Learning to Pray Like Jesus, Part 5 (Pray Rightly)

Pray Rightly, Part 2—Matthew 6:10

Intro… Read… (Ill. Nicolaus Copernicus)

To effectively pray we must experience a Copernican Revolution

We’re not the center of the universe & prayer is not given to us that we may get done what we want done.

Series overview: Learning to pray like Jesus…

Pray privately (5-6), pray sincerely (7-8)—Don’t pray on auto pilot, but from the heart.
Pray rightly—Beginning w/God—It’s all about God, not me!

ESS: God expects us to pray w/kingdom priorities in mind.

I. God’s kingdom come (God’s will be done)

A key phrase in these verses: “Your Name, kingdom, will”

A key principle to effective prayer: It’s all about God!
To pray rightly you must realize, it’s all about God.

How do we acknowledge this in our prayer?

1st, It’s about His kingdom’s advancement!

To get this, imagine an earthly king… Who’s in charge in that?

The king is.—God is the king, His will trumps everyone else’s’.

Where do we traditionally think of God’s kingdom?—Heaven.

§ God’s throne is in heaven—Psalm 11:4

§ So God rules from heaven above!—Ps. 103:19

o Who’s kingdom is on the earth?—Satan’s.—John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11

§ Satan was cast down to earth & for a time has been granted authority on earth.—Isaiah 14:12-14, Ez. 28:12-17, Job 1

§ He’s the prince of the power of the air—Eph. 2:2

These are 2 kingdoms at war against one another!!

There’s 2 kings: God, His kingdom in heaven/Satan, he’s granted authority by God on earth…
But God’s kingdom can still reign here on earth & the prince of this world doesn’t like it.

II. What does this prayer look like?

God’s kingdom reigns on earth where God’s will is done on earth as in heaven. (What sets heaven apart from earth?—The angels do God’s will—ALWAYS!)
Praying, Daddy, let your kingdom reign on earth… means…

1st, Knowing—How do we know God’s will?

Hunger—John 4:32-34
Study—Hebrews 1:1-2

2nd, doing—Once you know His will, do it.—James 1:22

One of the biggest problems w/our prayer lives—inaction.

III. The ultimate example of praying your kingdom come…

Jesus prayed in Matt. 26:39-44…

1st, Jesus was honest w/God

Jesus didn’t want to experience separation from God.

2nd, Jesus prayed that God’s will be done.

He said, “Your kingdom come & your will be done, not mine.”
Jesus said, “it’s not about me.”

In the year 1543 something very important happened. Copernicus’ book “On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres” came out. It was during that time, known as the Copernican Revolution, that His studies revealed that the earth was not the center of the universe. Up until that time, modern man thought that everything else in the universe revolved around us here on planet earth. Since sin entered the world, man has mistakenly thought that he was the center of all of life—that all of life revolves around him.

Psalm 11:4 (ESV) 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test, the children of man.

Psalm 103:19 (ESV) The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

John 12:31 (ESV) 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.

Ephesians 2:1-2 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience…

If you’re not a Christian/follower of Christ (following the course of this world), you’re following the devil, you’re a son of disobedience.

John 4:32-34 (ESV) 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV) Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

James 1:22 (ESV) 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Matthew 26:39-44 (ESV) 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let his cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.