Learning to Pray Like Jesus, Part 1

Pray: Learning to Pray Like Jesus—Matthew 6:5-15

Intro…

“Just pray about it.”—The cliché, fix-all answer we’re given when…

Faced w/a big decision—marriage, moving, new jobs, buying a house—or when there’s a crisis—Very spiritual sounding.
But could there be more to prayer?

But it’s more than a spare-tire & religious ritual.
For the next few weeks we’re going study Jesus’ teaching & his example… (Read 5-15)
ESS: Amidst all the questions we have about prayer, 1 thing is for sure: God expects us to pray!

I. God expects His children to pray (5, 6, 7, 9)

This doesn’t mean 2 things…

You’re saved b/c you pray.—You’re saved by grace.

§ Eph. 2:8-9

§ Saying the “sinner’s prayer” doesn’t mean you’re…

You’re right w/God b/c you pray.

Prayer isn’t a replacement of obedience
RA Torrey quote…

But God does expect you to pray. (4 statements of expect.)

“And when you pray…” (plural)—5.—Level 1 of harshness * “But when you pray…” (sing.)—6.—Level 2
“And when you pray…” (pl, part)

The verbs Jesus uses are ongoing repeated actions…
Not one time things (once a day or week)

“Pray then, like this…” (Command)—9.

What is prayer?

1 Reason we’re not good pray-ers is b/c we don’t understand it
When do we pray?

Before meals—Matt. 15:36
Before bed—Psalm 42:8
In hard times—Psalm 77:2
When we’re at church or in need.

Def: Prayer is communion/communication with God.

Many of us have been there…
We start praying & fall asleep, run out of things to say or our mind wonders—Our perception of prayer: boring.
Ill.: It’s like talking alone on a cell phone
Prayer is both talking & listing…

Don’t separate Bible study, meditation & prayer.

II. What are the implications of this?—Why is this important?

Prayer is part of godliness—Look at the context of the Lord’s prayer.

The Path to Piety is thru Prayer.—William Carey Quote…

Apart from prayer you’ll never be godly.
“I want to be like Jesus.”—Learn to pray like Jesus!

Prayer is learned—Luke 11:1—“Teach us to pray…”

Which means, there’s hope for you if you struggle w/praying.

Learn to pray w/discipline.
Learn to pray according to God’s will.
Learn to pray in faith.

Part of prayer is asking for something—but not the only part.
Part is just telling the Lord your heart—Ps. 3:1-6, but…
Part is thanks giving—Ps. 18:49…
Part is just listening—Ps. 4:4; 46:10

Prayer is part of obedience.
Prayer is rewarded—sincere prayer.—Matt: 6:6

Both here on earth & in heaven..
Spending time in prayer isn’t a waist of time!

Closing… (Prayer Path)

For many of us our paths have been grown over b/c we’ve left prayer out of our life…

We may go to him when someone is sick or when we have a need…
But we have yet to grab a hold of the spiritual lifeline that is prayer.—No wonder we’re not growing in our faith, looking more like Jesus.

Come before the Lord this morning & sincerely say, I want to learn to pray/walk w/God.—Teach me Lord.
The 1st & only prayer some of you can say is that God will hear is the prayer of repentance.

Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

RA Torrey Quote from “The Power of Prayer”: God never gave us the wonderful privilege of prayer as a makeshift to cover up our laziness and neglect of duty.

Matthew 15:36 (ESV) 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

Psalm 42:8 (ESV) By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,

and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 77:2 (ESV) In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.

William Carey (Father of Modern Missions): “Prayer—secret, fervent, believing prayer—lies at the root of all personal godliness.”

Luke 11:1 (ESV) 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.”

Psalm 3:1-6 (ESV)A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4 I cried aloud to the Lord,

and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

5 I lay down and slept;

I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people

who have set themselves against me all around.

Psalm 18:49 (ESV) For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name.

Psalm 4:4 (ESV) Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

Psalm 46:10 (ESV) Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

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.