Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

Naaman’s head, and cure him. Instead, when the chariots of this leper and his team arrived at the prophet’s house, Elisha stayed in his house and sent his servant to tell him to go “jump in the river!” Actually, he told him to go dip seven times in the Jordan. The pride of this military leader was crushed, and he was about to return to his home. However, when a servant reminded him he was dying anyway, so what would he lose by getting soaking wet in a dirty river, he obeyed Elisha’s instruction and was cured (2 Kings 5:5–14). He was dying anyway, so why not make the faith leap into the river! The worst that could happen is he would be a wet leper—but the best that could happen is he would come out a healed man! R ITUALISTIC P RAYERS VS. R EAL P RAYERS Among the more traditional churches and groups, it is common to have a prayer book and to say certain prayers for significant occasions. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, if the prayer is offered from the heart and not just from the paper. After all, the Lord’s Prayer is a prayer with a set pattern of words. However, Christ told us not to pray prayers of “vain repetitions.”

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. —M ATTHEW 6:7