The Lord's Prayer

What is Prayer

Introduction:

Conversation is often underestimated in its importance - socially and biblically

Intimate conversation is sweet - lonely world

Prayer is the most important and sweetest conversation one can have

The Heart of Prayer (2 neg. and a pos.)

Do not pray like a hypocrite “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites” (6:5)

Synagogues - origins, cathedrals and Vatican, Shema

Street Corners - common gathering of people to discuss business and politics, they would “happen” to be on the street corner during a time of formalized prayer.

Motivation is to be seen by others!

Application how much of your religious activity is for other people? Description of a hypocrite. Stop playing games with God - you may fool others, but you cannot hide from him

Do not pray like a pagan “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do” (6:7)

Paganism = vending machine prayer

1 Kings 18:26-29

Motivation is to earn requests!

Application when you pray do you try to bargain with God? God does not need anything from you and so he cannot be bargained with. Even when we pray we must come to him without any delusion of merit in ourselves!

Pray sincerely “But when you pray” (6:6)

Application certainly does not forbid all public prayer. Pray without ceasing - at home, work, church, etc.

Application pray to be heard by God!

Application pray in Jesus’s name - by grace! Not meritorious - Jm 5:16 & Ps 66:18 are saying the same thing as 1 Jn 5:14-15 & Mt 7:7-10. As we grow in Christlikeness our prayers will increasingly be according to God’s will.

The Privilege of Prayer “Our Father in heaven” (6:9)

The gospel is more than justification. The justified are adopted!

Story - the judge becomes our Father!

Application pray like a child of God and not merely a justified sinner.

Application bad father, “Don’t bother me.” Good Father, “try to bother me.” Bad father, “You never do anything right.” Good Father, knows our frame and will not provoke us to anger or discourage us. You might not have had much of an earthly father, but that is all the more reason to pray to your Father in heaven.

Application single moms - it is imperative that you teach your children about your Father in heaven, and that they too can have him as their Father through faith in Christ!

The Example of Prayer “Pray then like this:” (6:9) - prayers according to the will of God

Godward Prayer Is Prayer That:

God would be glorified “Hallowed be your name” (6:9)

Not salvation - that God’s name would be revered on a general level.

God would save “Your kingdom come” (6:10)

Satan’s kingdom would be destroyed and Christ’s kingdom of grace would be advanced.

God would be obeyed “Your will be done” (6:10)

God’s word would be believed and obeyed.

Manward Prayer Is Prayer That:

Man would be provided for “Give us this day our daily bread.” (6:11)

General needs would be met. It is right to pray for all men.

Man would be forgiven “Forgive us our debts” (6:12)

Continual dependance on grace of God.

Man would be protected “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (6:13)

God would keep us from temptation, and rescue us from the temptation he allows.

How much temptation would we avoid if we just asked our Father? How much more prepared would we be for temptation if we have already been in prayer.

Prayers directed toward God & prayers directed toward man. Jesus is teaching us to love God and others with our prayers. Pattern: general > salvific > practical.