The Kingdom Prayer
Welcome to the Greater Life: Studies from the Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction: Of all the things that Jesus ever did, the miracle, the healings, confounding the wisdom of the Pharisees. Incredible signs and wonders, His disciples only ever asked him to teach them one thing….
1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray...”
They had watched Jesus’ prayer life with such interest that they wanted to be like him in prayer.
In that account, Jesus gave them a similar prayer as we have here today.
When you pray, pray like this.
But it’s hard to pray. Everything in us runs from prayer. Our mind wanders, we get bored, we fall asleep, our phone buzzes.
In 2023, I became convicted that we were not becoming a praying church. Our strategic plan outlined that pray needs to be a focus.
One of our motives is we want to have“Intimate Conversations with God.”
One of the Marks we have identified for true discipleship is Knees for Praying.
But still I was worried that our prayers were mechanical and lacked passion even on Sunday morning.
So I prayed to God, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Outside of the very obvious answer of “Don’t you have a Bible?” Something else happened.
You see, Jesus can tell us how to pray, but it is only life that can teach you to pray.
Jesus prayed so fervently and passionately because He had to. What He came to do was too big and difficult in His humanity, He needed the Father and the Spirit to sustain Him.
Over the last 3 years, North Hills has become a praying church, not because we have learned how to pray, but because God has allowed life to teach us that we have to pray.
It has been a long and difficult road for many of us, but it has brought us closer together as a Church and brought us closer to God. Through cancer, death, frustrations, depression, sin, even some persecution we have learned to hit our knees and pray.
I have never in my life had such sweet intimacy and connection to God than I have had these past 3 years. As hard as this is to say, knowing the what I know now, if this was the only way for me to have such closeness and connection with God, I would not change a thing.
Iis because of the storms and trials. And He has shown me that He is able and Worthy of my trust, no matter what.
Life has taught us that we have to pray. But let’s remind ourselves hot to pray.
in times of of trial we are tempted to only thing big things are worthy of prayer.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Transition to the Text: Turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew 6:5-13. We come to one of the most well known passages in all of Scripture.
Many of us have the King James version of this so engrained in our heads that even modern translations don’t really like to mess with it.
This is often called the Lord’s Prayer, but this is really our prayer. A disciples prayer. A kingdom prayer. Jesus was saying, this is how you are to pray when you pray in the kingdom of God.
And from the outset we must understand that we must….
Introduce:
Big Idea: PRAY with PURPOSE.
Big Idea: PRAY with PURPOSE.
Read: Matthew 6:5-13
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Big Idea: PRAY with PURPOSE.
Big Idea: PRAY with PURPOSE.
And again, Jesus contrasts the correct way to pray with the wrong way to pray.
Don’t pray like the hypocrites because it’s all a show for them. They want everyone to know they are good at prayer. They use big lofty words. They stand on street corners and in the marketplace. Have you ever heard someone pray out loud thinking they are trying to put on a performance? Let’s not do that.
Prayer is private but it is also a corporate event, but it’s also private and intimate. We must pray together at church. But when you pray personally, just like giving, let your prayer be in secret.
Also, don’t pray like the Gentiles who throw up empty phrases that mean nothing but they feel like if they throw out enough things to God, He’s bound to answer something.
Don’t tell God your life story. Believe me, he knows more than you.
2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
2 questions before we move on:
How long should I pray?
Paul says pray without ceasing and let there be an ongoing conversation between you and God throughout the day.
Think of this as an ongoing text message thread between you are your spouse. Amanda and I text throughout the day to check in.
But there are also times for longer conversations to maintain the deeper connection.
Both are important.
How long in those? I heard someone say, “Pray until you find yourself praying. And then pray until you have prayed.
Some prayers will be an hour, others will be 5 minutes.
2. What should I pray for?
This is what Jesus is going to answer today. Some people will say, it doesn’t matter how you pray just talk to God. But that’s not what Jesus teaches us. Your prayer must be deliberate and reverent. He’s not our buddy. Some of us need to remember who we are talking to.
He is the God of the Universe. Maker of heaven and earth. He is Lord and He is glorious!
So Jesus starts where many of us don’t. When we pray we must begin with a heart of worship.
1. MAGNIFY God in PRAYER. (Matthew 6:5-9)
1. MAGNIFY God in PRAYER. (Matthew 6:5-9)
Explanation: I tried to think of the best way to state this. And the words kept falling short. Honor. Praise. Exalt. Make His name great. I stole Magnify from the Psalms.
I settled on magnify because in prayer we can show God to be awesome or we can make Him very little in our own eyes.
I was thinking about the 2 extremes that we often go to in this. Many treat God in 2 extremes in our prayer.
We make Him the cosmic judge that we are must appease lest He punish us and throw us into Hell. We are afraid of Him and approach him like a dog with our tale Ethernet our legs. But notice asking for forgiveness of sin comes later in the prayer not the beginning,
The other side is the cosmic Santa Claus that exists to say yes to all of our requests. We take other passages that seem to guarantee whatever you ask in prayer, if you have enough faith, will be yours.
Both of these fall very short of the truth.
Yes, He is a judge and yes He is the given of all good gifts.
He is also glorious and extravagant. He’s wonderful. He’s radiant and beautiful. He’s majestic and mighty, terrible (in a good way) and great!
I love what Psalm 145:3
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
He’s why we sing and why we praise. Why we gather. Why we build our lives on Him.
We always talk about how the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus…but what is eternal life?
Jesus answers that:
2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
To know God is the greatest reward.
The world has been blinded to Him by the evil one.
But for those with eyes to see, we won’t want to look at anything else again ever!
But remember who you are talking to.
That why Jesus starts with defining the relationship. He is our Father.
Illustration: I remember when I was growing up. There was an event at school that I needed some money and I needed the car.
So I barged in on my dad and rather rudely said, give me money and I need to borrow the car. I have an event at school. And I put my hand out.
My dad looked around and said, “Who are you talking to? Try again.”
My petition to my earthly father came from a position of entitlement.
The truth is my dad would have been delighted to give me whatever I needed. I just had to ask respectfully and gratefully.
The same is true of our heavenly Father. I love how Jesus shows this in Luke’s words:
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Application: So in prayer don’t barge in with all of your requests. Show a little reverence and awe.
Think about the way the Psalms do this:
1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
5 Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Even in our prayers of desperation we often miss this part. We jump right to part where we need God’s help.
But as life teaches us that we have to pray. Prayer teaches us that God answers prayer and that should lead us to magnify His Holy Name!
Jesus models this well in the read Lord’s Prayer in John 17:1
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,
I think as well in John 11:41-42
41 “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
God’s past faithfulness always predicts His future faithfulness. But let’s make sure we thank and praise Him for what He has done before we make our demands.
Before you pray, take a second to remember who you are talking to and proceed accordingly.
2. SUBMIT to God’s WILL in PRAYER. (Matthew 6:10)
2. SUBMIT to God’s WILL in PRAYER. (Matthew 6:10)
Explanation: Another question you might ask is, “How can I get God to answer my prayers?”
First I ask, “Are you asking for things that He would say yes to?”
Notice something here.
After magnifying God in the first part of prayer. We don’t jump to our requests. We admit something that is so important.
God is in control. God knows better than me. God is sovereign over me.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
We have to trust God that when our wants and desires conflict with His Will, His way is better.
So there are 2 things that must be in alignment before we make our requests.
We must be aligned with God’s kingdom values.
We must be aligned with God’s Will.
God will never answer prayers that violate His kingdom or His will.
Think about the way that Jesus prayed in the garden on the night he was betrayed:
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus cared only of the will of the Father.
And this goes to show you that the will of the Father may involve suffering and trials for you.
But the truth is that these trials can draw us closer to Jesus. So…
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
Illustration:
Application: The Kingdom of God and the Will of God may seem like 2 different things. But they really aren’t. God’s will is that the Kingdom will be on earth as it is in heaven.
First now, through the church and in the future in the Millennial Kingdom and the new heaven and new earth.
It’s coming whether we pray for it or not but God has invited us to participate in bringing it about through prayer.
Now sometimes we will pray for things and God says yes,as it aligns with His will.
We have prayed for a lot of healing these past few years and God has answered by saying yes. But we also know it’s not always in the way we think or initially want.
Sometimes the healing comes through healing the illness or ailment. Other times God takes that person to be with Him eternally. And those in Christ will be reunited again.
And we do not grieve as those who have no hope.
God will answer the prayers that give Him the most glory.
But sometimes God just says no.
We know that the Father did not allow the cup to pass from Christ.
But look at Paul
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Don’t misunderstand. There is no such thing as an unanswered prayer. Sometimes God just says no. And it’s better that way. His will is always better. Finally….
3. Pray CONFIDENTLY. (Matthew 6:11-13)
3. Pray CONFIDENTLY. (Matthew 6:11-13)
Explanation:
In prayer we are invited to command God. There are 7 things we are to pray for and they are all done in the imperative mood in Greek.
We’ve already seen 3: Hallowed be your name! Your kingdom come. Your will be done. All commands.
Give us…forgive us…do not lead us…
Seems odd to talk to God this way. Remember who we are talking to!
But this is not disrespectful.
It’s disrespectful to talk to a loving God in such a way that makes it out like He would only reluctangly or begrudgingly answer you.
When our hearts are right with God, we can be confident in prayer. That’s why the Hallowed be your name part is so crucial. When you know who you are talking to, it leads to confidence, not sheepishness.
Notice in verse 11 we’ve moved from God to us.
So yes, let the first part of your prayer be about God.
But also I can’t help feel like “us” is a little jarring.
We might expect a more personal approach.
Give me this day my daily bread
forgive me my debts as I forgive others
Do not lead me into into temptation and deliver me from evil.
That’s what we expect largely because that’s how we pray.
But even in our private prayers we should be praying corporately.
Who is us? Other citizens of the kingdom. The church.
Luke 18:11 has a very selfish me-centered prayer.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
In other words, God you are lucky to have me.
We cannot and should not pray like this.
And remember, just because you have a lot of money and all your needs are met does not mean it’s because you have found favor with God.
Remember: Matthew 5:45
45b For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
The faithful will often suffer while the evil will often appear to be prospering. But remember this earth is the only hell we will ever know. And this earth is the only heaven unbelievers will ever know.
Illustration: This is what we have been doing at North Hills for the last 3 years.
We are praying together, privately and corporately.
We pray that God would meet our needs.
That God would forgive us our sins and by extension give us the strength and motivation to forgive others.
You might ask, Why would God lead us into temptation? That’s not smart.
But every day we are tempted even as we follow Jesus.
Paul even stated in 2 Cor 12:8
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
The very ministry that God called Paul to was a source of temptation. And every pastor or ministry leaders know this truth.
But we also take comfort in Paul’s other words:
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
And sometimes that way out is a thorn in the flesh. So don’t despise your trials. Use them for the glory of God.
Application: When I played high school football before every game we’d recite this prayer. At public school. It was tradition. For most people it meant nothing. Even for me at the time.
Nothing like praying before a game only to get blown out by 30.
But also remember, the Lord’s Prayer is not necessary meant to be recited as is.
It’s a model for praying with purpose to a God who is worthy of our praise and who delights to hear our prayer and answer those prayers that bring Him glory.
It keeps us focused so we don’t get bored, don’t get distracted and don’t fall asleep. To help you know when you are praying and when you have prayed.
It guides you to pray with the purpose of God.
Magnifying His name.
Praying His will.
Praying confidently for the things she already knows you need.
Response: Are you PRAYING with PURPOSE?
Response: Are you PRAYING with PURPOSE?
Summation:
Are you magnifying God in prayer?
Are you praying for God’s Kingdom to Come and His will to be done?
Are you praying together so that we are all taken care of?
Closing Illustration: Some of the greatest writing ever recorded were love letters.
John and Abigail Adams exchanged over 1,100 letters during their 54-year marriage, creating a renowned record of intimate affection, personal longing, and key revolutionary-era insights. Spanning from 1761 to 1801, the correspondence highlights their deep intellectual bond, political, family discussions, and love for one another.
And to read those letters is a window into the the relationship even today long after their deaths.
You can tell they knew each other, respected each other and cherished each other.
We call them love letters but they are infinitely more than that. They are picture into the relationship.
If someone were to read your prayers, what would they take away from the letters. Would they feel you think of God as a harsh judge? A santa claus?
Would they feel intimate affection? Personal longing for heaven? Would they see a bond?
Would they feel forced? Would you even seem to like God?
Obviously none of us can answer that question for you. We won’t read your prayers. It’s between you are God.
But it’s worth asking, am I praying with purpose.
Do my prayers magnify God?
Do I pray for God’s Will to be done?
Do I pray for myself and others as we seek to follow God?
If something needs to change, let’s pray better today. Lets follow Jesus model.
Let’s pray.
