Real vs. Routine Prayer

Introduction

“When” not “If” - Jesus expects you to pray.

Failure to pray is disobedience to Christ.

The Prayer That Turns the World Upside Down: The Lord's Prayer as a Manifesto for Revolution Chapter 2: And When You Pray: Why Jesus Doesn’t Think Much of Routine Christian Prayer

failure to pray is therefore not only a sign of anemic spiritual life, it is disobedience to Christ.

Prayer is central to the Christian life.

Contrast this idea with those who cannot/choose not to pray.

Jesus was a man of prayer

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

The Prayer That Turns the World Upside Down: The Lord's Prayer as a Manifesto for Revolution Chapter 2: And When You Pray: Why Jesus Doesn’t Think Much of Routine Christian Prayer

there is simply no way to reconcile the general prayerlessness of the typical modern American Christian with the teachings of the New Testament and the example of Christ. Moreover, prayer is not simply a Christian’s responsibility in obedience to the commands of God and in imitation of the example of Jesus; it is also one of the primary means by which we commune with the living God. There is no true intimacy with God without prayer. The question is how we will pray.

Outline

Do Not Pray Like the Hypocrites!

Do Not Pray Like the Hypocrites!

Jesus’ teaching on what not to do preceded the Model Prayer.

Do not pray to impress (vv. 7-8)

Words or phrases you don’t know

Just praying what others pray

Do not pray mindlessly

Mindless repetition (1 Kg. 18)

“Just say Jesus” mentality

And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

God knows our needs, and he knows if we “mean it” when we pray.

Do Pray with the Right Approach

Praise Him

Humble Yourself

This is Pleasing to the Lord

The Prayer That Turns the World Upside Down: The Lord's Prayer as a Manifesto for Revolution Chapter 2: And When You Pray: Why Jesus Doesn’t Think Much of Routine Christian Prayer

As Jesus’ disciples, we need to pray. We are created to be a praying people. But we desperately need instruction on how to pray. We need the Lord Jesus Christ himself to teach us to pray because, left to our own devices, we will pray wrongly. We need to approach the Lord’s Prayer with the same request and attitude as Christ’s disciples. We need to ask the Lord to teach us to pray. Of course, Jesus was ready to teach his disciples before they were ready to learn. He is ready to teach us too.