Following Jesus’ Model For Prayer

0 ratings
· 15 views
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →
Following Jesus’ Model For Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15
Matthew 6:5–15 NLT
5 “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. 6 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. 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.
ETS: Jesus instructs his disciples on prayer.
ESS: Prayer contains certain essential qualities.
OSS: Believers will seek to utilize Jesus’ model for prayer.
PQ: How am I to pray?
INTRODUCTION:

I. PRACTICES TO AVOID WHEN PRAYING (Matthew 6:5-6).

Matthew 6:5–6 NLT
5 “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. 6 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.

A. Using prayer hypocritically (Matthew 6:5).

Matthew 6:5 NLT
5 “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.
For self-glorification.
To make self look good to others.
Prayer is not to be used to impress other people with our piety.
Public prayer only becomes wrong when we at God and not to God.
2. For self-exhaltation
Luke 18:9–14 (NLT)
Luke 18:9–14 NLT
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
a. Using prayer to build-up self at the expense of others is wrong.
The Pharisee made assumptions about the publican without knowing the publican.
He used his assumptions to make himself appear righteous to God and self.
b. Using prayer to recite his self-assessed virtues.
3. Jesus is condemning the practice of hypocritical praying to impress people, when private prayer and communion with the father is not practiced.
a) Notice where and how the hypocrites prayed:
b) Such prayer becomes an end in itself and its own reward.

B. Using prayer as a religious ritual rather than as part of a relationship. (Matthew 6: 6).

Matthew 6:6 NLT
6 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.
1. The emphasis here is on having a private and personal relationship with the Father.
a) The emphasis is on knowing (personally) God the father and the Son.
(John 17:3)
John 17:3 NLT
3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
· γινώσκουσίν refers to a person knowing God in an intimate personal relationship with Him. It is a personal relationship of intimacy which is continuous and dynamic.

II. PRINCIPLES TO REMEMBER WHEN PRAYING (Matthew 6:7-15).

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. Speak from your heart (Matthew 6:7-8).

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. Pray to communicate, not to repeat a “mantra.”
2. Repeating rote prayers does not get God’s attention.
3. God wants to have intelligent communication with his children- He understands everyday language!
God knows what we need, but wants us to communicate our need to him in everyday language.
Note some examples from Jesus’ life:
a. Matthew 11:25; 26:36-45
Matthew 11:25 NLT
25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.
Matthew 26:36–45 NLT
36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 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.” 40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” 42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
b. Luke 23:34, 46
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.
Luke 23:46 NLT
46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
c. John 11:41; 17:1-25
John 11:41 NLT
41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me.
John 17:1–25 NLT
1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. 6 “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. 9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! 25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.

B- Remember who you are talking to. (Matthew 6:9)

Matthew 6:9 NLT
9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
1- You are talking to the creator and lord of all creation!
2- You are talking to the one who loved you and gave himself for you!
(Romans 5:8)
Romans 5:8 NLT
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

C- Be specific with your requests.

1- Pray for the advancement of His kingdom both in the present world. (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.
2- Pray for your daily provisions, recognizing from whom they come. (Matthew 6:11)
Matthew 6:11 NLT
11 Give us today the food we need,
3- Pray for the extension of grace and grant grace to others. (Matthew 6:12)
Matthew 6:12 NLT
12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
4- Pray for protection from temptation and the attacks of Satan. (Matthew 6:13)
Matthew 6:13 NLT
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
CONCLUSION:
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more