How We Should Pray

Introduction

Last week we introduced our new series on Prayer. Together we looked at the “why we should pray”

1) We looked at and saw God’s sovereign love that pursues us (he wants our entire being to cry out to him). We saw God’s Sovereign use of pray to bring about his will, the things we ask for he will really will use as a part of his plan. Lastly, we saw that God uses prayer to bring about a response in us to bring about the kingdom on earth.

Last week we looked at the quotewhy we should pray

Main Idea: Our prayers must not be of our own motives

1)

Pastor Jon gave us three reasons why we should pray. Three things that God does through our prayers. If you would like a refresher on that please visit our YouTube or Facebook page and watch that sermon, it is there for your review. But ultimately we saw that God uses our prayers to accomplish his will and bring reconciliation through the response of his people. So this week we come to the “how we should pray” and really the “how we should pray” stems largely from the “why we should pray”.

2) As a Christian, I want to bring about this kingdom. I want everyone to experience this kingdom of God. Because it is here now! Jesus said so many times in Matthew, the kingdom is near!

Now, I am talking to the christians. Because the whole idea of prayer is to be expressing thanksgiving and to be asking God to help you in your life. Help with what? To help bring about his i

3) So then, if prayer brings about the kingdom, how are we to pray to do so?

The ProblemOur Sin keeps us from the right motivations

Even if you have confessed Christ as your Lord and savior, you are still living in a body that is attracted to the ways of this world. Let me show you what I mean. Jesus corrects the posture of a christian’s prayer in verse 5 of chapter 6

So then, How are we to pray? Matthew 6:5-15

Jesus is famously known for his largest section of continuous teaching called the sermon on the mount. This was a time in which he gathered his disciples together and taught them about how to live as followers, disciples, of Christ. One of the biggest themes that runs through the book of Matthew is the theme of the kingdom of God. This is the theme that is carried through the old testament really. Part of God’s kingdom was on earth until the fall of man. And ever since the fall of man, he has been preparing to bring the full weight of the kingdom of heaven to earth. We see a glimpse of that in Daniel (2:44-45), “44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

The Posture of our Prayers must not take away from God’s glory (v 5-6)

But when Jesus shows up on the scene what is he telling his disciples? He is telling them, “the kingdom of heaven is near“. Jesus brought The kingdom of heaven near to God‘s people on earth. More than ever before God‘s people could take apart in God‘s kingdom with power. God‘s people could bring about a glimpse of God‘s kingdom and his glory on earth through the work of the Holy Spirit and the Resurrection power and authority of Jesus Christ our Lord. And the sermon on the mount was Jesus teaching his disciples how to do so. What would it look like if God‘s people lived in a way to bring about God‘s kingdom on earth? And right in the middle of the sermon on the mount we get to the “prayer“ part of his message. How does a kingdom minded Christian pray.

Before we utter the content of our prayer, we must position our heart correctly.

As if there was any other type of Christian at all, other than a kingdom minded one. But how was a Christian to pray then, and how is a Christian to pray now? The range in which we pray is vast. So this morning we take on the very important topic of Prayer and look at Jesus’ words on how we should pray. And even more, what a time in our country, in the world, to learn how to be a kingdom minded Christian. So often people will equate the “church building” with being a Christian. And rightly so! We as a people are called to gather as the church, so we meet together in a building called the church.

But the kingdom of God was never meant to be spread directly through this building called a church. Meeting on Sunday morning is not the only duty that we have as Christians. We must leave the church building on Sunday mornings and be kingdom minded, kingdom focused, ready to bring about A glimpse ofGod‘s kingdom in our daily lives. Jesus at the end of Matthew said, go into every nation and teach them how to obey all that I have commanded you. This was a part of their daily life. The famers, the teachers, the factory workers, the nurses and government officials, the moms and dad, the aunts and uncles, the grandparents, were to do their part in bringing about a glimpse of God’s kingdom on earth by being light. By daily living in the world but in living differently than the world . So now you are at home, and you probably will be home all week, how do you as a Christian bring about a glimpse of God’s kingdom in your daily life right now? You do this in part through prayer. So then, how do we pray?

Some gray like this “me, me, me, me, me, in Jesus name amen. The ranges in which we pray is fast. So it is important to understand Jesus is teaching here on how we as kingdom minded Christian should pray. And even more water time in our country, in the world, to learn how to be a kingdom minded Christian when we are doing our part to stop the spread of a virus and refraining from the church. So often people will equate the church with being a Christian. And rightly so! We as a people are called to gather as the church, so we meet together in a building called the church. But that is not the kingdom of God. Meeting on Sunday morning is not the only duty that we have as Christians. We must leave the church building on Sunday mornings and be kingdom minded kingdom focus ready to bring about A glimpse ofGod‘s kingdom in our daily lives. So now you are at home, and you probably will be home all week, how do you as a Christian bring about a glimpse of God’s kingdom in your daily life right now? You do this through prayer. So how do we pray?

Matthew 6:5–6 ESV

“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. 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.

6

Don’t be like those two faced fakers. Hypocrite means someone in a play, someone who is acting a part but not really that way… These fakers LOVE to stand and pray in the synagoges and at the street corners so that they may BE SEEN BY OTHERS. They don’t love to stand and pray to speak to God, they love to put on a show. These brothers and sisters are not truly concerned about seeing the Lord’s will done. They are concerned with the admiration of man

Your heart matters most… (v 5-6)

Pray not like the fakers. Hypocrites meant two faced. Actors! These hypocrites LOVE to stand and pray in public where everyone can see them because, everyone will see them. Jesus is attacking our hearts because if you are honest with yourself, you love your reputation. Thats why social media is a big thing. We love to be SEEN by other people. It is easy too… People can look at us as we put on a show and think, wow they have it together. When truly, on the inside, you are a sinner wrought with disgusting sin. 1 John chapter 2 says that if this is not our confession, we deceive ourself and the truth is not in us. We are a people of unclean lips.

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Jesus wants your heart… For from the mouth (the eyes, the arms, the legs) comes the overflow of the heart

The hypocrites LOVE to stand and be seen. They don’t love to pray to God their father, they love to have a reputation.

But when YOU pray. “Go in to 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.” says,” Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.”

and shut your doors behind you;

This is not a condemnation of public prayer

Rather than anytime you pray to fall down on your knees, or make a big public spectacle, we must quickly remember the words of Paul “pray without ceasing”. Martyn Lloyd Jones said, “anything out of the ordinary certainly calls attention to itself”. Jesus isn’t condemning public prayer. He is condemning a heart that has a wrong motive for prayer. Do you want to actually call upon the name of the Lord, or have the reputation of being a person that calls upon the name of the Lord? That is the danger. A reputation. Glory to yourself rather than glory to God.

hide yourselves afor a little while

These people didn’t love praying to God. They loved the reputation of being someone that prayed. they love the idea of being close to God. But what would someone who is really close to God do in their daily lives? Not tell you that they are praying. It seems so contrary. But here we see Paul’s message to the Thessoloians,

The gentiles (those who pray to false gods) want to be heard for their many words. They don’t love to pray, they want the recognition. Their prayer had lofty words. They are smart! Their prayer was this long… and so on. The gentiles prayers were not exemplary they were haughty.

Pray without ceasing.

until the fury has passed by.

this is a condemnation of being selfish and rigid.

(Period)God doesn’t need you to stop and be in a perfect place, a perfect mind, or with a perfect voice cry out to him. He wants you to always be talking with him. He wants you to love to pray, with a glad heart! Not act like it.

Public prayer is important. We see the example of the Apostles gathering together for prayer. It is the job of the elders! Even our Savior himself prayed where his disciples could hear. The sticker is our motive. We can tell ourselves that we have the most proper of motives, and that we are even worshipping God, when really we are lying to ourselves and seeking to be worshipped. Our flesh is wrought with wrong motives. Our motives must be aligned to God’s will by how we pray and by what we prayer. The content of our prayers must be as such:

Instead go into a room and shut the door… This is not a condemnation of public prayer. In fact, in the prayer of our lord in , he was praying to God in front of his friends. But more than the show, more than showing them that he was praying, he was actually focused on depending on God to live and move and breathe in that moment.

Matthew 5:7–8 ESV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Matthew 6:7–8 ESV

“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. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

matthew 5:7

The Content of your prayer will reflect your heart (v 7-13)

Thus the progression follows like this. God uses his people to bring about his will, his purpose , and his kingdom to earth. One of the ways he does that is through prayer. His people then should want to pray. His people then should be constantly aligning their hearts (this process is called sanctification) so that they reflect a proper prayer life rather than praying in vain. How should we pray? We should pray not as the gentiles either, who want to be heard for their many words. They were concerned with praying in a smart way. How many of us do that? “i can’t pray because I wont pray the right way”. Thats what the gentiles thought. We pray the right way... No one prays like us....But really they pray in vain. Their gods aren't real and cannot care not one iota about them like our God in heaven. Come with me in your bibles to 1 Kings chapter 18.

Elijah was in the presence of baal worshippers, baal can be taken to mean any false God other than the one true God. He engaged with them and said, lets see who’s God will answer them. Lets prepare an offering, and the god that answers us by fire in burning up the offering, that is the true god.

The Name “ the Lord’s prayer” has been given to this text when might be a more appropriate text for something entitled the Lord’s prayer. But here in this text we find attributes of a Christian’s prayer. With these instructions we find an address in which we are to use to pray to, and 6 petitions that should shape our prayer life.

Kings 18:26 says, Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder....29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

And the rest of the story is, eljiah does as God commands him, asks God to make himself known, and God brings fire down and burns up the offering. God does not need your lofty words. He doesn’t need you to make your education known. He doesn’t even want you to try and pray in this way. HE WANTS YOUR HEART. HE WANTS YOU TO CALL ON HIM. Humbly! To depend on him. To know that you are not in control.

So, pray without ceasing, pray humbly.

And what are we to say then? The following verses are not a formula. In fact, if you produce a formula to pray you have become legalistic. Remember we are to always be praying, its does not matter where we pray or what we say as long as your heart is seeking God will to be done instead of yours.

The address: “Our Father in heaven”

The Content of Prayers must consist of God’s Glory.

When we pray, we pray to God the father. The father sent the son and the son glorifies the father.

When we pray we Pray to God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, by the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

The first three petitions deal with God’s glory being brought rather than ours.

Petition 1 - “Hallowed be Your name”

It is in honor of you in which we come to you. Not out of needy gain or selfish want.

Petition 2 - “Your kingdom come”

If there is one thing that we desire most it is that you would return for us. Bring your kingdom once and for all! Not our tiny little kingdoms that we build up in our heads...

Petition 3 - “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”

lon earth as it is in heaven.

If your kingdom doesn’t comes in it entirety, let us be instrument of your everlasting kingdom now. Not of our own motivation, or wants, or gains, but for yours!!

Petition 4 - “Give us this day our daily bread”

“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. Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Father give us sustenance to sustain the work of ministry involved.

Petition 5 - “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Father forgive us for we will fail. Help us also forgive those around us rather than holding on to hurts and pain.

Don’t be like the gentiles: They carelessly call out the names of their Gods, without thinking, so that they would be heard by other people () The Prophets of the false God Baal did the same thing.

Petition 6  “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”

“O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon(from morning until noon) Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

but deliver us from evil.4

B) He knows what you need before you speak: God isn’t being woke by your prayer. He is not being caught up by your prayers. He knows all things. God is omniscient.

God isn’t being woke by your prayer. He is not being caught up by your prayers. God is omniscient, he knows all things.

Whats more, they were concerned about their structure of prayer. “it must be prayed this way, with this word here, and that word there. We must pray for this long. We must pray...” No no no, Jesus explains this idea further in :

 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Its not in how you say it, or where you say it, its with what motive you pray. Now here is where we get to the crux of the main idea. The christian’s world view must be about bringing about God’s will on earth first and foremost in every part of every day.

“Pray like this then”… Jesus’s prayer attributes include an address, to who we pray, and 6 petitions.

- Our father in heaven - this is the address. This is who you are to pray to. The father sends the son, but

We don’t pray to Jesus, we pray by the authority of Jesus

Pray to the father, through the power of the spirit, in the name and authority of Jesus your savior. The first three petitions have to do with God’s glory being done through the one praying.

The first three petitions have to do with God’s glory being done through the one praying.

Petition #2 - your kingdom come

Align your motives with God’s will by first declaring your motives as corrupt

Petition #3 - Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven

Petition #4 - Give us this day our daily bread

Petition #5

The last three petitions have to do with the believers personal provision in daily life. What does a disciple truly need to bring about the kingdom of God? They need food… They need forgiveness… they need help to extinguish the evil one. Many say, I need financial or physical security. I need more time. I need better resources. This is not the truth. What the christian needs are these three basic things the derive from the initial glory of God.

Lord, the evil one is seeking to destroy our mission to bring about your kingdom. Lord we need your help to keep him away from our work. Help us not get distracted by his wicked ways that look so tempting to our flesh.

Lets wrap all of this up...

Lets end with I propose with three wrap meditations

Above all, seek forgiveness from God

in verse 14-15 by highlighting forgiveness. As if almost saying, that is what you need most.We are sinners… We need to be reconciled to God. Jesus came to make a way for us to be reconciled with God. God’s glory is shown through reconciliation. So as you an I pray, may our prayers be steeped in Jesus’ blood. With thanksgiving for being able to be reconciled to God through God.

Listen, every time you pray, you are speaking to a holy God. Your sin comes with you into your prayer closet, your sin is in your mind. And until we meet God face to face in Glory, we will never be rid of our sin. We are indeed constantly being sanctified, we are constantly being shaped by God to look more like him.

And one of the ways that he does this is by allowing us to constantly speak with him, aligning our motivations with His will.

We cannot bring his will, his kingdom, on earth if we are worried with what we shall eat. If we are worried if we will have enough toilet paper. If we are worried what tomorrow will bring. We bring about his kingdom in our life and in the lives of others by seeking God constantly.