Matt 6:5-15 Praying to an Audience of One.
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Good morning Life Church
Will you please stand with me as we read together God’s Word to us today.
“Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
“But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
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TODAY WE WILL CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
TODAY WE WILL CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
In Chapter five Jesus taught us what it looks like when His Kingdom people truly practice righteousness in this world.
He gave us 6 case studies to show us how our lives need to look.
NOW IN CHAPTER 6 JESUS TRANSITIONS TO OUR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES.
When I speak of religion, I am using the ancient defintion - A practice that is repeated to transform us.
JESUS IS WARNING US NOT TO ALLOW OUR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES TO BECOME HYPOCRICY
Acting in a righteous way to be seen by others while our motives are selfish.
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TODAY WE WILL LOOK AT JESUS’ WARNING AND TEACHING ON THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER.
TODAY WE WILL LOOK AT JESUS’ WARNING AND TEACHING ON THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER.
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CASE STUDY NUMBER 2 - TWO KINDS OF TROUBLING PRAYER.
CASE STUDY NUMBER 2 - TWO KINDS OF TROUBLING PRAYER.
PRAYING LIKE HYPOCRITES
PRAYING LIKE HYPOCRITES
“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.
“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.
Go into the inner room -
Jesus using hyperboly
Greek cupbard - small, tiny space, dark.
Main point - This is not a practice that is for others to see. It is a practice that is between you and God.
Jesus is not saying don’t ever pray in public.
Jews including Jesus were required to stop and pray 3 times a day. Morning - afternoon- evening.
Many times you would have to stop public business to pray.
HE IS POINTING OUT THAT EVEN IN PUBLIC, THIS IS TO BE A PERSONAL ACT.
ARE YOU TRYING TO GET PEOPLE’S ATTENTION IN YOUR PRAYERS?
ARE YOU TRYING TO BUILD A RELIGIOUS REP THROUGH PUBLIC PRAYERS?
THE WARNING IS CLEAR: IF PRAYER IS PERFORMED TO GAIN THE ATTENTION AND OR RESPECT OF OTHERS, THEN YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE.
Hypocrisy seeks to use God and prayer to manipulate public perception, while true righteousness views prayer as a natural outpouring of one's relationship with God, practiced both in public and in private, knowing that the true audience is always God.
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TROUBLING PRAYER NUMBER 2
TROUBLING PRAYER NUMBER 2
“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.
Gentile prayers were known for their amount of words to their false gods.
Many intellectual words to impress the gods.
Many words to annoy the gods to act on their behalf.
And of course the many magic words - constantly saying the name of the false god over and over, and also the use of meaningless words that were seen as magical, that could manipulate the gods to do what we want.
JESUS MAKES IT CLEAR, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE LONG WINDED TO GET THE FATHER’S ATTENTION.
The father knows what we need before we ask.
THREE REASONS FOR LONGWINDED PRAYERS.
THREE REASONS FOR LONGWINDED PRAYERS.
Love letter from the heart.
Have no idea what to pray for so you just keep praying until something sticks.
Anxious and feel like you need to be repetative for God to know how important this is.
We do not need to impress our Father, nor do we need magic words to make Him act. Rather faith filled simple words are far greater than 1,000 words that are filled with pride and lack of faith
Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.
WE CAN TRUST OUR LORD TO HEAR OUR PRAYERS.
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Hypocrisy seeks to use God and prayer to manipulate public perception, while true righteousness views prayer as a natural outpouring of one's relationship with God, practiced both in public and in private, knowing that the true audience is always God.
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NOW JESUS SHOWS US HOW TO PRAY!
NOW JESUS SHOWS US HOW TO PRAY!
THE LORDS PRAYER IS BOTH A
Model for prayer
And a perfect prayer that we can use in our daily lives.
PRAYER IS MEANT TO TRANSFORM US NOT CHANGE HIM.
PRAYER IS MEANT TO TRANSFORM US NOT CHANGE HIM.
Prayer is meant to transform our minds and motives towards His.
It shapes us into the kid of people who can rule and reign with God.
SOLETS LOOK AT THE LORDS PRAYER AMD SEE HOW IT IS TO TRANSFORM HOW WE VIEW REALITY AND HOW WE LIVE.
“Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
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CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Jesus reminds us that God is not into hypocrisy when it comes to our religious life.
Is our prayer meant to be heard by God, to get His attention?
Or do we use prayer and our religious life to be seen by others and to gain their attention?
IF YOUR AIM IS TO LOOK RELIGIOUS TO OTHERS AND TO GAIN FAVOR IN THEIR SIGHT, YOU MAY ACCOMPLISH IT BUT GOD IS NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU ARE PRAYING.
PRAYER IS MEANT TO SHAPE US INTO THE VERY IMAGE OF JESUS WHO IS GOD IN THE FLESH.
PRAYER IS MEANT TO SHAPE US INTO THE VERY IMAGE OF JESUS WHO IS GOD IN THE FLESH.
