The Pattern of Prayer

Intro:

If you want to good or even great at something, what or who should you turn to in order to achieve that greatness. Who would an athlete turn to, to get better in the sport he plays, or an artist in the art they create, or a muscian, etc. They would find a coach, a teacher, a mentor, a master. Someone who knows what they are doing to learn from right.

When I think of that, I often think of a movie that you might be familiar with. When Daniel LaRusso found himself being constantly beat up and bullied by fellow students of his high school, who did he turn to in the movie Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi of. And why did he seek out instruction from Mr. Miyagi? If you remember from the movie or have seen it, you will know he sought him out for instruction because he saw how skillful Mr. Miyagi was in the art and self-defense known as Karate and through his instruction and teaching, Daniel LaRusso ended up himself becoming a skilled karate warrior.

Now the same is true of prayer. Last week, we gave several reason to believe that prayer is vital for the Christian life. It’s like breathing for the Christian. We can’t expect to survive or thrive if we don’t have solid prayer lives. Perhaps some of you walked out feeling completely like failures in the spiritual discipline of prayer. I hope all of you wish to have more powerful and thriving prayer lives as well as hearts that long to pray rather than it being another task that we see just needs completed but never have time for. I know that I want to want to pray, but it hard. Part of that issue is that we see the importance but don’t know how to get there. Thankfully for us, we have a teacher, of model of prayer, who unlike Mr. Miyagi doesn’t give us vague instructions and then we somehow figure out how it works. Now granted, we don’t usually and always see all the implications of God’s instructions. But His instructions aren’t mysterious like wax on wax off or paint the fence. And unlike Mr. Miyagi, we have the perfect teacher and perfect model.

He (Jesus) didn’t just tell us to pray, but gave us the perfect model for how we should pray. This as we know is the “Lord’s Prayer” found in both Matthew. 6 and Luke 11.

Martin Luther called the Lord’s Prayer “the very best prayer that ever came to earth or that anyone would ever have thought up.” Why, simply because it came from the Master himself.

John Calvin pointed to the privilege of saying the Lord’s prayer because in it

“the only-begotten Son of God supplies words to our lips that free our minds from all wavering.”

In other words, we don’t have to wonder when we pray like this, if we are praying what God wants to hear, or what pleases him, or what is fruitful and profitable; because it came from Jesus himself who is one with God and is God himself.

Jesus himself not only knew the power of prayer and gave a model of what prayer should look like, but He himself was the greatest model of praying. He was in constant prayer with the father. If ever we want to know what it means to be “pray without ceasing” take a look at Jesus life and it certainly gives clarity to the statement. And as the disciples watched Jesus, they knew that he prayed differently! Rabbis were known to recite prayers and teach prayers to their students and to the Jewish people (like the Shema often the prayer recited at the time of synagogue), but the prayers that Jesus prayed were, I believe, remarkably different than were prayers custom to that time. This is in part, I believe, why the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray in Luke 11 on a separate occasion then when Jesus taught the same model of prayer spoken to the crowd in the sermon of the Mtn found in Matt. 6.

And just as the disciples did, we too should turn to the master as he patterned for us one of the most sacred and powerful texts in scripture so that we might to become fervent and passionate pray-ers like Jesus was.

Before we look at the Lord’s before in Matt. 6, Jesus identified some problems that needed to be addressed concerning how people prayed. We will look at those first.

I. Problems in Prayer (v.5-8)

Matthew 6:5–8 ESV

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Now reminding you, that this section of scriptures was part of Jesus’ sermon on the mountain and in the immediate context, Jesus was addressing some of the typical acts of Jewish religion including giving, prayer, and fasting, the spiritual “disciplines” of the first century Jew. Unlike Jesus’ teaching in Luke, here in Matthew, Jesus is concerned not just with what of prayer but with the how of prayer. Specifically, Jesus wants us to make sure we are praying for the right reasons from the right heart. In fact, that is his central concern in talking about all three acts.

So that being said, what are the problem areas… jesus says… don’t

A. Praying Like the Hypocrites

What does the word hypocrite word? What comes to your mind when you think of a hypocrite? What makes a person a hypocrite?

Let’s look at the greek for a sec. The greek word hypokrites it means literally to “play actor.” It describes someone who puts on a mask and plays a part, someone who pretends to be something he is not. And that’s much what we think the word to mean.

Hypocrites profess to believe one thing but actually live a completely different way of life. A well- known vegetarian who eats bacon every night, an outspoken advocate of right to life who himself has had abortions, a person who teaches sexual purity but they themselves go home and views impure things on the internet. Alot of times, why to the fake these claims? Applause and esteem of others.

I do wanna say though, Kevin DeYoung in his book on the Lord’s prayer, points out that Christians often confuse hypocrites as people who do one thing but feel another. He points out though that that is not hypocrisy. Hypocrites publicize one set of beliefs but live by a different set beliefs.

He further says, when you come to church but don’t feel like it, that more like faithfulness. When you do the right thing in your marriage even when you don’t feel much in love, that’s fidelity. That’s because love is a choice, an act not just a feeling.

We can make the excuse “I would be a hypocrite to come to worship when I don’t feel like worshipping” or “I would be a hypocrite to pray since I’m not sure what to pray and feel distant.”

Doing what is right when you don’t feel like doing with is right is called maturity. Professing one thing in public but living a different way in private is called hypocrisy. Of which we are not to be part of.

Does hypocrisy ever happen in our prayer lives? For certain, especially when we gather together to pray. We pray in such a way that it is trying to draw attention to us but on prayer lives at home are not like this at all or none existent. Jesus, in warning against giving, says in Matthew 6:1

Matthew 6:1 ESV

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus says something similar about prayer.

Matthew 6:5 ESV

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Not much of a reward if you ask me. Sure a little praise is nice and certainly makes you feel good, but that good won’t last long. That praise often turns to disappointment and criticism weeks and months later cause it really doesn’t matter how good your prayer is or anything you do is, people will turn on you cause they are we are imperfect. They quickly forget your “goodness”. And stop heaping praise to you. So why is it that we feel it so important to be well-liked, well-praised, and well-viewed in the eyes of sinful man. Why do we make that the trophy. Wouldn’t the smile and joy of knowing our creator is well-pleased, who perfectly judges the heart and not just our words be much greater.

Jesus also himself gave preference saying that He would much prefer you to pray in private. Not because He doesn’t ever want us to pray in public, cause it’s commanded and even beneficial we’ll give attention to that in this message as well as others, but He would rather us pray in private because there, in the secret of our closet, pride can’t really be an aspect, improper reasons to pray are less likely. You may be able to fool people for an hour or two on a Sunday or Wednesday, but theres no fooling God. It takes faith to pray consistently in private. A strong belief in God who rewards them in His time. It’s not instant gratification that we might feel after praying a religious prayer and getting men’s praise. But prayer in private is far more rewarding than that.

Here is a great quote from Kevin DeYoung on this thought:

Our prayer life should should be like the iceberg in the ocean, with a great mass of spirituality under the surface that no one can see, rather than iceberg lettuce floating in the water, with all the vegetable on top and nothing under the surface. Our prayer life should be more than meets the eye.

Secondly, Jesus addresses that we shouldn’t...

B. Praying Like the Pagans

And how do Gentiles or helpful reading might say pagans pray? If you’ve ever been in a catholic service (mass), what would characterizes their gathers and even their prayers. Written by a catholic priest himself, the word ritual surfaced many times. If we jump over the large pond called the ocean and landed in China or Japan and made our way into one of their hindu services, what would we find there. Rituals. How bout the Middle East. Any different? Rituals. What matters it seems the most to them is that they say the right words and act, face, perform in the right way. Jesus confirms this when when he says don’t from like the Gentiles who heap up empty phrases or as the king james version states, the ones that you probably memorized… vain repetition.

The word for this “empty phrases” is battalogeo… and it literally means to keep on babbling. Jesus warning is to not be like those that think merely uttering words is pleasing to God. Prayer is not the completion of a ritual.

But do people and churches actually pray with empty phrases and meaningless words. Yes. In denominations even similiar and close to our own, liturgies (as rich and deep as they can be) have been used as mere out-of-body experiences. The Apostles Creed would be an example of this. It’s possible that even the Lord’s Prayer can be an example of vain repetition, mere babbling. In fact, take a lot at how Jesus introduces the Lord’s Prayer. He says, when you pray, “pray in like manner” or “pray like this.”

Jesus again clearly isn’t creating parrrots, but pray-ers… those who not only can repeat words but understand what it is they are asking and what it is they are speaking to God about. It’s not a recitation but a guideline for praying. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong to pray the actual Lord’s prayer, but it should be done with clear understanding and genuine petition to God, not just done because it’s familiar or a good prayer to say.

We may not pray with liturgies much in our strip, much we are as much at fault as those who do with our common christian prayers. What are some common things Christian’s pray for that may perhaps not give too much thought to?

Lord bless this food to our bodies. Lord be with us today. Lord, bless our services. These may not be altogether so don’t go stoning those who pray these, but are we at fault for using meaningless repetition in our prayers. Saying something without truly considering what we are saying. Saying it cause it is what we usually say. Roles off the tongue easy, but is it genuine.

Another way we are guilty of this is in saying too much. They rest of verse 7 says for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

I want you to notice the length of the Lord’s prayer. Is it real long? Real complicated. Yet, it’s the pinnacle of prayer.

Prayers don’t have to be lengthy to be God-honoring. God would much prefer a smaller more genuine and thought provoking prayer than a long drawn out prayer that doesn’t really offer much to say in it. Consider this verses from Ecclesiastes 5:2

Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

Again, Kevin DeYoung points out that our thinking that if we just add more emotional verbage, pile on more divine titles, the more God will hear us is a faulty way to view prayer. This kind is all lips, no mind or heart.

But that doesn’t mean our prayers are only simple and sweet. It just means Christ prefers genuine, to the point, actual humble reverent petition and conversation than drawn out professionalism. Our prayers should be deep. Our prayers should even be long. Scripture has some examples of some pretty long prayers. Public prayers even. Look at the Old Testament of those you lead prayers that were chapters in length. Biggest thing, let your words be real. Let them be thoughtful and mindful of who you are speaking to. If you were to go before an actual king. We’d take heed on our words. How bout to the King of Kings who sees and knows our hearts and minds?

It’s time we begin to asking God’s forgiveness if we have been guilty of praying like either of these two examples.

As we move into the prayer itself, again notice that this prayer is not so much a prayer to recite but as a pattern to show us which way to pray. Jesus was providing us an outline of priorities or those things that should be priorities when we pray.

Let’s now move into the prayer looking first at the...

II. Person of Prayer (v.9a)

Jesus finds it critical that all those who bring their petitions to God in prayer first must truly recognize who they are addressing before they even speak. These first 4 words are incredibly powerful.

A. The Compassionate, Close Father

Before we address the Father, our english versions begin with the word “Our”. It’s a very important word here. Why is it so important you may be asking? Well, its because prayer is supposed to be a group event. He’s not just my Father, but all of our Father’s.

And if you think I’m reading too far into this, check out the rest of the sermon on the mountain. The other pronouns used in the sermon in the mountain are singular, it’s the “you’s and the they’s that are used” but suddenly here in the Lord’s prayer, Jesus switches to the “our’s and the “us”. It’s not grammatical slip. It’s because Jesus is stressing prayer as a corporate thing. Yes, he wants us to have times of prayer alone, praying in your closet in secret, but Jesus here wants us to be praying in a group mindset. What I mean by this is that even when we are praying alone, we are supposed to be in a sense, praying with and for the larger body of Christ.

Prayer begins with embracing not just a relationship, but relationships.

Now I’m not going to get into alot of the details of corporate prayer because I’m trusting that is where Pastor is going in his second sermon of the series, whoever I will say this. There are major implications of this pronoun change.

Prayer was never meant to be a merely personal exercise with personal benefits, but a discipline that reminds us how we’re personally responsible for others. This means that every time we pray, we should actively reject an individualistic mindset. WE’re not just individuals in relationship with God, but we are part of a community of people who have the same access to God. Prayer is a collective exercise.

Why do we think it a collective exercise. Because we are family. We are children of God and spiritual siblings to each other. We all have the same Father.

Why is it so significant that we call Him Father. It’s more than a right, it’s a spiritual privilege.

John 1:12 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

In the Old Testament, the word Father was not the way people addressed God. His name was too great to be put into words. He was not to addressed with terms of terms of intimacy or familial. That’s why prayer Father wasn’t seen. But in the New Testament, Jesus brought to us an intimate relationship with the Father, breaking down the veil of separation giving us the priviledge of calling God “Father”.

R.C. Sproul said...Jesus was the first on record to take prayer and make it a personal discourse with God. Jesus, who spoke Aramaic, used the Aramaic word Abba, best translated “Dad” or “Papa”. We can almost hear the cry of alarm from the disciples and see the looks of astonishment on their faces: “You don’t mean it, Jesus. You can’t be serious! We’re not even allowed to speak the name of God aloud. We don’t even call him Father, much less Dad!

15 times the OT uses father in a religious sense. But in the New Testament it is used 245 times. What was hardly seen in the Old is a central thing in the New.

1 John 3:1 ESV

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

What comes to mind when we think the Word father. Alot of us would turn and look to our earthly fathers. For those that had good fathers, we are left with pleasant images and expectations of our heavenly Father that far surpass the goodness of our own. But those of us who didn’t have those kinds of fathers we are left conflicted with calling God Father or uninspired by the thought. Let me paint a Biblical picture of what this heavenly Father is like.

Scripture tell us that

1. He inclines his ear to us and hears my prayers.

Psalm 5:1–3 ESV

Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

2. He shows us compassion despite our flaws and weaknesses

Psalm 103:13 ESV

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

3. Our Father covers us with his love, even though we deserve His wrath

Romans 8:1 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Consider the prodigal Son… when the good for nothing son wrecked his life and walked away from His father’s goodness… His father anxiously waited for him at the gate and then didn’t explode on his son when he returned. Didn’t even say I told you so, but threw him a feast for his return.

4. Our Father also takes care of our needs and gives us good gifts

Matthew 6:8 ESV

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 7:11 ESV

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

5. Our Father even disciplines us in love for our good

Hebrews 12:5–11 ESV

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

And that’s what we are called to remember when we pray “Our Father...” we are reminded of His closeness, his wisdom, his patience, his care.

But we are not only told to be reminded of that but also that He is an infinite God....

B. The Far & Above All, Sovereign Ruler

It’s amazing to call God my Father but its also astonishing to call my Father God.

The opening line of the Lord’s prayer presents a dynamic tension for us. Although we are to come before the Lord in an attitude of intimacy, there is still an element of separation. And this is what it meant when we here the words in heaven...

John from the prayer book says this...

We begin with a settled confidence of asking someone who is at the top of the pecking order. When Biblical authors speak of heaven, not only are they referring to a place or location but they are also referencing a statement of power.

Psalm 115:3 reminds us of this...

Psalm 115:3 ESV

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

It’s much like that song we sang as children.

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do.

As well as His power, authority, he also should be reverenced and as such demands respect.

So these first four words invite us to pray because they teach us that God is as compassionate as he is capable. He can do anything. And because Jesus’ sacrificial death makes Christians a part of the family, we know he listens and is inclined to respond favorably to what we ask. We have the ear of the most powerful being in and over the universe. He sees all, knows all, directs all.

“Our father in Heaven” tells us that we are praying to a God of intimacy and authority, and both are essential.

J. I. Packer has a great statement on this in his book on the Lord’s prayer.

The vitality of prayer lies largely in the vision of God that prompts it. Drab thoughts of God make prayer dull.

When our prayer seem uninspired and not working, it may well be because our understanding of God is dull and boring. If we truly understood who it was we are addressing and what power is at His fingertips and how much He eager yearns for us, how could that not make us want to pray to Him. To make a more fervent prayer life, spend more time getting a better, bigger, sweeter, fuller view of God.

With a proper view of God these prayers that the Lord offers as model will be properly said before God with confidence knowing He cares, He listens, He loves, and seeks, but also with trust that He can and will do because He is God, the all-powerful.

Read Gentle and Lowly or Hole in Holiness

Will now look at these as our third point, the....

III. Petitions of Prayer (v.9-13)

As we break down these petitions, we will see that there is two sets of 3 petitions offered. 3 petitions aimed for God’s Glory (or God ward) and 3 petitions aimed for our good (Man-ward).

A. Directed God-ward (God’s Glory)

Jesus reminds us that God’s power aims to advance his agenda, not ours and that’s why the priority of the prayer starts with the petitions for God’s glory. But is that what we often do? Come to God first with requests for His glory to be seen and exalted? Not typically. But this is exactly what Jesus said is needed first. So what of God’s Glory are we to pray for. These each are inseparably linked. the first one.... Hallowed be your name… sets the tone for the rest of the requests.

1. God’s Honor

We don’t speak like that very much so we could translate that to be said, “I pray that your name will be honored.”

The word Hallowed is the word hagios or meaning holy. Of course, praying that God’s name be hallowed does not mean that God’s name could be holier. Kevin DeYoung observed that glorifying God is not like using a microscope, making small things look bigger, but like a telescope, bringing things that are unimaginably big into view.

To pray “Hallowed be your name” means being concerned more with the advancement of God’s reputation in the world than your own.

John Calvin put it like this: we would wish God to have the honor he deserves; men should never think of him without the highest reverence.

We pray that all the people praise your name. Start with me and my heart, and multiply that around the world. You cannot pray for God’s great name to be honored and then not yourself live a life that honors His name in every aspect. We bear the name of Christ everywhere we go as Christians so we must pray this all the time and be ready to live by it. We don’t live to make our names great, but His.

The world we live in is as unimpressed with God as someone who stays seated when the bride walks down the aisle. This is because they’re so blinded to the glory of God as revealed through Jesus. So we begin prayer by pleading that God’s glory would be seen and submitted to in the person of Christ.

This request sets the tone for the rest of the prayer.

Next we pray for God’s Kingdom.

2. God’s Kingdom

Again Kevin DeYoung defines the kingdom of God as his reign and rule or to think of it as God’s redemptive presence coming down from heaven to earth. That’s a helpful way of looking at this. His Kingdom has come and is coming. Luke 17:21

Luke 17:21 ESV

nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

We are told in Colossians 1:13

Colossians 1:13 ESV

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

That present now. But yet, we are also waiting on a future Kingdom that will be set up. Where His rule and reign will be absolute.

To pray your kingdom come is to pray for the success of the gospel in the world. To pray that God would send for laborers into the harvest fields. It’s to pray that his redemptive powers would continue to sweep that lands and restore hearts. It’s a prayer of Revival.

*Asbury revival- true revival means repentance and change not JUST ecstacy and joy.

Our Prayer by Rend Collective

Our Prayer will ever be, your kingdom come

restore the mighty name of Christ the Son

Let prodigals return to raise your song

Our God our God has no rival, Our prayer, our prayer is revival

It’s even a prayer that our hearts would line up with kingdom living under our authority. One ruler, no democracy! His rule, not ours. His voice is the only one that matters.

Praying for His Kingdom to come is also a prayer of anticipation and excitement. Lord, fulfill your promises. Lord, even so come quickly. It’s no different than my kids reminder me of the promises I’ve made to take them somewhere. There excitement for what’s in store for them is good, and we too should have a eagerness for what’s to come.

Titus 2:13 ESV

waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

3. God’s Will

This final request further develops the second. We long to see God reign here on earth in the same way he already reigns in heaven. What’s something that marks God’s reign in heaven. Complete obedience to what He has said. That’s what it means to pray God’s will. God will accomplish His plans on earth so we are not praying for those to occur so much as we are praying that we obey His commandments.

Another deep statement here, but R.C. Sproul writes something very helpful.

This phrase is not asking that God’s determinate counsel come to pass or that God usher in those things that He has foreordained from eternity. Rather, we are praying for obedience to the revealed perceptive will of God- what he has made plain to us by way of His commandments. This third petition is a prayer for obedience on the part of God’s people, that those who are the people of God will obey the mandates of God.

As we consider all three of these God-ward, God - directed requests for God’s glory, it makes it abundantly clear where our attention should be turned. Yet, it’s also clear that this is not what is being prayed by many believers and many churches.

It’s easy for churches to fall into competing agendas and conflicting affections. A community of sinful, not-fully sanctified people living in close proximity will step on each other’s toes. A diverse Christian community has a diversity of affections, which can lead to a diversity of visions. Yet these conflicts fall by the wayside when we pray as Jesus taught.

If your life’s primary concern is to make your name great, you’ll be uncomfortable in Christian community. After all, being sinned against is inevitable. But if your primary concern is to make God’s name great - to advance his honor, his kingdom, and His purpose in this world- then the presence of sin in your community, perhaps even your own, offers an opportunity to advance his agenda by a Christlike response.

Prayer to OUR father for HIS agenda would certainly change the disunity in our church or any church. If we are all asking for the same thing, wouldn’t that bring our relationships here all the more closer. We start seeing that we are on the same track as others because God’s will is one. His desire is one. He’s not divided in His will. Division comes from us. So praying correctly these things changes much in our church, individually as well as corporately.

B. Directed Man-ward (Our Good)

1. Our Provision

2. Our Pardon

3. Our Protection

Questions:

Are your prayers resembling more the prayers of the hypocrite and the pagan or are you prayers lining up with the model of prayer Jesus the Lord?

Is your prayer life dull, boring? If so, what’s your view of God? Challenge yourself to deepen your understanding of our great savior.

Do you prioritize what Christ prioritizes in prayer? Does your prayer’s concentrate of God’s honor, God’s kingdom, God’s will?