· VOM/Prayer for Kids 1st/Communion

Intro: Drawing Near, Last week (9AM)

Bill Heaps

o Should, one sentence

Prayer Is a Privilege.

Prayer Is a Priority!

· We know we should pray.

- I love what Jarrett Stevens and John Ortberg say in their book Praying Through:

- Jarrett Stevens, John Ortberg--Praying Through: “…Should is one of the unhealthiest, most unhelpful words in the English language. It’s filled with guilt and obligation, especially when it comes to prayer. Like sleeping, flossing, exercising, and eating healthily, praying is another thing that we know is good for us but just don’t do enough of —as if there were a prayer quota that we never quite seem to reach.”

Prayer is difficult/Not guilt, HUNGER

Contemplative Prayer, Thomas Merton said,

“We do not want to be beginners [in regard to prayer]. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything but beginners, all our life!”

teach them to pray.

Luke 11:1 (NASB 2020) 1It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”

Application: Fall in love with prayer, duty, but privilege

Pray

· Gospel of Matthew: religious/Sermon on Mount: manifesto (Mt. 5)

 As a precursor on prayer: prayer is a presumption, not an option.

Prayer is a presumption.

“And when you pray…”

- the shema —a morning and evening prayer declaring God’s wholeness, holiness, and oneness. “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One…Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength…”

- the shaharith —a morning prayer service filled with blessing and naming the day’s needs,

- the minhah —an afternoon prayer service for confession and contrition

- the maarib —an evening prayer service for recommitting the body to God’s service.

- the birkat hamazon —a prayer of grace said after meals

active Hearer

Martin Luther : “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

- A person whose life is marked by the presence of God is marked by the presence of prayer.

o African Believers[1]: Brother, the grass grows on your path

 We could also call them parameters.

Prayer has parameters.

stern words are directed towards hard religious hearts/hollow, acting skills, impression of piety/tombs

Matthew 6:5–8 (NASB 2020) 5“And 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 will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

6But as for 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.

o First Parameter: Don’t Seek to be Seen by Man, Seek to be Seen by God/DO go to room, shut door, pray to Father in secret

second parameter in verse 7…

7“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.

8So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

o Second Parameter: Don’t Seek to be Heard as a Gentile, Seek to be Heard as a Child of God: eloquence/length

Charles Spurgeon: “Christians’ prayers are measured by weight, and not by length. Many of the most prevailing prayers have been as short as they were strong.”

· RE-PRESENTING prayer

 Jesus teaches us is that prayer is personal.

Prayer is Personal.

·heart of msg. Phrase in Matthew 5:16 and vv. 45 and 47/Mt. 6: 12X in 34 vv (six in these 11 verses).

- “Our Father,” and “Your Father.”

Matthew 6:9 (NASB 2020) 9“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

Abba./OT

o Jon’s Birth

o Holy Father: JFK

Going to work with Dad

John 12:49

49For I did not speak on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.

John 5:19

19Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.

 Change of perspective

Prayer is perspective: Father IN HEAVEN

· Template for Lane: But it wasn’t until 2012 when my brother was in trouble that I saw this prayer in a different light.

- resource for you in our notes.

 Notice the perspective we should have in prayer.

Matthew 6:9–10 (NASB 2020) 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.

“God-ward”: Holy, Kingdom Come, Will be done

Robert Law said, “Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done in earth.”

 The parts of the prayer that seem us-ward are petitions, but notice they aren’t selfish.

Matthew 6:11-13 11‘Give us this day 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 evil.’

· Daily bread/Forgive us/Do not lead us into temptation/Give US/Practice of prayer will never make perfect

Prayer is filled with promise.

Matthew 6:6 (NASB 2020) 6But as for 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.

o Mary Poppins[3]

Stand

· When we’re born again, we are adopted as sons by the Father. Paul mentions this in Galatians:

Galatians 4:6–7 (NASB 2020)

6Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!”

7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Communion: Slaves for 430 yrs/hated/Blood of lamb/Jesus

“This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (bread)/ “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” (cup.)

Salvation:

· freedom to call Him “Father!”

John 1:12 12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

“born again.”