Child-Like Prayer

Intro: The boldness of a small child’s request. They never come wondering and anxious that they are going to bother their parents. As we grow older, we sometimes lose that confidence. Maybe its because the requests get bigger, or maybe we start to wonder if we are presuming and asking too much. Maybe we know that what we are asking for is too much. I think we need to look back and look at those children and see that dependency and trust, and maybe it would do us well to approach God in the same way. As a matter of fact, Jesus tells us exactly that:

READ MATTHEW 7:7-11

CTS: Pray with childlike dependency.

OBJECTIONS TO PRAYER (Stott)

I’m borrowing these three objections because I thought they speak well to the objections that many have to prayer, whether intentionally or unintentionally. These three objections are common and maybe we have even asked them ourselves:

Prayer is unseemly: Doesn’t it seem a little ridiculous to presume upon God with our needs? We are seemingly small and insignificant. Why would God care about the things I need or care about? Doesn’t God know everything anyway, so why must I ask? Should his gifts be dependent on our asking?

Prayer is unnecessary: Many people not pray in our world today. Yet God gives them food, water, clothes, housing. Farmers who aren’t believers receive good crops. Unbelieving mothers receive children. Families who don’t know Christ have balanced budgets and all their needs taken care of by their work. So why should we pray for these things?

Prayer is unproductive: I prayed and God did not answer. To pass an exam, to get that promotion I wanted. I prayed for God to remove my illness, my cancer, but he has not. I pray for peace in my family, yet we still argue. This is probably the most familiar objection.

I want to show you from this text, further teaching on prayer in the Sermon on the Mount answers these objections and gives us confidence to pray.

I. The Commands of Prayer (7-9)

A. Purpose of prayer (Sermon on the Mount)

The context of this passage is in the Sermon on the Mount. To give a quick summary of the Sermon on the Mount, it is Jesus’ teaching on what it looks like to live in the kingdom. The assumption of the text is that this is directed towards his disciples, those that have been redeemed and made citizens of the kingdom. The Beatitudes and subsequently the teaching that comes about righteousness reveals that those that understand that they are unrighteous and in need of salvation, in need of one who can fulfill our righteousness for them (Jesus!). They are then made righteous and are given new hearts of flesh.

Then Jesus launches into how the law properly interpreted will lead to heart change, not just external keeping of the law to find favor with God. The heart must be changed, made flesh. Those that have these hearts made flesh then can live what the law always intended, to be salt and light. The heart of adultery, lust, is addressed. The heart of murder is found to be anger found there. We are to mean what we say, give faithfully and worshipfully, praying for God’s will to be done, fasting not to show how spiritual we are, but rather, coming dependently on God, anxious for nothing because we trust in God’s provision, judging righteously and with humility.

So then Jesus tells us to ask in light of this. What are we then asking for? In essence, we are asking for the spiritual needs. And what Jesus commands us for his disciples, for his church to pray for, is for the spiritual things revealed. Of course, prayer for the daily needs that he gives to all is still needed. And yes, those prayers mean something. What it does is acknowledging God as the Creator and giver of those needs, an act of worship and dependence. But what unbelievers who receive the common grace gifts of their Creator, though they do not acknowledge them, cannot receive the gifts of salvation.

God does not bestow salvation on all, but rather, on those that humble themselves, confess their sin, repent and trust in Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:12–13 ESV

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

We pray those spiritual needs that Jesus commanded us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer. Forgiveness, a heart of forgiveness for others, power to overcome temptation, deliverance from evil. WE also pray for increased faith, hope and love, unity among us as the church, power to fulfill the Great Commission. All of this promised and in essence, fulfilled in the work of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised to us. We pray for the Spirit to move in us individually and corporately as a church.

B. Persistence of prayer (7)

What Jesus teaches and commands his disciples to do then is to be persistent in prayer. The three commands are building upon one another. The first command is to ask. Then seek what you ask for. Knock on the door to get God’s attention. The call to prayer is one of consistency and constant addressing of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–17 ESV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,

This applies for the Christian because of the constant vigilance that is needed to carry out God’s will in our lives. The will of God is not something comes without effort. Sanctification is centered in grace, but it is also commanded by God. God gives the grace, but gives those means of grace in order to carry out his will. We are called to grow spiritually, to put off the old man and its sin and to put on the new man and its new actions. Love, faith, hope. The fruits of the Spirit.

Application:We should be persistent in prayer for ourselves, that we would grow in grace, love, and mercy, living the Spirit-filed life. We should also pray for others, beginning in own homes. Pray blessings and pray bold prayers on behalf of your spouse, your kids, your parents, and your extended family. Pray for the salvation of those that are lost, for the spiritual growth of believers. Pray for your church family, praying bold and persistent prayers of love and desire to see them walk like Jesus. Pray for the lost and the community around us.

C. Promise of prayer (8)

And with that persistence, we receive a promise. Now remember, this is in the context of the Sermon on the Mount. Also remember how Jesus taught us to pray. The first and foremost aspect of our prayers is to pray that God’s will be done and that His kingdom flourishes. The kingdom living that Jesus calls us to is the context of this promise. So when we see God’s will, to live a life that honors Christ in our hearts, minds, and souls, that His kingdom would be expanded and that He would be glorified through us, his church, we can pray with confidence that He will answer that prayer in the affirmative.

Application: This also answers that notion that “God didn’t answer my prayer.” Let’s stop for a moment and remember: He did answer. No is an answer. There are times where our prayers are not according to God’s plan and purpose. And God spares us when he doesn’t give us what we desire. Have you ever had a prayer and it not get answered? Have you ever back and thought “I’m glad God didn’t answer that prayer. I learned so much about who He is and about myself.” Sometimes God doesn’t take us out of difficult situations, sicknesses, cancers, and other things because its in those times that He teaches his greatest lessons and how to trust and rely on Him.

Transtition: So pray. Pray with persistence and a desire for God’s will. Pray trusting in your God to fulfill his promises and His will yet remember, He’ll answer them in his own timing and his own purpose. You can trust that your God is good.

II. The Confidence of Prayer (10-11)

A. Inherently evil parents give good gifts

Jesus uses an illustration to get his point across. If your children ask something from you, would you deceptively give him or her something evil in its place? No, of course not. And the other aspect of this illustration is what the child is asking for. Basic necessity of food. They’re hungry. Notice its not a luxury item, candy, or anything like that. If your child comes to you hungry, you absolutely feed them. And you don’t give them something that will hurt them.

Jesus is pointing out that you, an evil people, will do this. Though this is a side-bar, this simple truth is essential to our understanding of man. We are all inherently evil. He didn’t specify certain people. He included all of humanity. The doctrine of original sin. You who are sinful and lost are able to give good gifts. Humanity is broken, and even believers who have been redeemed struggle with sin and evil.

B. Inherently good God gives perfect gifts

Yet where man is inherently evil, contrast this to an inherently perfect God. He has no sin. He does no evil. He only does that which is good and best. So the confidence we have in God can be no greater. If evil people can provide basic necessities and good to their children, can you imagine what an all powerful, loving, good, and kind God can do?

It is with great confidence that we pray, because we know God will give us good things. In the Luke version of this text, Good gift is the Holy Spirit. So, our basic necessity as a Christian and as the church is the Holy Spirit. He is the good gift, God himself who indwells, guides, teaches, comforts, pray for us, and empowers His people, the church, to do His will. What a gift! And when we pray in this way, the power of the Spirit works in His church, giving us exactly what we need for the task. He changes His people, taking our darkness away, killing sin. He comforts his people when they grieve and hurt. He shows us love and compassion through His presence and the presence of His people.

Conclusion:Prayer is not meant just for the pastors of churches. Let me tell you something that I think is very important. Jesus taught all of His disciples to pray. You are called to it, and you can have great confidence when you pray. He wants to hear you, and you can powerfully pray for others. Pastors prayers are no more powerful than yours. I will certainly pray for you and with you. But did you know that all of us can pray for each other? Did you know that _________, you can ask ____________ to pray with you and for you, and it means just as much as if a pastor prayed for you?

Don’t let anyone tell you differently. Pray as a child of God with persistence and confidence, because you are in Christ, adopted into His family. He loves to hear you and give you good gifts. He wants to make you more like Jesus. He wants you to live a life that is joyful and meaningful. He wants to transform you and break sin in your life. He wants to comfort you when you experience pain and suffering. He wants you to crawl up in his lap and say, “Abba, I”m hungry. Feed me what I need.” And he will always so yes to that.