Prayer: Our Lifeline HOW We Pray (Matthew 6:1-14) - Last week: Why we pray Next week: - The Prayers God Always Answers /When God is silent. Last week we focused on WHY we Pray: True prayer centers on God s Presence & Glory & NOT our needs (Jesus Prayer = The Lord s Prayer [John 17] vs. Jesus Model Prayer [Matthew 6] HOW We Pray: To Learn to Pray consistently, Consider: The Posture of Prayer (Your attitude: Praying to Get? Or Praying to Give give praise, adoration, honor) And IN your posture of prayer, while rightly relating to God, we realize our need and dependence upon Him alone and make our requests known (Phil. 4:6-7) The PLACE of Prayer (Where will you pray?) Some place private, secluded, specific, scheduled, quiet = purposed prayer! (Room, Car, Outside, consistent?) The Pattern of Payer (How you pray): It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." Luke 11:1 READ Matthew 6:1-14: Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 So when you [a] give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you [b] give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your [c] giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 5 When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners [d] so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 7 And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 7 Principles of Prayerful Devotion from Matthew 6 1. God expects communication in a relationship. Our relationship, like any other, takes time, intention, and work in order to grow and deepen a relationship with the Lord. - God expects as part of that relationship, daily communication (talking and listening) and devotion to the Lord (= spiritual action i.e. reading, meditation, sharing the gospel, ministry to others). Devotion is becoming a student of that person and accommodating their desires! 2. Watch your motivation for your relationship in both your prayer life and ministry: (What should be our motivation for a relationship with the Lord?) Matthew 6:1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men [in order] to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 3. There is a reward with our devotion to the Lord: ( Reward = mentioned 5x in this passage). The reward is our deepening relationship with God. The reward is closeness and
nearness to God, pleasing Him with our life and devotion, & being in the center of His will; If we KNOW HIM, we will KNOW how to pray in a way that accomplishes what He desires = God always answers the prayer which is focused on what He desires. 4. Our devotional life is very personal, but not always private. Our devotion to the Lord leads to real ministry (serving others). Vss. 2-4: So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. - We are to minister to others (= that is public ministry) - We Minister to others out of the overflow of our love and devotion to the Lord. - Yet, in ministering to others we are ministering to the Lord (Mt. 25:40) & we are to do so: A. Right motivation with a pure heart; B. In a humble fashion, not flashy or drawing attention to yourself; C. Doing it for the glory of God alone expecting nothing in return. Our right devotion and ministry deepen our relationship with the Lord which again is our reward! 5. We are to Pray Daily, & always be in a mindset of prayer ( pray without ceasing 1 Th. 5:17) Vs. 5: When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. - God expects us to be prayerful and devoted daily. The assumption in Scripture is that Christians are prayerful beings because we understand our truest need is closeness to God (His presence), we understand God s Sovereignty, & we understand our deepest communication with God is lived through a vital prayer life! - God expects that our prayer life be deeply personal Vs. 6: But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 6. When you pray, Pray what is in your heart. Don t feel constrained to pray memorized prayers, written prayers, or rote (repetitious) prayers. Instead, Pray Genuinely (since God already knows your heart, your thoughts, and your needs even before you pray them (Mt. 6:8, 32; Ps. 94:11; Ps. 139:2). Vss. 7-8: And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray from your heart. Pray from the heart of relationship NOT Religion, or Ritual (liturgy). 7. Learn to Pray Scripture: Let different Scriptures help you to remember to be humble, dependent, praiseworthy, and sincere in your devotional life (Isaiah 55:10-11). - Ask God to help you know what is His will, what He wants for your life & others - Pray diligently (Lk. 18:1-8), asking God for His Will to be done first and foremost in your life and in your prayers (Mt. 6:33) - Pray in Faith (Mk. 11:22-24), believing God for what He has promised will glorify Himself - Pray in Jesus s Name (John 14:13). We are to invoke the Father through His Son s ministry to us and only to accomplish the things on the earth that Jesus finished in redemption for all mankind. In other words, if your prayer or ask of God is not Christ-centered, God-exalting, Redemption-focused, then it probably won t be answered positively as it does not reflect God s purposes as revealed in the whole of Scripture. In Jesus s Name means that Jesus would bless this as an expression of His Will.
- Thus, Ask the Lord for His provision to answer your prayer for His purposes, in His time (timing), for His glory alone. Be diligently looking for God to answer your prayer with a yes, no, or wait. READ Matthew 6:9-14: So, the Lord taught us a way of praying, a model prayer of HOW to pray: 9 Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven - Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come - Your will be done - On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day [e]our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from [f]evil. [g] [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. ] 14 For if you forgive [h]others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive [i] others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:9-13: (MSG) Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what s best as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You re in charge! You can do anything you want! You re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. 7 Divine Elements of the Lord s Model Prayer: Our Father who is in heaven - Father: To Whom are you asking? Is HE your Father? Do you have a real relationship w/god as Father? Hallowed be Your name - HOLY: God alone is Holy. He is Holy other. We are not. We are broken, unrighteous, needy people. = GRACE May (Let) Your kingdom come - Kingdom: God please align my thoughts, my motivation, my desires, my perspective to YOURS (ur kingdom) May (Let) Your will be done - On earth as it is in heaven - God s Will: Not that you need my permission, but God please accomplish your purpose in my life ur glory Give us this day our daily bread - Provision: God, you alone are gracious provider. We need you for every breath. Every gift. Each day, our food And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors - Forgiveness: God remind us how to love, forgive others daily, serving them as U first loved, forgave us in Christ And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from [f] evil - Spirit: God may your Holy Spirit lead us to holiness, & boldness in our walk with you, be gracious as u protect us For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen - Victory: The HEART of God is to answer prayer: To Respond in Relationship!! So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for f a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:9-11
- Our Father in heaven: Lord we recognize that you are our God. God you are accessible. God you hear us when we pray. God you are OUR God, a relational God, a God FOR us because God is WITH us (Emmanuel) made possible because of Jesus work of redemption on the cross. - Father: Lord, we recognize that you are our Father, our heavenly creator, leader and spiritual source of life. To whom are we praying, directing this prayer? To God as our Father. Notice the familial, personal direction it s about RELATIONSHIP (Father, Daddy, Abba). As OUR Father, We are to KNOW the one to whom we pray and We are to TRUST the one to whom we pray. -Lord, we recognize we are also praying to a person! You are a Tri-une God who is Father and who sent part of yourself as Jesus, (the Son incarnate), and who gives part of yourself to us in the form of your Spirit. You are ONE true God, expressed in three persons and we pray to each of the Trinity equally at different times: (1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:16-17; Eph. 5:18) God is a person and we pray to God as a person, as a Father to us, His children! - In Heaven: Lord, we recognize that you are our eternal God who is in heaven (not earth-bound and weak like us). God you are eternal. You are perfect (unlike us who are weak, dependent, sinful and broken people). We are not like God. You alone are unique as THE God of the Universe. Remember: 1) God is sovereign (Luke 18:27); (omnipotent = all powerful); Not bound on earth like us 2) God is all knowing, (omniscient = all-wise) 3) God is good, all-loving (omnibenevolent), merciful (allowing for redemption) 4) God is just (punishing sin and those who continue to rebel against God) Our prayer is to the eternal, all perfect, all sovereign, King of the Universe and our hearts: We are NOT praying to a merely human God, or an idol, or an earthly representation of a higher power. We are praying to GOD - Hallowed be your name: Not only is God all-powerful and sovereign, He is HOLY. Being all perfect, incapable of changing, incapable of sin, of learning, of being controlled, of being forced to feel or act, or become anything other than what He is, what He purposes, what He wills - God is the summation of completion & perfection and therefore Holy (The only Holy other being in the universe). - God is Holy other... there is nothing on this earth like God (Isaiah 6:3; Rev. 4:1-8) - God s being, and His VERY NAME(s), and purpose are to be declared and reverenced (feared), and praised BY ALL!!!! (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11) - We recognize that we are not Holy; we are not like Holy God; and that we desperately need God & His holiness in our lives if we are to see God and have eternal life (through Jesus salvation). -Your kingdom come: God we recognize that you are the Creator and leader of this World. We want all your purposes to be accomplished on this earth; we want the Kingdom of God to reign in our hearts, in this world, and over all injustice, pride, sin, and arrogance. God have your way! - The kingdom of God was initiated when Jesus ministry began; if we want to know what God s Kingdom looks like, then we are to look to Jesus life and ministry and imitate Christ in all things.
-Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven: Lord, we recognize you as LORD (master) over our lives and only YOU have the right to have your Perfect WILL and desire to be accomplished in this world and in our lives. Lord, we yield to you! - Worship and Glory are uniquely due to you, Lord. IN heaven, all of the host of heaven praise your name and worship you without ceasing. God, may we have your glory and worship as the center of our lives in all things and may your worship motivate all of our daily actions. May every decision be centered on the reality of how will this bring most glory to God? -Give us this day our daily bread: Lord we recognize that YOU alone are provider of our every need. That God unless you give the bounty and give the blessing, we are truly in poverty. God you provide for our spiritual needs and you provide for our physical needs. God may we recognize our FULL DEPENDENCE on YOU alone for all of our daily needs and remind us that we are Not God, we are not in control of anything other than our attitude and perspective, we are incapable of leading ourselves or others outside of your leading. God may we be grateful for all your provision and remember that all that we have comes from you (James 1:17; 1 Cor. 4:7) -Forgive us our sin, as we also forgive our debtors: God help us remember that we have been forgiven through the perfect blood of Jesus, applied to our sinful lives through your mercy and grace, not because we have earned or deserved it. In the same way, Lord help us to remember that we are equally to forgive those who fail us, sin against us, deliberately injure us and our loved ones. We are to forgive and love our enemy and we are to humbly bless those who persecute us. We are to live in God s new reality, in God s kingdom (where spiritual paradoxes reign) no more eye for an eye, but we are to forgive and love all (Luke 6:28). Lord, help us to forgive others in the same way that we have tasted your forgiveness and redemption. May we point others to the cross of redemption as the only way to know eternity and true salvation! -Lord help me to think of sharing the gospel with the world, the lost, those who are in sin, and those who sin against me, my family, and your Church since you have saved and forgiven me. -Lead us not into temptation: Lord help me recognize that without you, I cannot succeed to be holy, to become more like your Son, Jesus. Lord, help me please you in all things! Lord, help me to see my life through your eyes, to sift my life, attitude, and actions through your Word, and may your Holy Spirit lead me to be faithful to what you reveal in my life! - This phrase does not imply don t bring us to the place of temptation or don t allow us to be tempted. God s Spirit has already done both of these with Jesus (4:1). Nor does the clause imply don t tempt us because God has promised never to do that anyway (Jas 1:13). Rather, in light of the probable Aramaic underlying Jesus prayer, these words seem best taken as don t let us succumb to temptation (Mark 14:38) or don t abandon us to temptation. We do of course periodically succumb to temptation but never because we have no alternative (1 Cor. 10:13). So when we give in, we have only ourselves to blame. - God does test us though and through divine testing, helps grow our faith and deepen our trust and dependence on God alone (Ps. 26:2; Ps. 139:23; Rom. 4:16; Heb. 11:17-19). We are to embrace the testing and trials the Lord allows in our life, as suffering produces endurance, godly perspective, and faithfulness (Rom. 5:3-4). -But deliver us from evil. Lord, we recognize that you alone can save us, help us, guide us, and lead us to security in your plan and purpose for our life. We need your help God to save us from ourselves; to save us from the Evil one; to save us from sinful men and the plots to ruin your name and renown, to embarrass the Church, and make a mockery of Jesus, and to shame Christians.
Deliver us from evil (is a prayer of deliverance from whom all evil which may ultimately come). If we are praying for rescue from the devil, he is more likely tempting than testing us (Mt. 4:1). God tests us in order to prove us and bring us to maturity (Jas 1:2 4; 1 Pet 1:6 9). Such tests should not be feared, nor should we pray for God to withhold them.