Seven Principles for Prayer

Matthew 6:7–15 (NLT)

7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today the food we need,

12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

INTRODUCTION:

If there were some fundamental principles that you knew would revolutionize your prayer life, would you use them?

In our text, Jesus lays down eight such principles.

I- RECOGNIZE HIS DIVINE WISDOM (Matthew 6:7-8)

Matthew 6:7–8 (NLT)

7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

A- God hears and understands your prayer. (Matthew 6:7)

Matthew 6:7 (NLT)

7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

(1 John 5:14-15)

1 John 5:14–15 (NLT)

14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

B- God knows what you need. (Matthew 6:8)

Matthew 6:8 (NLT)

8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

1- God always has the provision before the need is experienced.

There was a Calvary in the mind of God before the need came to pass in Eden.

(Revelation 13:8)

Revelation 13:8 (NLT)

8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.

(1 Peter 1:18-20)

1 Peter 1:18–20 (NLT)

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value.

19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

II- REMEMBER HIS RELATIONSHIP TO YOU. (Matthew 6:9 a)

Matthew 6:9 (NLT)

9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

A- His position speaks of His love.

(Matthew 7:9-11)

Matthew 7:9–11 (NLT)

9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?

10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!

11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

(Romans 8:15)

Romans 8:15 (NLT)

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

(1 John 3:1)

1 John 3:1 (NLT)

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

B- His position speaks of His authority.

1- Submission to His authority is key.

Jesus submitted to the Father.

(Matthew 26:39)

Matthew 26:39 (NLT)

39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

III- REVERE HIS HOLY NAME AND NATURE. (Matthew 6:9 b)

Matthew 6:9 (NLT)

9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

A- Understand His nature.

1- Holiness, power and wisdom.

B- Reverence His Name.

1- The ancient Jews would not utter nor write his name.

2- This phrase means that we are to hold his name with reverential awe.

IV- REQUEST THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS SOVEREIGN WILL. (Matthew 6:10)

Matthew 6:10 (NLT)

10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

A- His reign in hearts.

1- Then kingdom of God - His rule in hearts.

a- must be willing for Him to rule in your own heart.

Requires dying to self-will. (Galatians 2:20)

Galatians 2:20 (NLT)

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

B- His will accomplished on Earth.

(Romans 12:1-2)

1- Are you willing to be a part of answering this prayer?

Or are you like the old man who prayed, “O Lord please use me, but use me in an advisory capacity.”

V- REQUEST AND RECOGNIZE HIS DAILY PROVISION. (Matthew 6:11)

Matthew 6:11 (NLT)

11 Give us today the food we need,

A- Recognize that He is the provider of all needs. (Philippians 4:19)

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

1- Example of God providing for Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-16)

B- Request specific provisions needed.

1- Personal experiences.

VI- REMEMBER TO GRANT FORGIVENESS AS WELL AS REQUEST IT. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15)

Matthew 6:12 (NLT)

12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

Matthew 6:14–15 (NLT)

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

A- Request forgiveness for sin. (Matthew 6:12 a)

Matthew 6:12 (NLT)

12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

1- Through confession and repentance.

(1 John 1:7-10)

1 John 1:7–10 (NLT)

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

B- Relinquish harbored debts (Matthew 6:12 b; 6:14-15)

Matthew 6:12 (NLT)

12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

Matthew 6:14–15 (NLT)

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

1- Jesus forgave those who crucified him. (Luke 23:34)

Luke 23:34 (NLT)

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

2- Stephen forgave those who were killing him. (Acts 7:54-60)

Acts 7:54–60 (NLT)

54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.

55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him

58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

VII- REQUEST HIS LEADERSHIP AND DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL. (Matthew 6:13)

Matthew 6:13 (NLT)

13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

A- Request leadership in the right direction. (Matthew 6:13 a)

Matthew 6:13 (NLT)

13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

1- David’s request (Psalm 23:2-3)

Psalm 23:2–3 (NLT)

2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

2- (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

B- Request deliverance from the power of evil. (Matthew 6:13 b)

Matthew 6:13 (NLT)

13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

1- Seek God’s presence in evil times. (Psalm 23:4)

Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

CONCLUSION: