Hales’ Advice on Prayer Stops Way Short of Jesus’ Cross

20 March

Luke 18:11, 13; “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

 Mormon Today, ‘Elder Hales’ Advice on How to End Your Prayer Could Change Your Life’;  “When we end our prayers with “Thy will be done,” we are doing what the Savior did in the Garden of Gethsemane, for what we are saying is, “Whatever the test, whatever I’m to learn, I will always love Thee.” – Robert D. Hales

Matthew 26:39; “And he went a little further, 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”.

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”.

The other day Melissa gave me a heads up about the article we’re highlighting today. While the preview sounds admirable, the real story is found in what Mr. Hales didn’t say.

While challenging people to end their prayers with a determined and meaningful purpose, we noticed no scripture reference was listed when he quoted Mathew 26:39. Foregoing the  oversight, the more important issue here goes back to what is missing.

You see beloved, the LDS Church has decided to teach that Jesus paid for some of your sins in the Garden of Gethsemane, and this they say, is the real place of Jesus ‘atonement’. While they believe He died on the cross, the redeeming work of Christ was already accomplished by that time. (According to the Church’s doctrines). Yikes!

The missing part of Mr. Hales’ talk is by far, the most important part of what Jesus did. While the time He spent at Gethsemane is worth its weight in gold, the redemptive work to save your soul hadn’t been accomplished.

Aside from the numerous scriptures we could use to ‘prove’ this point, we feel just one will suffice. Consider John 18:11.

“Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath:  the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”

Jesus had just finished praying when the Roman counsel and Pharisees arrived so they could arrest, and cart Him off to a bogus trial, which of course led to His death on the cross.

This is where He shed His blood for our sins, and this is where it had been prophesied long beforehand that He would be cursed, as were all men who hung from a tree. See Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24, and Matthew 20:28. Of course the last reference says Jesus came to give His life as a ransom.

He couldn’t have paid the ransom in the Garden of Gethsemane because He walked out of there alive! All of this should’ve been the most important part of Mr. Hales’ speech, and regrettably, it was not.

His speech was also a reminder to members they should pray in Jacobean English which hasn’t been part of the American vernacular in over 400 years. It’s one thing to read the KJV, speaking in KJV language is quite another.

Remember, Jesus reprimanded those who taught they had to pray in a certain way!

Luke 18:11, 13; “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Are you willing to forego the traditions of your culture to obey Christ, and believe what is written in the word of God? Both scenarios can’t be true my friends! There’s another way to travel with Jesus. It’s called the Highway of Holiness. Isaiah 35.

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