KNEELING IN PRAYER
Standing in prayer is
a sign of a Roman who mocks
the Lord. Both Scripture and
SOP declares we must be on our
knees when seeking the Lord in
prayer. Yes, it’s
understood we can pray as we
walk down a lane in the woods,
driving in our cars, or even
sitting in school before
taking a test. But when we
stand as pastors or preachers
who are called to lead by
example, and worse yet, when
it is Sabbath day wherein we
are delivering a sermon, we MUST be on our knees
before the congregation!
Biblical
fact is:
Solomon kneeled in
prayer
2 Chronicles 6:13, "For
Solomon had made a brasen
scaffold, of five cubits long,
and five cubits broad, and
three cubits high, and had set
it in the midst of the court:
and upon it he stood, and
kneeled down upon his knees
before all the congregation of
Israel, and spread forth his
hands toward heaven,"
Daniel kneeled in
prayer
Daniel 6:10, "Now when Daniel
knew that the writing was
signed, he went into his
house; and his windows being
open in his chamber toward
Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his
knees three times a day, and
prayed, and gave thanks before
his God, as he did aforetime."
Many kneeled
before Jesus
Mark 10:17, "And when he was
gone forth into the way, there
came one running, and kneeled
to him, and asked him, Good
Master, what shall I do that I
may inherit eternal life?"
Jesus kneels in
prayer
Luke 22:41, "And he was
withdrawn from them about a
stone's cast, and kneeled
down, and prayed,"
Stephen kneeled in
prayer
Acts 7:60, "And he kneeled
down, and cried with a loud
voice, Lord, lay not this sin
to their charge. And when he
had said this, he fell
asleep."
Peter kneeled in
prayer
Acts 9:40, "But Peter put them
all forth, and kneeled down,
and prayed; and turning him to
the body said, Tabitha, arise.
And she opened her eyes: and
when she saw Peter, she sat
up."
Paul kneeled in
prayer
Acts 20:36, "And when he had
thus spoken, he kneeled down,
and prayed with them all."
Yet it is a rare thing to see any ministers, and this includes SDA ministers kneeling in prayer? One of many SOP references on this is…
"One who has been
educated for about five years
in Battle Creek was asked to
lead in prayer before Sister
White should speak to the
people. But as I beheld him standing upright
upon his feet while his lips
were about to open in prayer
to God,
my soul was stirred within me
to give him an open rebuke. Calling him by
name, I said, “Get down upon
your knees.” This is the
proper position always."
-Notebook Leaflets from the
Elmshaven Library, vol. 1,
Page 119
Jesus Himself said in
Luke 9:26, "For whosoever
shall be ashamed of me
and of my words, of him shall
the Son of man be ashamed,
when he shall come in his own
glory, and in his Father's,
and of the holy angels."
Sometimes it's just
that easy to point out the
"grievous wolves" that stand
as "leaders" before the flock.