A Greater Reward
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
What is it that we want when we pray? Is it just an answer or something greater?
In our text today Jesus gives instructions on prayer. He shares the power of prayer. He shows the purpose of prayer.
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
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.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Prayer has alway been connected to reward
Prayer has alway been connected to reward
A reward is a benefit based upon expectation
Some pray
++To be seen of others
++To have the spotlight
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
What do you seek when you pray?
Do you seek
++Recognition
++Reputation
Jesus says if all you want is
++Recognition, you will get it
++Reputation, You will receive it
Is there anybody that wants more?
Paul wanted more
Paul wanted more
1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
He did not
++Preach to impress
++Pray to the pleasure of men
He wanted more
He wanted more
Our Prayer is connected to a better reward
Our Prayer is connected to a better reward
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.
The foundation of prayer is
++Not elegance
++Not eloquence
++Intimacy
When you pray
++Go into your room
++Shut the door
++Pray to your Father
In the secret place
++God will meet you
++God will hear you
++God will bless you
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Prayer is connected to what you say not how much you say.
Prayer is connected to what you say not how much you say.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Make your words count.
Make your words count.
The problem
++was not the prayer
1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Prayer
++is commanded by God
++is needed by man
++changes things
The problem
was not the prayer
++was what the thought about prayer
Religious activity does not move God.
Religious activity does not move God.
Sometimes our activity gets in the way
Don’t be like them
Be a person of faith
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
A person of faith knows God differently.
A person of faith knows God differently.
To them God is
++More than all powerful
++More than All Knowing
++More than everywhere present
++My father
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
He knows me
I know him
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
It is
++Not about religion
++About a relationship
The reward of this relationship
The reward of this relationship
To make the connection
++We don’t need and audience
++We don’t need many words
++We must know our relationship
Pray like this
Pray like this
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
This prayer
++Highlights the relationship
++Recognizes his authority
++Declare a greater reward