The Wayfarer #7

Prayer

Jesus is our best example for prayer. By observing His personal prayer life, we can learn important principles on how to have an intimate time of dialogue with the Father. ()

Luke 11:1 ESV

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, as John taught his disciples.”

How are we not to pray?

Hypocrite—one who puts on a mask and feigns himself to be what he is not; a dissembler in religion. Our Lord severely rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy (, , ). “The hypocrite’s hope shall perish” (). The Hebrew word here rendered “hypocrite” rather means the “godless” or “profane,” as it is rendered in , ., polluted with crimes.

@misc{Easton_1893, place={New York}, journal={Easton’s Bible dictionary}, publisher={Harper & Brothers}, author={Easton, M. G.}, year={1893}}

Do not pray like the hypocrites. ()

Matthew 6:5 ESV

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.

Do not pray like the pagans. ()

Matthew 6:7–8 ESV

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.

How are we to pray?

Pray to the Father, not to the mother, saints, or angels. ()

Matthew 6:6 ESV

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.

Pray through Jesus. He is the only way to the Father. (; )

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

What can we pray for?

Let’s take a look at the Lords prayer. In

God’s will to be done… in your life, in your family, in your church, in your city, in your nation, in the whole world. ()

Matthew 6:10 ESV

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10 ESV

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Provision… personal and family needs to be met. ()

Matthew 6:10 ESV

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:11 ESV

11 Give us this day our daily bread,

Forgiveness… receive forgiveness from God and forgive those who have offended you. ()

Matthew 6:12 ESV

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:11 ESV

11 Give us this day our daily bread,

Victory over temptation… and protection from the devil’s schemes. ()

Matthew 6:13 ESV

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Does God really answer prayer?

Absolutely! The more specific the prayers, the more specific the answers will be. The secret is to pray according to His will. We know His will by knowing His Word.

Matthew 6:10 ESV

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Therefore, as we pray according to His Word, we know He’ll answer. ()

1 John 5:14–15 ESV

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

Personal Application

Do you have a set time and place for daily Bible reading and prayer? Are you involved in a Bible study or discipleship group?

Have you forgiven all who have sinned against you?

Do you pray daily for God's provision in all areas of your life?