SF084 - How To Pray Jesus' Way (Matthew 6 5-15)
SF084
HOW TO PRAY ‑ JESUS'WAY
MATTHEW 6:5‑15
INTRODUCTION
Basic Presuppositions
1. Prayer is answered
2. Prayer is grounded in redemption
3. Prayer is a responsibility
4. Prayer has no substitute
5. Prayer involves men not methods
6. Prayer must proceed all christian activity
7. Prayer has tremendous power.
8. Prayer involves work
9. Prayer is governed by laws
10. Prayer must be learned
Four Elements Of Prayer
1. Adoration
Praising God for who he is...
His person
His character
His attributes
PSA 8
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2. Confession
Agree with God about the seriousness of your sin.
1JO 1:9
3. Thanksgiving
Expressing gratitude to God for what he has done ‑ His actions
Attitude of Gratitude
1TH 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
4. Supplication
Request/Intercession based on needs
PHI 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
1A. CORRECTING THE ERRORS (vv.5‑8)
1B. The Pharisaic Error (vv.5‑6)
1C. The error
Misuse of the purpose of prayer
"to be seen of men"
Not a condemnation of public prayer
Main focus is the motive
2C. The solution
Private prayer
We must pray in secret before we pray in public.
Not so much the location as the attitude of the heart and mind
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2B. The Pagan Error (vv.7‑8)
1C. The error
Misunderstanding of the nature of prayer
"Vain repetitions" = stutter, babble ‑ refers to saying idle things i.e. meaningless and mechanically repeated phrases.
Emphasis on method not content
ECC 5:2
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Comes from rash or hasty praying ‑ mark of a superficial relationship
Implies that God is limited in knowledge and power
"Much speaking" = wordiness
Emphasis on man not God
Priest of Baal (1KI 18:25‑29)
Implies lack of faith in God ‑ need to wear God down, to convince Him
And too much faith in self
2C. The solution
Think before you pray ‑ base your prayer on revealed truth.
Remember who you are praying to ‑ the all‑knowing God.
God not only knows your need but is concerned that it is met.
Do not try to impress God with your prayers.
State your concern/need clearly and trust God to answer.
2A. CONFERRING THE EXAMPLE
1B. God's Paternity (v.9a)
1C. Proper perspective
Exclusive
"our" = Christians only
Intimate
"Father" = pater, pat‑ayr'; appar. a prim. word; a "father" (lit. or fig., near or more remote):‑father, parent ‑ Aramaic = Abba
Reverent
"...in heaven" = Speaks to the majesty and holiness of God.
2C. Precious privileges
The end of fear
The end of loneliness
The end of selfishness "our"
The provision of hope
The promise of help
The privilege of obedience
The prospect of wisdom
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2B. God's Priority (v.9b)
"Hallowed be thy name" = "holy"
1C. The Significance of God's Name
The Hebrews considered God's name to be sacred.
Jesus intended for us to respect God for who He is‑not just His name.
To hallow the Lord's name is the same thing as hallowing His attributes
JOH 17:6
2C. The Specifics of God's Names
Elohim = the Creator God (GEN 1:1)
El Elyon = the Sovereign God (GEN 14:19)
Jehovah‑jireh = the Lord will provide (GEN 22:14)
Jehovah‑nissi = the Lord our banner (Ex 17:15)
Jehovah‑rapha = the Lord that heals (EX 15:26)
Jehovah‑shalom = the Lord our peace (JUD 6:24)
Jehovah‑tsidkenu = the Lord our righteousness (JER 23:6)
Jehovah‑sabaoth = the Lord of hosts (1SA 1:3)
Jehovah‑shammah = the Lord is present (EZE 48:35)
Jehovah‑meka‑dish‑kem = the Lord who sanctifies you (EXO 31:13)
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Jesus
Bread of Life (JOH 6:35)
Living Water (JOHN:10‑11; 7:37)
The Way, the Truth, and the Life (JOH 14:6)
The Resurrection (JOH 11:25)
Good Shepherd (JOH 10:11)
Branch (ISA 4:2; 11:1; ZEC 6:12)
Bright and Morning Star (REV 22:16)
Lamb of God (JOH 1:29,36)
3C. The Sanctity of God's Name
Hallow = hagiazo, hagios, to make holy.
To "hallow" means to make the ordinary thing extraordinary
1PE 1:16
To "hallow" means to treat someone or something as sacred ‑ "to set apart"
4C. The Setting Apart of God's Name
We are asking God to make his name "hallowed" in and through us.
HOW?
Believe God exists
HEB 11:6
He that cometh to God must believe that he is...
Know the kind of God that He is
Live in constant awareness of His presence
Live in obedience to Him
3B. God's Program (v.10a)
"Thy kingdom come"
1C. The King of the kingdom
"Thy kingdom..."
Refers to "Father" in v.9
Speaks of its uniqueness ‑ eternal
2C. The kind of kingdom
"kingdom" = basileia ‑ rule or reign
Universal aspect of the kingdom
PSA 103:19
The Lord...ruleth over all"
Earthly aspect of the kingdom
Literal translation = "May the universal kingdom established in heaven come to earth."
Note: 6:10c
REV 20 ‑ the thousand year reign of Christ
3C. The coming of the kingdom
"...come" = elthato‑AAIMVerchomai= to suddenly come
How can we bring God's kingdom to earth?
By the conversion of unbelievers ‑ he reigns in my life and all who trust Him.
By the commitment of believers ‑ living daily for Christ
By the commencement of Christ's earthy rule
4B. God's Plan (v.10b)
"Thy will be done"
1C. Accept the sovereign nature of God's plan
God's plan/will is going to be ultimately accomplished
2C. Accept the limited nature of God's plan
MAT 18:14
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
2PE 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us‑ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
3C. Make God's plan for my life primary
God first
MAT 26:39
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
4C. Recognize and seek to meet God's demands on my life
Will = "thelema" ‑ will:
MAT 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
5C. Commit to the personal fulfillment of God's plan
In time ‑ the coming of the kingdom
In kind ‑ in the same way as in heaven
5B. God's Provision (v.11)
1C. The substance
Bread = all our physical needs
PRO 30:8‑9
2C. The source
We recognize that all things come from God
JAM 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights...
3C. The supply
Daily bread
Promise to meet needs
Luxuries and grace acts
Does not exclude saving
Does express gratitude and dependence
4C. The subjects
Give us
Promise is only for God's people
Promise is for all of God's people
Promise eliminates any selfishness
5C. The schedule
This day
We are to live one day at a time in dependance on God
We are to be satisfied with God's provision for us today and not worry about tomorrow
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GOD'S PARDON
The Problem ‑ Sin
MAT 6:12, 14‑15
INTRODUCTION
The Emphasis
The focus is on sin and forgiveness
Forgiveness is the greatest need of man
The Effects of Sin
Damns men forever
Robs men of the fullness of life
Four Biblical Principles About Sin and Forgiveness
1. Sin makes man guilty and brings judgement.
2. Forgiveness is offered by God through Christ's death.
2CO 5:21
God "made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us."
3. Confession of sin is necessary to receive forgiveness
4. We must forgive one another to receive forgiveness ourselves
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1A. THE WIDTH OF SIN
1B. Sin Exists In Every Man
ROM 3:10, 12
Unprofitable = to go bad (i.e. spoiled milk)
ROM 3:19,23
ROM 5:12
2B. Sin Rules In Every Man
It ruins everything it touches
2A. THE WORK OF SIN
1B. It Dominates Man's Life
ROM 1:21
2B. It Brings Man Under Satan's Control
EPH 2:2
3B. It Brings Man Under God's Wrath
EPH 2:3
4B. It Subjects Man To Misery
ISA 57:21
There is no peace, saith my God to the wicked
3A. THE WORDS FOR SIN
1B. Hamartia
"to miss the mark"
ROM 3:23
MAT 5:48
Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father, who is in heaven, is perfect.
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2B. Parabasis
"to step across a line"
Being compelled to sin
3B. Anomia
nomos = law
a = anti or against
lawlessness = to flagrantly break God's law
4B. Paraptoma
Used in vv. 14‑15
trespasses = to slip or fall
GAL 6:1
If a man be overtaken in a fault (paraptoma), ye who are spiritual restore such an one.
5B. Opheilema
Used in v.12
debt = verb used to refer to either a moral or monetary debt
When you sin, you owe to God a consequence or a debt because you have violated His holiness.
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THE PROVISION ‑ FORGIVENESS
MAT 6:12
INTRODUCTION
If the problem is sin, forgiveness is the answer
Forgiveness is available
Us = we all need forgiveness
1A. THE CLARIFICATION ABOUT FORGIVENESS
What Is Forgiveness?
1B. God Passing By Our Sin
MIC 7:18‑19
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
2B. Removing Our Sin
ISA 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
3B. Covering Our Sin
PSA 85:2
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
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4B. Blotting Out Our Sin
ISA 43:25
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
5B. Forgetting Our Sin
JER 31:34
...I will remember their sin no more
2A. POSITIONAL FORGIVENESS
1B. The Pronouncement
1C. God is the judge
2C. Forgiveness is granted for past, present, and future sin
3C. Comes the moment you trust Christ
2B. The Payment
MAT 26:28
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
EPH 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1JO 2:12
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
EPH 4:32
God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
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3B. The Purification
HEB 10:10‑14
1C. Pure (v.10)
sanctified = to be made pure, to be set apart
2C. Permanent (v.11‑12)
3C. Perfect (v.14
MAT 5:48
be ye...perfect
3A. PRACTICAL FORGIVENESS
1B. Defined
Although all our sins have been forgiven, each sin we commit affects our relationship with God. The relationship does not end, but the intimacy of it can be lost.
Christ is talking about practical forgiveness in Matthew 6:12, forgiveness that gives us the fullness of joy in intimacy with God.
2B. Demonstrated
JOH 13 :10
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
1C. Dealing with daily sins
Clean Body ‑ positional forgiveness
Dirty feet ‑ daily sin ‑ practical forgiveness
Positional ‑ Once
Practical ‑ Daily
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2C. Receiving God's daily forgiveness
Problem of repeating the same sin
MIC 7:18
...because he delighteth in mercy.
ROM 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
CONCLUSION
MOTIVE FOR RIGHT LIVING
Donald Barnhouse
A man had lived a life of great sin but had been converted and eventually had come to marry a fine Christian woman. He had confided to her the nature of his past life in a few words. As he had told her these things, the wife had taken his head in her hands and drawn him to her shoulder and had kissed him, saying
"John, I want you to understand something very plainly. I know my Bible well, and therefore I know the subtlety of sin, and devices of Satan working in the human heart. I know you have an old nature, and that you are not yet as fully instructed in the ways of God as you soon will be. The Devil will do all he can to wreck your Christian life, and he will see to it that temptations of every kind will be put in your way. The day might come‑ please God that it never shall‑when you will succumb to temptation and fall into sin.
Immediately the Devil will tell that it is no use trying, that you might as well continue on in the way of sin, and that above all you are not to tell me because it will hurt me. But John, I want you to know that here in my arms is your home. When I married you I married your old nature as well as your new nature, and I want you to know there is full pardon and forgiveness in advance for any evil that may ever come into your life."
7B. God's Protection (v.13)
1C. Admission of your sin nature
2C. Admission of areas of temptation
3C. Admission of need for leadership
4C. Admission of a desire for fellowship with God