The Model Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Enjoying Drive in Service
Enjoying Drive in Service
100.7
lbcbristol.org/drivein
sing out
no to minimal honking
Introduction
Introduction
Thank you for coming out and I hope your enjoying sitting out of your car if you chose to do so. I do hope you will decide to stay for a picnic gathering afterwards, it will be a great time of fellowship.
There is always a multitude of things happening in our world whether the media is bringing our attention to it or not. More importantly there is a multitude of things happening in your own life that’s affecting you more than what your seeing on social media and news outlets.
What are we to do when the world seems crazy? What are we to do when everything seems fine?
While a multitude of answers could be had I believe the first thing we should be doing, is praying. Now that should lead to other actions but prayer should be the go to response for any Christian over a situation.
Paul wrote and said
1 thess 5:17
17 Pray without ceasing.
Yet to often we as Christians utilize prayer as a last resort. It’s what we do when there is nothing else we believe we can do about a situation so why don’t we get God involved now.
We don’t meet God halfway in prayer, He meets us the full way.
It’s been said that when we work, we work. When we pray, God works.
I don’t know about you but I know God can do a lot more than I can every time.
This morning I want to be a help to you by speaking to you about the model prayer we find in scripture.
You may know it by it’s most common name which is “The Lord’s Prayer.” Now, why didn’t I just say that? Great question, thank you for asking.
Because I want us to make sure we don’t believe that Jesus actually prayed this prayer. If you’d like to see what Jesus prayed to the Father go to John 17.
We will be in
Matthew 6:9-13
I want us to go through this this morning in order to be a help to you in your prayer life. I want you to see the relationship involved in prayer. The Requests made in prayer, and the Results of an active prayer life.
Then I want you to ask yourself, “Is my prayer life a reflection of my faith? If so, is that a good or bad thing?”
Follow along as I read please
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Let’s pray
I. Relationships in Prayer
I. Relationships in Prayer
The first we will examine is the relationship between the Father and us
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
A. Between the Father and us
A. Between the Father and us
Prayer is simply talking with God. As it is with any person we want to have a discussion with, their relationship with us will drive our desire to communicate with them.
As Christians we have the privilege and responsibility of approaching the God of the universe in prayer with confidence He will hear us.
One of the reason I believe we don’t practice this disciple of prayer is because we don’t either comprehend, appreciate, or desire to have that relationship with God.
Where do we learn about this relationship and this awesome and amazing God that wants to have one with us? This answer is obvious, The Bible.
It’s in the Bible that God reveals his personal nature and character. It is through the pages of scripture that we find who God is and why we should want a close relationship with Him.
Here are some examples
He is infinite-Col 1:17
He has no beginning and no end.
He is all powerful-Ps 32:6
He has no needs-John 5:26
Ever have a friend that only calls when they want something? Well, in our relationship with God, we are that friend not Him.
He is Wise- Romans 11:33
He is Good-Psalm 34:8
He is Love-1 John 4:8
He is just -Deut 32:4
There are plenty more we can find and none of the character traits would have us to say “Well, I don’t want that God in my life”
Yes there is wrath and there is also Mercy.
God desires a relationship with you and made it possible for us to have direct access to Him through His Son Jesus.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Matthew 23:9
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
1 Timothy 2:5
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
It’s by faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, the gospel, that we find ourselves saved into an eternal relationship with the father that begins the moment you choose to believe.
It’s through Jesus and only Jesus that we have access to the Father who thinks only good thoughts toward us and has plans for us that are for an expected end.
God has made a way for us to have a relationship with Him. Each of us here this morning fall into two categories. We are either in that relationship with Him, or we are not. You are either saved by faith in gospel of Jesus Christ or you re not.
If you are not I implore you to trust Jesus today. For those that are, let’s look the relationship between us and the Father.
B. Between us and the Father
B. Between us and the Father
Once we have trusted in Jesus as our savior and have access to God, we must then determine in our own hearts to cultivate that relationship.
I’ve lived as a Christian apart from God. I know what life is like when you are living for self and not giving any attention to the Lord.
Let me tell you as someone who has been on both sides of that coin, this side is much better. I didn’t say it was easier, I said it was better.
An understanding of who He is will drive us to a relationship with Him but we will also see that a proper understanding of who we are should drive us to Him.
God is everything I’ve already mentioned and then some. But what are we?
I mean really. Think about it…what are our basic character traits? More importantly, what are our basic character traits, without Christ?
Many here might say “I’m a good person. I’m really not that bad.” Ok, that’s fine but let me ask you…How have you formed that opinion of yourselves? Is it based upon your own personal thoughts and ideals of yourself while comparing to those around you?
Jesus spoke a parable about a pharisee who did that
Luke 18:9-14
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Jesus referred to the publican as a humble man. What do we have in the parable to show his humility? His acceptance of who he was.
Do you accept who you are without Christ?
Do you accept that your heart is desparately wicked? (Jer 17:9) Do you accept that there is no good thing within you? (Romans 7:18) Do you accept that you can do nothing without Christ? (Phil 4:13)
Until we accept ourselves in this manner, we will not see the need for the personal and intimate relationship with God we so desperately need in this life to live with true Joy.
God’s made the way for Him to have a relationship with us now it’s up to us to go to Him to have the relationship with Him.
It is through prayer that this relationship is developed. It’s when we can call upon Him as “Father” or Abba in the Greek which is like when a child looks up and says “daddy” and mean it, we are in the place to truly commune with the most High.
When we are praying and talking with God Jesus gave us some requests that we can make.
II. Requests in Prayer
II. Requests in Prayer
Matt 6:10-12
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Let’s firsts talk about our daily needs
A. Daily Needs
A. Daily Needs
While we could quickly turn our attention to the daily bread, I want you to notice verse 10. Thy kingddom come, thy will be done.
This is not a one time decision. The decision to seek after the Lord and His desires for you as a father, as a mother, as a Christian, is a daily decision that must be made. It should be called out to God in prayer as a recognition of who He is that day in your life.
We as humans can be emotional roller coasters. One day is great and the other is not. We allow so much into our lives that direct our attention away from the Lord that we develop a number of problems that are more decision based than they are chemical imbalances. That’s not to say they are not real problems out there caused by biological issues in the brain…but we must accept that there are also those that have issues more related to what they allow to influence them than what’s going on chemically inside of them.
Daily we should seek after the will of God. That will look different in each of our lives but there are some things that should look the same
We should all see to tell others about Jesus-Matthew 28:19-20
We should all seek to live out our love for God and our love for others - John 13:34, James 2:17
In accomplishing those two things in the spheres of influence we have been given, I believe that we can say we spent the day seeking the kingdom of God.
We ask daily for God’s will to be done and then Jesus says to ask for our daily bread.
This is typically understood as our food, nourishment, rainment, home, basic needs we have that allow us to live. I agree with that and would also like to add that when tempted by satan Jesus said “Man should not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
So when we are asking for our daily needs let’s not forget our spiritual needs as well. Asking for wisdom, discernment, humility, patience, meekness, kindness, gentleness, and help with our hearts.
Don’t forget that any problems are may be having could be and most likely are, in your heart. They are not the works of someone else, they are not because of all that is going on, they are because something isn’t right in your own heart.
That might be a hard pill to swallow but let’s not forget who we are without Christ. If our hearts are not aligned with Christ we can begin to allow our minds to believe anything and everything out there.
Then what we believe will determine what we behave.
If we believe the Bible though there are some things that should not surprise us
2 Tim 3:13
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Things are not supposed to get better on earth. So we shouldn’t allow it to be surprising or disturbing to hear about all of the evil in the world.
What should we do about it though? That’s my biggest question to every Christian when it comes to looking around and seeing what goes in our world…what do we do about it?
2 Timothy 3:14
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Continue in the things which you have learned. Continue preaching the gospel .Continue loving God, Continue loving others. If all we as Christians are doing when it comes to all that is happening around us is ranting about it on social media or in person, we are harming the cause of Christ and not glorifying Jesus.
However, if we are looking around at whats happening and allowing it motivate us to love more, to preach Jesus more, and to do more for the cause of Christ, then I believe we can say we are seeking the Kingdom of God.
Because with all of the various opinions about everything that is out there we will find that not only will there be some of these things that must be prayed for daily but we will also need to seek forgiveness.
B. Forgiveness
B. Forgiveness
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those that have sinned against us.
Now this is a principle that is easy enough for us to understand. How does forgiveness work in our 21st century America?
Well, I beleive the basic tennants of forgivenss are understood by most but a quck review.
Someone wrongs you, you forgive them in your heart, and when/if they ask for the forgiveness, you give it.
While that basic princple of forgiveness must be addressed I think we face a dilemma in 21st century America that hasn’t been as perdominent throughout time.
I believe that we as a culture are way to sensitive. We can look around and call many people we disgaree with or that we see get upset, snowflakes and other derogatory terms but the truth is, on both sides of the politcal aisle, and honestly across generations, we are too senstive as a culture.
What has caused this?
This is my own personal ideas and not bible so we can disagree on this. I believe it is the rise of social media and the fact that everyone believes their voice should be heard and respected by everyone else out there…I’m sorry ladies and gentlemen, that is just not true.
Because of this we find our identity in anything and everything we believe. Whether it’s Bible or opinion, we wrap our identity in it and don’t allow for the thought that we could be wrong and someone else could be right.
Being so sensitive we become offended or sinned against much more easily by someone we may never meet or interact with. What do we do when some multi million or billionaire or celebrity, or newscaster, or random person on social media, does or says something that offends us?
Many times we go on social media and blast them and what we perceive their motives are. Let me ask you, have you ever prayed for them? Have you ever sought God and said “Lord, help me to forgive in my heart this person. Lord, would you work in their life to change their heart? Lord would you send a soul winner to them? Lord woudl you open their eyes to the sin and allow them to be saved? Lord would you please let them be in Heaven with me one day?”
Can you imagine? What would happen if millions of Christians began praying prayers like that for the Clintons? For Trump? For Gates? For all of the News outlets and social media leaders? What would happen if we started seeking to forgive them in our hearts as God frogave us and then asked for God to forgive them.
That might feel like we are asking God to forgive those that are murdering us, right?
Remember what Jesus said on the Cross?
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus prayed that prayer for the ones who were responsible for His crucifixion....yet we find it difficult to pray that prayer for someone in far off land maybe possibly doinng something shady to rule the world....May God help all of us in seeking forgivenss for those that may never ask for it.
This type of prayer life isn’t one of most Christians. I understand that…but why isn’t it? Why aren’t Christians bowing down and calling upon the all powerful creator God to do a work that only He can do?
Here is a better question for us to answer today…Why aren’t you calling upon God in this way to not only heal others physically but to a great spiritual work in not just Christians but in our enemies?
Matt 5:44
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
How often we forget this instruction from our Savior.
We’ve seen the relationships in prayer, we’ve seen requests that can be made in prayer, now notice with me the results of prayer.
III. The Results of Prayer
III. The Results of Prayer
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
In having a prayer life that follows the model prayer I believe we will see deliverance
A. Deliverance
A. Deliverance
We ask God to deliver us from temptation. We are all plagued with various temptations in life.
Temptation is not sin…sin is sin. Sin is the result of giving into temptation.
When we have an active prayer life that is seeking God in the way I’ve explained today by way of this model prayer, I believe, you will find that God will work in your heart to change your desires so that you no longer desire to act upon the temptations that you face.
Which results in a deliverance from evil. Evil acts and evil thoughts.
This results in a change in Focus
B. Focus
B. Focus
In closing the model prayer Jesus gives us the focus we should have in all that we ask for, in all that seek from God.
The advancement of His Kingdom. A work done in His power and for His glory.
Would you pray a prayer that ended with “But if it this is not your will God, help me to accept it and glorify you either way?”
That’s not an easy prayer to pray. It’s a prayer made in faith. A prayer made on the promises of Scripture. A prayer made because of the relationship you have with God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Are you here this morning and don’t have that relationship with God? You look around at everything going on and your anxious, stressed, and worried about what tomorrow will hold? You don’t have to be.
You can know a peace that passes all understanding. It starts with knowing your saved and believing in Jesus Christ.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 10:9, 13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
At the end of every service we have what we call a time of response. This is your opportunity to respond to the message this morning. This is your opportunity to respond to Jesus’ call of salvation in your life.
Christians, those of us that know Jesus and trusted Him as our savior, Is you prayer life a reflection of your faith? If so, is that a good or bad thing?
Is your faith driving your prayer life? That’s a good thing if your faith in God is strong and you know He can do a great work you could never accomplish. It’s a bad thing if your faith is weak and forgetful of who we are without Jesus.
How did God speak to your heart today? What was one thing you could take from the message and adjust in your walk with the Lord to allow you to be more conformed to the image of Christ?
Are you here this morning and want to trust Jesus as your Savior?
I want to help you confirm that decision. I’m going to word a prayer for you but the words of the prayer mean nothing, what you believe in your heart means everything.
“Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner, I believe you came to die on the cross and rose from the dead. I put my faith right now in you and ask you to come into my life and change me from the inside out. Amen.”
PRAY
If you made that decision this morning I want you to make sure you fill out that form on lbcbristol.org/drivein or send us an email at info@lbcbristol.org. I have a gift I want to send you. I want to rejoice in your decision with you. I want to pray for you. I want to talk to you about the next step of faith you can take to deepen your relationship with Jesus.
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