SF721 - REFUSE TO PLAY WHEN YOU PRAY - 1 HOW TO PRAY - JESUS WAY (Matthew 6 5-8)
MATTHEW 6:5-8
INTRODUCTION
There is a tension in Scripture between the command to pray and God’s absolute sovereignty. Some question the necessity of prayer if God is indeed sovereign, others declare that unless we pray God will not and cannot work. What is the answer?
“The Bible is unequivocal about God’s absolute sovereignty: But it is equally unequivocal in declaring that within His sovereignty God calls on His people to beseech Him in prayer—to implore His help in guidance, provision, protection, mercy, forgiveness, and countless other needs.
It is neither required nor possible to fathom the divine working that makes prayer effective. God simply commands us to obey the principles of prayer that His Word gives. Our Lord’s teaching in the present passage contains some of those principles.” (MacArthur, Matthew 1-7)
Basic Presuppositions about prayer
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 precede all Christian activity
7. Prayer has tremendous power
8. Prayer involves work
9. Prayer is governed by laws
10. Prayer must be learned
1A. Two Errors Of Hypocritical Prayer (6:5‑8)
1B. The Pharisaic Error (6:5-6)
The error – Self-centered praying (6:5)
Ø Misuse of the purpose of prayer
“to be seen of men”
“Behind their piety lurked their pride.” (John R.W. Stott)
Ø Not a condemnation of public prayer
All devote Jews prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10)
“Wherever one was—whether at home, in the field, at work, on a journey, in the synagogue, or visiting friends—at the appointed time the devout Jew stopped what he was doing and offered the appropriate prayer. The most common times were at the third, sixth, and ninth hours (9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 p.m., according to the Palestinian mode of time). The street corners were a normal place for prayer, because devout Jews would stop wherever they were at the appointed hour for prayer, even if they were walking down the street or visiting at the corner.” (MacArthur)
Ø Main focus is the motive
The solution – God-centered praying (6:6)
Ø The most basic definition of prayer is “communion with God.”
Ø We are to practice private prayer that seeks God.
Psalm 27:8 “‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.’”
Ø Praying in secret means that we shut out other people and ourselves.
Ø Not so much the location as the attitude of the heart and mind
We must recognize that we are entering into the presence of God.
“Just as we are to give out of a genuine love for people, so we are to pray out of a genuine love for God.” (John R.W. Stott)
Ø Three questions
Do I pray more frequently and more fervently when alone with God than I do in public?
Do I love the secret place of prayer?
Is my public praying simply the overflow of my private praying?
2B. The Pagan Error (6:7-8)
The error – Meaningless repetition (6:7)
Ø Misunderstanding of the nature of prayer
“Meaningless repetition” battalogeo, refers to saying idle things mechanically repeated phrases.
Ø Emphasis on method not content
Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.”
Ø Comes from rash or hasty praying ‑ mark of a superficial relationship
“Prayer that is thoughtless and indifferent is offensive to God, and should also be offensive to us.” (MacArthur)
Ø Implies that God is limited in knowledge and power
"Many words" = wordiness; emphasis is on man not God (Priests of Baal 1 Kings 18:25-29).
Ø Implies lack of faith in God ‑ need to wear God down, to convince Him
Ø Places too much faith in man
The solution – Sincere requests (6:8)
“Believers do not pray with the view of informing God about things unknown to Him, or of exciting Him to do His duty, or of urging Him as though he were reluctant. On the contrary, they pray in order that they may arouse themselves to seek Him, that they may exercise their faith in meditating on His promises, that they may relieve themselves from their anxieties by pouring them into His bosom; in a word, that they may declare that from Him alone they hope and expect, both for them selves and for others, all good things.” (John Calvin)
Ø Think before you pray ‑ base your prayer on revealed truth.
Ø Remember who you are praying to ‑ the all‑knowing God.
Ø God not only knows your need but is concerned that it is met.
Ø Do not try to impress God with your prayers.
Ø State your concern/need clearly and trust God to answer.
“To pray rightly is to pray with a devout heart and with pure motives. It is to pray with single attention to God rather than to other men. And it is to pray with sincere confidence that our heavenly Father both hears and answers every request made to Him in faith.” (MacArthur)
2A. Four Elements of Scriptural Prayer
1B. Adoration - Praising God for who he is – His attributes.
His person
His character
His attributes
Psalm 8:1 “O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!”
2B. Confession - Agree with God about the seriousness of your sin.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
3B. Thanksgiving - Expressing gratitude to God for what he has done ‑ His actions
Attitude of Gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
4B. Supplication - Request/intercession based on needs
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Application
Prayer is serious business
Have you used prayer for your own selfish motives?
Have you tried to “talk” God into doing your will instead of you doing His will?
Try this simple outline for prayer
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
REFUSE TO PLAY WHEN WE PRAY
MATTHEW 6:5-8
1A. Two Errors Of Hypocritical Prayer (6:5‑8)
1B. The Pharisaic Error (6:5-6)
The error – ________________-centered praying
Ø Misuse of the purpose of prayer
The solution – ______________-centered praying
Ø The most basic definition of prayer is “communion with God.”
Ø We are to practice private prayer that seeks God. (Psalm 27:8)
Ø Three searching questions
Do I pray more frequently and more fervently when alone with God than I do in public?
Do I love the secret place of prayer?
Is my public praying simply the overflow of my private praying?
2B. The Pagan Error (6:7-8)
The error – ______________________ repetition
Ø Misunderstanding of the nature of prayer
Ø Emphasis on method not content (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
Ø Comes from rash or hasty praying ‑ mark of a superficial relationship
Ø Implies that God is limited in knowledge and power
Ø Implies lack of faith in God ‑ need to wear God down, to convince Him
The solution – Sincere requests
Ø Think before you pray ‑ base your prayer on revealed truth.
Ø Remember who you are praying to ‑ the all‑knowing God.
Ø God not only knows your need but is concerned that it is met.
Ø Do not try to impress God with your prayers.
Ø State your concern/need clearly and trust God to answer.
2A. Four Elements of Scriptural Prayer
1B. Adoration - Praising God for who he is
His person, His character, and His attributes (Psalm 8:1)
2B. Confession - Agree with God about the seriousness of your sin. (1 John 1:9)
3B. Thanksgiving - Expressing gratitude to God for what he has done ‑ His actions
Attitude of gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
4B. Supplication - Request/Intercession based on needs (Philippians 4:6)