1. The Fundamental Purpose for Which God Gave Prayer to Humanity
The very purpose for which God created mankind, and likewise the fundamental reason He gave prayer, is that we might become children of God who enter His eternal kingdom by attaining the divine nature that resembles Him—a nature with the love of the cross, which is fitting unto salvation. Prayer was given so that we may plead over our weakness and shame, and thereby be granted the grace to form within us the beautiful heart—the divine character—that must belong to the children of God who reflect His likeness.
In other words, prayer was given so that, by confessing and seeking deliverance from our weakness and shame, we may receive grace to attain a heart as beautiful as that of the angels, thus becoming perfected. (1 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 13:9; Luke 11:13)
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?(1 Thessalonians 3 : 10)
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.(2 Corinthians 13 : 7~9)
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?(Luke 11 : 13)
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.(2 Timothy 3 : 15~17)
Yet the earnest desires and hopes of men are, without exception, bound to what they deem necessary and long for in sustaining their worldly lives. Such desires and prayers abandon the deep grace and will of God, which exist to shape within us the divine nature containing the love of the cross that leads to salvation. Instead, they become nothing but requests that pile up sin and greed all the more—worldly ambitions that can never be satisfied, the pursuit of material wealth born of bodily desires, and cravings and hopes arising from the flesh and from lineage.
Thus, the fervent prayers of man are essentially centered upon fulfilling his own desires, securing satisfaction for himself and his own bloodline. This is the essence of human prayer. And so, the religion, faith, and belief through which all worshipers seek God spring not from the pursuit of salvation, but from the purpose of attaining their worldly ambitions and fleshly desires. Therefore, the faith of believers differs little in value and principle from that of unbelievers, for both alike begin from the same foundation of worldly hope and fleshly pursuit.
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.(Romans 8 : 24~28)
The reason so many people seek God is, in most cases, either to have their worries and anxieties resolved or to fulfill their own desires. Yet even this becomes a means of groping toward knowing God, and an opportunity to serve Him rightly. However, since such faith and devotion exist only for the pursuit of worldly pleasures and joy, they remain faiths born of vain human cravings and desires. Thus, they inevitably become corrupt thoughts, distorted claims, and false doctrines springing from a hollow center that seeks to serve God alongside the world and material things. This is why heresies are endlessly produced, and why all religions, churches, pastors, and believers increasingly fall into lawlessness, lies, corruption, and judgment.
It is the teaching of those who, though knowing only theory about God and His Word, behave as though they know everything, with pride deeply ingrained in them. It is the religion and the church of today, taught and learned by those with a duplicitous faith—bearing two hearts—who rely on shallow human craft, concealing their true motives with cunning excuses and self-justification, mistaking such worldly craftiness for the wisdom of God. Thus, pastors whose conduct differs between pulpit and daily life, leaders whose actions change between inside and outside the church, and believers whose inner intentions differ from their outward appearance, all prove to be people whose words and deeds cannot align. Churches and faiths, corrupted by the opinions and claims of men enslaved to worldly greed, are now filled with distorted interpretations that twist the very center of the Word. Forgetting the holy will and grace of God, who desires to form within us the divine nature—the temple of the heart—through the love and sacrifice of the cross, their corrupted faith has spiraled into deeper corruption, decay into deeper decay, and depravity into deeper depravity.
Thus, instead of pursuing the eternal temple of glory—the divine nature—formed through the love of the cross and the hope of Christ, which is fitting for salvation, they chase after nothing but worldly hopes, fleeting satisfactions, and fleshly desires that perish. Their faith, therefore, cannot help but pile up sin and greed, producing only excuses, lies, and distortions that inevitably stand in opposition to the hope and love of Christ. The churches are now filled with such faiths, fabricated from pretexts and falsehoods.
How can one who clings to greed ever practice the sacrificial love of the cross, even unto death?
How can one who grasps after the things of the world ever attain the beautiful divine nature of God?
The prayers of those bound to the perishing world and the flesh ask only for their own perishable glory, hopes, and desires. This only magnifies sin and greed. Such people cannot be born again, even if they claim to be, for they live in the endless cycle of sinning and regretting, until they become hardened in sin. In the end, their churches are corrupted into doctrines and arguments filled only with cunning excuses to justify sin. Pastors and believers alike, with their consciences laid waste, pray not for God’s will but for desires that stand opposed to His will. These prayers and demands, filled with vain hopes, worldly ambitions, and fleshly cravings, are no different from those of unbelievers.
Such prayers, and the faith that produces them, are nothing but empty and corrupted. They stem from the greed of men who have abandoned the deep grace of God and His purpose of making us children of salvation. They defile the love of the cross, which is fitting unto salvation, and reveal that they have lost sight of the very purpose for which mankind was created.
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.(Exodus 20 : 7)(Deuteronomy 5 : 11)
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.(Luke 12 : 29~31)(Matthew 6 : 31~32)(James 4 : 3~4)
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;(Ephesians 5 : 1~3)
2. Prayers and Worship Led by Satan and Demons Disguised as Christ and Angels
Prayers and worship that do not spring from the hope of Christ—to obtain and practice the love of the cross fitting unto salvation—but are instead offered only to fulfill selfish desires, ambitions, and cravings, can never be worked by God. Rather, they are seized by the spirit of the world—that is, by Satan and demons—who disguise themselves as Christ or even as angels in order to deceive mankind. Thus, in today’s churches, vain prayers and false faith—seeking only to satisfy selfish desires, ambitions, and cravings—have produced increasingly vile tongues, abominable testimonies, and defiled gifts, which are shamelessly spread as though they were genuine.
And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.(1 Kings 22 : 21~22)
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.(2 Corinthians 11 : 13~15)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;(1 Timothy 4 : 1~2)
Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.(Ezekiel 14 : 4~10)
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.(Isaiah 66 : 1~4)
Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.(1 Corinthians 10 : 18~21)
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.(1 Corinthians 12 : 1~2)
This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.(Jeremiah 13 : 10~11)(Jeremiah 9 : 13~14)(Hosea 9 : 3~4)(Hosea 2 : 8~13)
Many assume that when one prays beneath the cross, or in the name of God and of Christ, such prayers are always heard. Yet prayers that seek only worldly desires, satisfactions, cravings, and greed are never heard by God, nor even their praises received. For the very purpose for which God created mankind, for which He raised up prophets and gave His Word through them, and for which He sent the love of the cross, was singular: that He might so love mankind as to make them His eternal children, bearing His likeness and entering His eternal glory. Likewise, prayer, the Word, the prophets, and the church exist only so that man might form within himself the divine nature—the likeness of God—containing the love of the cross.
By contrast, the prayers of today’s Christianity and Catholicism are, without exception, cries springing from selfish desires, forsaking the deep grace and will of God. Therefore, God does not hear such prayers, but gives them over to Satan, so that their prayers and worship are inevitably led by demons who disguise themselves as angels or as God Himself. Those who seek perishable worldly ambitions, satisfactions, and cravings are possessed according to what they seek: those who seek the world are given over to the spirit of the world; those who seek wealth to the god of wealth; those who crave greed to the spirit of greed; those who cling to lineage to the god of bloodline; those who seek lust to the spirit of lust; the proud to the spirit of pride; liars to the spirit of lies; seekers of worldly knowledge to the spirit of knowledge; those who exalt theory to the god of theory; thieves to the god of theft; the envious to the spirit of envy; and the quarrelsome to the spirit of strife. Yet even though pastors and churches are numbered in the thousands upon thousands, not one openly discerns and proclaims this, because they too serve God in mixture with the world and material gain, and so are already led astray by the spirits of this world—by Satan and demons. Thus, what spreads is the counterfeit tongues of Satan disguised as God’s, the abominable testimonies cloaked as grace, and the vile lies and corrupt signs of demons veiled as God’s gifts.
Faith that exists only for one’s own pleasure, success, and happiness seeks God with lips, but in truth pursues nothing but material gain and created things. To such, God is merely a tool to fulfill their desires. Their teachings, therefore, have nothing to do with salvation, but only drive men to seek worldly gain, thus piling up more greed and sin. They bring in worldly lessons of endurance and consolation, such as: ‘If you endure hardship while believing, you will surely reap reward,’ giving false hope that is neither God’s will nor His Word. These teachings lead only deeper into the pit of sin and greed, and not into salvation.
Such consolations, though they appear comforting, are but leaven that stirs up sin and greed. They pretend to be God’s will, yet only guide men to seek what is of the world, leading to judgment and destruction. Countless are those who, not knowing, are led by Satan and demons in their prayers, worship, and songs, because their desires are worldly and corrupt. These perverted prayers arise from excuses and rationalizations of those who would serve both God and material wealth. Their teachings are polluted with lawlessness, lies, distortion, and pride, and produce only a crooked and dangerous faith.
This faith has nothing to do with the love of the cross, which is the true sign of salvation and resurrection. Instead, it is the faith of men who exalt their own ideas and opinions as though they were the will of God, who disguise their own theories as the gospel of Christ, who parade their arrogance as though it were the truth of salvation. Their faith is unstable, constantly shaken, because it is accompanied by envy, hatred, jealousy, pride, greed, quarrels, and lies. Thus, those who repeat the endless cycle of sinning, repenting, and returning again to sin prove themselves to be nothing more than sinners bound in vain faith.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.(Proverbs 12 : 19)
They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneeded the dough, until it be leavened.(Hosea 7 : 4)
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!(Isaiah 10 : 1~2)
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.(Matthew 16 : 11~12)
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;(Proverbs 7 : 21~22)
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.(James 2 : 14~22)
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.(Ezekiel 33 : 31)
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.(Psalms 28 : 3)
Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?(Jeremiah 9 : 8~9)
God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.(Psalms 55 : 19~21)
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.(Proverbs 5 : 3~6)
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.(Proverbs 26 : 24~25)
Their faith is nothing more than a pursuit of their own pleasures and joys in life, a striving after worldly success, happiness, and desires. Thus, the very purpose of their faith in God, their reason for prayer, and even their attendance at church, is centered only on chasing after their selfish hopes—an empty life rooted in vain belief. Because they follow after greed, love and mercy become nothing but words upon their lips and outward displays of pretense, while in truth they are led by the sermons of churches and pastors that only stir up sin and greed, and they even call such things ‘gracious.’ Not only pastors, but also the congregants, being driven by their own greed, have their eyes and ears blinded by the spirits of pride and greed, so that though they hear, they do not understand, and though they see, they cannot perceive—blind guides and blind followers alike.
As their consciences grow increasingly desolate, they inevitably stumble into greater anxiety, restlessness, want, and weariness. Mere creatures of dust, they dare to look upon God with human-centered judgments and standards, seeking only visible values, serving Him only for the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. In doing so, they can never uphold their conscience, but rather destroy it, for the greed and attachments within them produce excuses, distortions, and assertions that they exalt as though they were God’s Word, as though they were God Himself, and as though they were true testimony. Such is the tragic reality of their faith.
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.(Psalms 17 : 10)
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.(Proverbs 18 : 2)
Within the vicious cycle of sinning, regretting, and then turning back to commit sin again, consciences have already been desolated, so that more and more people no longer even feel the sting of guilt. Instead, fanaticism ruled by obstinacy and pride increases. These are the ones who, if something agrees with their forced assertions and tastes, deem it true, but if it does not, they consider it false. With words and theories alone they conceal their fruitless faith and unpracticed religion, using their own self-serving interpretations of the Word as excuses to hide themselves.
The greatest reason why such fruit and evidence of today’s Christianity have spread across the earth like leaven is that they have utterly abandoned the love of the cross—feeding, giving, and caring for others—which is the very sign of salvation and resurrection. Instead, they follow the teachings of churches and pastors that pursue not the hope of Christ, but worldly desires, satisfactions, and ambitions that have nothing to do with salvation and only serve to heap up sin and greed.
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.(Isaiah 29 : 13~14)
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.(Mark 7 : 6~9)
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.(Titus 1 : 14~16)
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?(Romans 2 : 17~27)
The evidence of a conscience growing increasingly desolate is seen in those who, with harsh and abrasive behavior, raise their voices and exalt themselves, proclaiming by force and pride that they are ‘God’s chosen servants,’ as though they were the highest of all. By such a standard of arrogance, they have already lost the true measure of God’s Word and righteous judgment. Yet, because they treat their pride and self-assurance as faith itself, they inevitably reject truth, counsel, and correction that could awaken them. Moreover, they interpret even the voices and efforts meant to awaken them as persecution and suffering for Christ, rationalizing their evasion with a defensive excuse. Such faiths resemble patients in a terminal condition: distorted and twisted beliefs, ruled by pride and obstinacy, whose consciences are already deadened so that they no longer feel the weight of guilt.
Pastors who should feed and care for the poor and needy instead steal the tithes and offerings—resources meant to sustain the hungry sheep—and, under the pretense of ‘the temple of God,’ they justify their theft, lawlessness, and lies. They lead believers not to the Word of God that brings salvation, but to trust in their churches and altars, which have nothing to do with salvation. In so doing, they abandon the love of the cross—the true sign of salvation and resurrection. And like the tyrants of old who, under lofty pretexts of ‘nation’ and ‘people,’ led multitudes into ruin and death, these pastors persuade their congregations to pray for nation and people, masking this as piety. Yet in truth, they shut the way to salvation, leading believers only into hollow intercessions—words without action—vain prayers that have no bearing on eternal life. Such teachers are abominable in God’s sight.
Shepherds who should feed and care for the sheep ignore their hunger and tears, instead robbing them of their tithes and offerings—their very sweat and lifeblood—to fill their own bellies, all while calling it ‘prayer for the nation and people.’ What could be more absurd? They hand out a worn garment or a small amount of money barely enough for a single meal, taking pride in their charity, and boast as though they had sacrificed everything, even their lives, in the love of the cross. In this way, they degrade the love of the cross, making it a mockery before the world and before idolaters. With such distorted teaching, how can they boast in the love of the cross, and with what can they defend it? When they equate ordinary acts of charity—things any unbeliever might do—with the sacrificial love of the cross, where then can the true love of the cross, the true sign of salvation and resurrection, be found? With what shall it be proven?
Within churches, shallow consolations and teachings that only encourage selfish desires and ambitions continually stir up envy, jealousy, hatred, quarrels, and lies, repeating without end. In such lives, only more sin and greed are accumulated. And within this cycle of sinning, repenting, and returning to sin, how can one ever attain the beautiful love that reflects God, or form within the heart the true temple—the divine nature—that marks a true Christian?
The prayers God hears are only the tearful prayers offered on behalf of one’s brothers and neighbors, prayers that bear their sorrow, grief, and pain. A true Christian makes these tears their pillow until the day of death, carrying a faith and heart in which the tears of intercession never dry, praying ceaselessly for the afflicted.