The Essentials and Elements for an Effective Prayer Life

In Matt. Chap. 6, Jesus discusses giving, praying, fasting, and our attitude toward money. This morning, we are going to focus on prayer.

Prayer for the Christian is our greatest tool, but dare I say, it is a tool that we rarely employ correctly.

This morning, we are going to look at the Model Prayer and examine the essentials of effective prayer and the elements of effective prayer.

1. Essentials of Effective Prayer.

A. Salvation.

To pray effectively, you must be saved.

Matthew 6:5 ““And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”

Prayer is a line of communication reserved for God’s children.

Jesus tells those listening not to pray like the Pharisees whom Jesus called hypocrites.

Hypocrite is a term that comes from the theater, and it means a super-actor.

A hypocrite is one who plays the part of a Christian but is not truly saved. The hypocrite prays a good prayer, but that prayer is for show.

A person who is truly saved can go to God the Heavenly Father as you would go to your earthly father and just talk.

Romans 8:15–17 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,

if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Galatians 4:6 “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!””

In our society, we have been misled into believing in the universal fatherhood of God. Well, dear friend, that is heresy.

God is the Universal Creator, but He is the Father to those who believe in Jesus Christ. A person cannot pray to the Universal Creator, but a born-again Christian can pray to his or her heavenly Father. I hope you understand that.

To have a prayer life at all, you must first be saved.

B. Intimacy.

Matthew 6:6–8 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Evidently, these Pharisees waxed poetic when they prayed in public, and evidently, they loved to hear themselves because Jesus says that they think because they say a lot that they are going to be heard.

I think that is another humorous statement by Jesus.

Yes, we are to pray in public.

Can I say this? If you are saved, you can pray in public. You are not praying for the approval of men or to impress men. You are praying to communicate to your Father and to bring glory to Jesus Christ.

Real life-changing prayer, however, takes place in our private moments with God.

How many of you think better when you are by yourselves?

In the same way, when we go to our Father in prayer in privacy leaving all the distractions of the world on the outside, we will revel in His glory.

Can you imagine the difference prayer can make in a home if husband and wife join together nightly in prayer for God’s will to be done in their family?

I bet we would not have near as many divorces and not near as many bratty kids.

Instead of private, intimate prayer, many of us pray with one eye focused on the world and the other eye closed because we do not want to see God watching us as we are distracted by the world.

Listen to me parents.

The next time little junior acts like one of Satan’s spawns reflect on how much you have gone to God in prayer over that child because that may have had an impact on why he is like he is.

2. The Elements of Effective Prayer.

A. Faith.

Matthew 6:9 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”

Prayer must being with faith in this absolute truth, and that truth is that God reigns in this universe.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Take everything else out of the equation, and listen to me.

You must have the faith to believe in the absolute truth that God is the Creator, and it is He who reigns in this universe.

Did you know the Bible never sets out to prove God’s existence?

The Bible begins with, “In the beginning God created” Now, if you cannot climb that hurdle, how could you believe in Jesus Christ’s virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, and resurrection? The fact that God always has been and is the Creator is the basis for all faith.

It is a fact that you must accept in faith.

Hebrews 11:1–3 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Romans 1:17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””

The Bible does not reveal much about Creation. Many details are missing, but those missing details are irrelevant because what is presented in the Bible is all I need to know, is all I need to have faith in God.

When we pray, “Our Father in Heaven”, we are acknowledging in faith that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing ruler in this universe and whatever other universes are out there.

B. Worship.

Matthew 6:9 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”

When we pray, we are to worship God.

Have you ever considered that phrase? “Hallowed be Your name.”

Well, I had not until I started studying for this sermon.

Hallowed be Your name means to regard God’s name as holy, sacred, and worthy of reverence.

When you pray, do you go to Him in reverence, or do you go to Him with a wish list?

Psalm 96:4 “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.”

Psalm 145:3 “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.”

Revelation 4:11 ““You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.””

If you want power in your prayer, hallow God’s name, and if you cannot in your own words, borrow God’s Word.

C. Expectation.

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.”

God’s Kingdom is coming to this earth.

When? I do not know, but it is coming because Jesus, the King of Kings, is coming.

If God is the all-powerful Creator who’s going to establish His Kingdom on earth, do you think there is any prayer He cannot answer?

Notice I said answer. I did not say grant a request like a genie.

Do you remember what Jesus told us about prayer?

John 14:13–14 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

In context of what we have talked about lately, did God answer David’s prayer when he prayed for his sick child? Yes, He did.

“Jimmy, how can you say that? The child died.” I can say that because God cannot “grant a request” that goes against His Word.

If you pray in the name of Jesus Christ, you can expect an answer. Now, that answer may not be the One you want because God will not do anything against His nature or His Word.

D. Submission.

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.”

UH-OH!!!!!

Did you know we need to include that phrase in all of our prayers. What phrase? God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Do you do that?

When we pray, we are seeking God’s will to be done and not ours.

Now, admittedly, that creates a problem because what we pray for sometimes is not in God’s will to be done, and because of that we think God did not answer the prayer. In reality, He did.

What is God’s will?

God’s will is revealed in the Holy Bible from Gen. to Rev. and by the Holy Spirit.

Admittedly, there are times that I do not know what to pray. Did you know the Bible answers that for us?

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

When we prepare to pray, we are to submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit who will not only lead us in prayer but will reveal to us God’s will for us to pray, but it begins with the acknowledgment that GOd’s will be done.

E. Petition.

Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”

I am telling you this is incredible, and I had never thought about it until I was writing this outline and a light bulb popped over my head like a cartoon.

We are to ask God daily to meet our needs. Yes, we are to earn a living, but it is God who meets our needs.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Here comes the Holy Spirit’s revelation to me about this.

What are the three greatest physical needs that you have?

Air/oxygen (Photosynthesis)

Water (Water cycle)

Food (Nitrogen cycle)

Did you know that without God providing these three things you would die? When God created the earth, He created the processes that would sustain earth and Adam. Without God’s help, I want to see you produce oxygen, water, and food. You cannot do it.

You better believe when we pray we are to thank God for meeting our daily needs, but most of us, I dare say, do not even think of oxygen, water, and food.

F. Confession.

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”

Even though a saved person is a child of God, sin must be acknowledged before God will act. God always hears our prayers, but sin could block us from receiving His intended answer.

Let me give you an example.

Joshua 7:7–11 “And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?

Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies?

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth.

Then what will You do for Your great name?” So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?

Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them.

For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.”

Do you know, in essence, what God told Joshua?

“Joshua, take care of the sin in the camp, and then come back and talk to me.”

Let me ask you two questions, and I am not offering any commentary.

Did one man’s sin affect Israel? Could the sin of one born-again church member affect the whole church? Read the Bible, and answer for yourself, but I do not think you will like the answer.

G. Compassion.

Double UH-OH!!!!!!

I believe in a literal translation of the Bible. I believe the Bible says what it means. How many of you agree with that?

“Amen, Jimmy.” Are you absolutely sure that’s what you believe?

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”

Matthew 6:14–15 ““For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Do you still believe the Bible literally says what it literally means?

It does not matter what kind of spin you put on it, and it does not matter how you dissect it. If you are unwilling to forgive, you might as well not pray, and you might as well not ask for forgiveness as a Christian.

Jesus just straight out says that. Knowing what He said, we may not believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, right?

Is it tough for us to forgive? YES!

Let me ask you this.

Was it hard for God to forgive you? YES! Why?

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

To forgive you and me, God had to crucify His Son. Do you think that was easy to do?

Do you want more proof of how we are to forgive?

Mark 11:25 ““And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Colossians 3:13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

Without a doubt, Paul is saying those saved in the church should forgive as Christ forgave, but how is that possible?

It is possible because you have the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is supernaturally possible for you to forgive as Christ forgave, but in your flesh, you will hold onto those harsh feelings and grudges until the cows home, and you will be a weak Christian, walking in darkness because you are not being renewed because you will not get rid of that sin, and you cannot even pray to God until you get it taken care of.

As you can see by the model prayer, prayer is a serious exercise. It is through prayer that the child of God communicates with his or her heavenly Father. The Heavenly Father is the ultimate and absolute authority in this universe, and it is He who determines how we approach Him, and if you read Exodus Chap 19, you will see some more of His expectations.

The point is this.

God lays out the rules He expects us to follow for open communication, and if we want to have a vibrant prayer life, we must honor those expectations.

I mentioned this briefly, but if you are not saved, you have no communication with God. He is your Creator but not your Father. You can only communicate with God through Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus that you can have a relationship with the Father.

What do you need to do?

Romans 10:9–10 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”