Seeing Results In Your Prayer Life

Secular -

At church one Sunday, Pastor Jim gave a sermon on forgiveness. Afterward, little Tommy tugged at his mom’s sleeve and whispered, “I’m ready to forgive Uncle Bill now.”

His mom smiled. “That’s Great! What did Uncle Bill do?”

Tommy frowned. “He hasn’t done it yet. But I know he’s coming to Thanksgiving… and he always steals my last banana pudding.”

Later that week, Uncle Bill did exactly as expected—scooped up the last serving of pudding with a grin.

Tommy stood tall, looked him in the eye, and said, “I forgive you… but next year, I’m hiding it in the laundry room.”

Historical/Cultural Context -

This Gospel is written by Matthew, also known as Levi who was a former tax collector. It was most likely written between AD 50-60. Matthew left everything behind to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote primarily to Jewish believers—people who knew the Old Testament well. Matthew had one goal: to prove that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Kings, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Connecting the Old Testament prophecies to the life of Christ, proving that every word God spoke was coming true in Jesus. The key themes of the Gospel include Jesus as King, The Kingdom of Heaven, Fulfillment of Prophecy and discipleship.

Biblical Text -

Matthew 6:1–15 NKJV

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. “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. 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. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. “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.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Living A Freeing Life Means To Have The Right Heart Toward God & Be In Constant Prayer

Life Point- Don’t Do Things For Recognition

Exegetical -

Matthew 6:1–4 NLT

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Homiletical -

There are a lot of people in the world today that do good deeds or donate to charity. A lot of them want their names on something or some kind of recognition for it.

Whereas Jesus say not to do that. He says you can lose your eternal rewards for that action. It is God we do our deeds for not to be recognized by men.

To give or do good things in front of others for recognition will get you the recognition here on earth but nothing in the hereafter. That is all the reward you will see.

Jesus even tells us that when you do give make it so secret that your right hand doesn’t even know what your left hand is doing.

That is quite a difference between the hypocrites that feel that everyone must know what kind of a good person they are versus not even letting your whole body know what kind of a person it is.

We are told to give our gifts in private so that God will reward us.

Does that mean that we are storing up treasures in heaven? Or does it mean we will be rewarded here on earth?

It could be either, but our goal is to store for ourselves treasures in heaven.

Matthew 6:19–20 NKJV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

We need to shift our perspective on giving from seeking recognition to serving others selflessly. When you give or you volunteer to do something do it in a way where you don’t expect to receive recognition. Seeing the positive impact of your gifts on others can be fulfilling and can inspire further acts of kindness.

Illustration -

Abraham Lincoln once said ‘a man is not a product of his circumstances, but a product of his decisions.’ He chose to focus on leading the nation rather than courting fame, leading to a legacy far greater than mere recognition. This shows that the essence of Biblical teaching is that true greatness is found in service, not applause.

Life Point - Pray In The Proper Attitude

Exegetical -

Matthew 6:5–7 NLT

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “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.

Homiletical -

We should all ask God for the proper way to pray and how to pray. One of the most important things is our attitude in prayer. It is a key factor.

Notice Jesus calls them hypocrites. That is the second time he has used the term.

He says that these kind of people, just like before, have their reward here on earth. They will get no other reward than the accolades they received for their conduct.

Jesus says to go by ourselves where we can be alone and pray to God there and God will reward us there.

For those of us that have been in the church we all had that deacon or that pastor who would use big churchy words and go on and on for 15 minutes in prayer before the offering or before the fellowship dinner. When in reality that is probably the only time they ever prayed like that was in public.

When we pray we should talk to God the same way we talk to Him privately, with holiness and respect.

Not as a babbler with repetition thinking that just by mere words we can move God. It is not, necessarily, the words that we use but the attitude of our hearts.

Illustration -

There’s a legend about a monk who lived in a small monastery. Each night, he would climb up to a hidden spot on a hill to pray. One night, a traveler saw him and asked, 'Why don’t you pray down in the monastery where everyone can see you?' The monk chuckled and replied, 'Because, my friend, it’s hard to hear God’s whispers over the rumbles of other’s opinions!' Our prayers are answered in our humility when we are away from the eyes of others.

James 4:6 NKJV

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Life Point - A Model Of Prayer That Sees Results

Exegetical -

Matthew 6:8–15 NKJV

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. “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.

Homiletical -

We call this the Lord’s prayer but really it is our prayer to The Lord.

Let’s break it down:

Our Father in heaven

This reminds us that God is so much more than we are, so much bigger than we can imagine and He is the almighty ruler of the universe and nothing is out of His control.

Hallowed By Your Name

We must remember that God is Holy and should be respected and revered in an uncommon manner. We sometimes get too comfortable and forget that our God is so big and so powerful that He is deserving of being treated Holy.

Your Kingdom Come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

God’s kingdom is forever from everlasting to everlasting. We are asking that His will be accomplished on the earth and in our lives. We are asking that which is good and Holy in heaven be accomplished here.

give us this day our daily bread

We are asking God for His provision in our lives. He knows that you have bills to pay and you have debts to get rid of and you have children to rear. He knows all these things that you have need of, but you need to be praying about it and not just your needs, but others’ needs as well. If you can meet a need of someone else you should do that, if not then you need to pray for them that their needs be met.

and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

This is a dangerous thang to pray. Because for God to forgive us our sins and faults so too should we forgive those that have wronged us. But what if I don’t forgive someone and then ask God to forgive me?

According to this portion of scripture God won’t forgive me my debts. So it is vitally important to both receive forgiveness and extend forgiveness to others.

and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

It is not God who tempts you it is your flesh and the evil one. It is important to remember it is God who can deliver you from temptation. So if you feel tempted you should make it apart of your prayer to be delivered from that.

James 1:13 NKJV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

He may put you through trials, which is things and circumstances which are not ideal that come your way but he will not tempt you with evil..

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever

God is God, whom else can you go to? Whom else has the words of life? Only God. We know that he is all powerful and has all glory to Himself. There is no one greater. He is the uncaused cause of the universe.

We need to keep that in mind when we pray. God can do what you are asking Him to do. We are to know that and believe that.

Now again Jesus gives us a warning about forgiving others. You see un-forgiveness is such a problem in our hearts and lives that Jesus addresses it in our prayer and stresses it again.

They didn’t have bold font to stress a point, so they would repeat a point to create emphasis. So Jesus is emphasizing forgiveness.

You know what this means?

Man is going to let you down. I am going to let you down.

You need to walk in forgiveness. You may get hurt by a church, a preacher, or anyone else but you need to extend forgiveness if for no one else but yourself because un-forgiveness is like a cancer and it grows and metastasizes throughout your personality and your being. Don’t become that bitter person but let God’s forgiveness wash over you and extend forgiveness to others.

Illustration -

The story of Joseph in Genesis is a testament to forgiveness. Sold into slavery by his brothers, he rises to power in Egypt and ultimately has the chance to take revenge. Instead, he surprises them with forgiveness, saying, 'What you intended for evil, God intended for good.' This was contrary to their assumption that they were doomed and shows how forgiveness frees both the one who offends and the one who is offended.

Life Principle– Living A Freeing Life Means To Have The Right Heart Toward God & Be In Constant Prayer

Call to Action – altar call….