

Pray this in the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.