Catechism 98-102

Intro

Question 98 What is Prayer?

Answer Prayer is offering up our desires to God for things that are in accordance with His will, in the name of Christ, along with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of all His mercy.

Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence - Spurgeon

“Prayer is not an attempt to get God to agree with you or provide for your selfish desires, but that it is both an affirmation of His sovereignty, righteousness, and majesty and an exercise to conform your desires and purposes to His will and Glory” ― John F. MacArthur, Alone With God

Prayer is opening our heart to God’s will

Romans 8:27 ESV

27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

When we are searching for God’s will prayer is our best weapon

When we put ourselves to the side and ask God for his will

We want to be in good standing with God

How many of you avoid conversation because awkwardness exists

We dont just bring our petitions in prayer but also our confession

God’s will is for us to know the sin in our life

Example Daniel 9:4-5

Daniel 9:4–5 ESV

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.

So you want to pray well how should we do that

Jesse talked about this last week

Where I wanted him to go

Matthew 6:7–13 ESV

7 “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. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father 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 our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Question 99 How does God direct us to pray?

Answer The whole Word of God, but especially the Lord’s prayer, which Christ taught His disciples, directs our prayers.

Reference Lord’s Prayer

Scripture shows us time and time again how we should pray

Psalms

Daniel

Matthew

Paul’s letters

Its everywhere but if you want to start start here with the Lord’s Prayer

Jesus teaching us to pray

So lets walk through this

Question 100: What does the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?

Answer: The beginning of the Lord's prayer (Our Father in heaven) teaches us to draw near to God with completely holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father who is able and ready to help us. It also teaches that we should pray with and for others.

Psalm 95:6, Matthew 7:9-11, Romans 8:15.

Psalm 95:6

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

Matthew 7:9-11

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 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!

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Dig Deeper:

· How should the truth that God is our Father inform our prayers and our demeanor in prayer?

· How should the truth that God is in heaven inform our prayers and our demeanor in prayer?

· How can you change your prayer life in light of these four words.

Question 101: What do we pray for in the first petition?

Answer: In the first petition (hallowed be your name) we pray that God will enable us and others to glorify Him in everything He uses to make Himself known and that He will work out everything to His own glory.

Psalm 99:3, Romans 11:36, Revelation 4:11.

Psalm 99:3

Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!

Romans 11:36

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Revelation 4:11

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Dig Deeper:

· What are some specific prayer requests that you can pray along the lines of “hallowed be your name”?

· What implications does this prayer request carry with it?

Question 102: What do we pray for in the second petition?

Answer: In the second petition (your kingdom come) we pray that Satan's kingdom may be destroyed, that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, with ourselves and others brought into and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may come quickly.

Matthew 24:14, 1 Corinthians 15:24-25, Revelation 22:20.

Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

1 Corinthians 15:24-25

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Revelation 22:20

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Dig Deeper:

· Have you ever prayed for the coming of God’s Kingdom?

· In what way has the kingdom already come and in what way is the kingdom not yet here?

· What are some specific prayers that we can pray along these lines?