The Intimacy of Prayer

When Coach Bobby Bowden played baseball in college, he never hit a home run. His senior year at Howard College, he was the only player not to hit a home run. One day, he hit a line drive against Auburn. As he approached third, the coach was waving him on. As he made his turn, he heard his third base coach say, "But hurry!"

When he touched home, the team was ecstatic, slapping his back and shaking his hand back in the day before "high fives." The first baseman yelled for the catcher to throw him the ball. The umpire yelled, "out." When he ran the bases, Bobby Bowden never touched first.

Maybe that's why he became a football coach. Anyway, you can probably imagine he told his players, "If you don't take care of first base, it doesn't matter what you do."

Matthew 6:5-8 is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This is the first time Jesus taught his first disciples about prayer. His first lesson was, "Spend time alone with the Father in prayer." If we don't follow his first lesson, we are not following the example or the command of Christ.

For the next three Sundays we are going to look into Jesus’ teaching on prayer. Prayer is not unique to the Christian faith. Many religions have a form of prayer and or meditation. What makes Biblical Christianity different is that prayer is not merely a tool of the mind and psychology to get one in a certain meditative state; prayer is a dynamic, private, personal and intimate interaction with Almighty God.

This morning as we study the words of our Savior, we will discover the intimacy of prayer.

Intimate Prayer is Based on Relationship.

Don’t Be Like the Hypocrites - Talking to their Audience

Matthew 6:5 KJV

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Hypocrites do not have a relationship with God

Luke 18:11 KJV

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

John 8:44 KJV

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Matthew 7:21–23 KJV

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. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Hypocrites have a relationship with their audience

They love to pray… not love God.

Love to stand ( position of authority) in the Synagogues

Their reward is the praise of men

A pious church member, who thought himself to be a great Christian, says Warren W. Wiersbe, visited the Junior Department of the Sunday school. The Superintendent asked him to say a few words to the boys and girls. He stood pompously before them, and asked, “Why do you think people call me a Christian?”

There was an embarrassing silence, then a small voice from the back of the room said, “Because they don’t know you.”

—Christian Victory1

1 Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 1136.

A Child of God Talks to His Adopted Father

Romans 8:15 KJV

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

What is the cause of most backsliding? I believe, as a general rule, one of the chief causes is neglect of private prayer. Of course the secret history of falls will not be known till the last day. I can only give my opinion as a minister of Christ and a student of the heart. That opinion is, I repeat distinctly, that backsliding generally first begins with neglect of private prayer.

J. C. Ryle1

1 Elliot Ritzema, ed., 300 Quotations for Preachers (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

Intimate Prayer is Private

Matthew 6:6 KJV

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

The very nature of intimacy craves privacy.

Mark 1:35 KJV

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Enter into THY closet - you should have a private place to pray all your own.

Shut the door - get rid of distractions

Shut the door - get rid of an audience

Shut the door - get real in a way you cannot with any other being in the universe.

Shut the door - the Father is in the closet with you.

Shut the door - the Father seeth in secret … He not only hears your words but sees your tears and feels your distress.

Solitude is a key spiritual discipline. Green Bank, West Virginia, is a great place to practice it. With a population of 143 and only one road into town, Green Bank has all the peace and quiet its residents need. In addition, it is also located in a National Radio Quiet Zone roughly the size of Maryland. This is the site of the Robert C. Byrd radio telescope that is searching the heavens for electromagnetic signals from the far reaches of creation.

In Green Bank, you cannot make a call on your cell phone and you cannot text. There is no signal. Wireless internet is outlawed, as is Bluetooth. Journalist Michael J. Gaynor says, “It’s a premodern place by design, devoid of the gadgets and technologies that define life today.”

A few days of solitude in Green Bank, devoid of all our communication devices, might enable the serious disciple to find ample time to communicate in the oldest form of all: prayer and meditation.

—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell1

1 Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell, “The Town without Distractions,” in 300 Illustrations for Preachers, ed. Elliot Ritzema (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015).

Intimate Prayer Is Dynamic

Matthew 6:7–8 KJV

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Do not use empty repititions Like the heathen do.

Use vain repetitions (βατταλογήσητε). A word formed in imitation of the sound, battalogein: properly, to stammer; then to babble or prate, to repeat the same formula many times, as the worshippers of Baal and of Diana of Ephesus (1 Kings 18:26; Acts 19:34) and the Romanists with their paternosters and aves.1

1 Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 1 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 43.

Repetition alone is not the problem

A request becomes a “vain repetition” if it is only a babbling of words without a sincere heart desire to seek and do God’s will. The mere reciting of memorized prayers can be vain repetition. The Gentiles had such prayers in their pagan ceremonies (see 1 Kings 18:26).

My friend Dr. Robert A. Cook has often said, “All of us have one routine prayer in our system; and once we get rid of it, then we can really start to pray!” I have noticed this, not only in my own praying, but often when I have conducted prayer meetings. With some people, praying is like putting the needle on a phonograph record and then forgetting about it. But God does not answer insincere prayers.1

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 25–26.

The heathen do not have an intimate relationship to your Father.

2 Kings 18:26 KJV

Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

Repitition will train one’s mind and mood but will not effect a true communicaion with the Ruler of the Universe.

Acts 19:34 KJV

But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

I love the story about the Lutheran pastor who always started each service off with the phrase, "The Lord be with you." The people would then respond, "and also with you.”

However, one Sunday the sound system wasn’t working very well. The pastor stepped up to the pulpit and said, "There’s something wrong with this microphone."

The people responded, "AND ALSO WITH YOU!."

Your Father knows your need before you speak it.

Isaiah 65:24 KJV

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; And while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Romans 8:26 KJV

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Matthew 10:29–30 KJV

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

It is good for you to acknowledge your dependence upon Him out loud.

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Jesus rocked the world with the Sermon on the Mount. He turned the religious community and expected norms upside down. Prayer is so much more than trying to get your mind focused. It is an actual dynamic communication with God. That communication can be intimate so it is appropriate for it to be private. In the end prayer is about relationship and if you do not have a relationship with Jesus as your Savior, you will not be able to grasp the intimacy of prayer.

Invitation Hymn # 98 Teach Me To Pray

Welcome to Evangelical Baptist Church

Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise him all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly hosts Praise father, son, and holy ghost

Luke 7:34 KJV

The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Hymn # 1 Our Great Savior

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Hymn # 96 Tell it to Jesus

Hebrews 4:15–16 KJV

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hymn # 19 In The Garden

Hymn # 101 I Must Tell Jesus

He washed my eyes with tears that I might see, The broken heart I had was good for me; He tore it all apart and looked inside, He found it full of fear and foolish pride.

He swept away the things that made me blind And then I saw the clouds were silver lined; And now I understand 'twas best for me He washed my eyes with tears that I might see.

He washed my eyes with tears that I might see The glory of Himself revealed to me; I did not know that He had wounded hands I saw the blood He spilt upon the sands.

I saw the marks of shame and wept and cried; He was my substitute for me He died; And now I'm glad He came so tenderly; And washed my eyes with tears that I might see.

Testify!

Let us Pray

Missionary Letter

Special Music

Scripture Reading Matthew 6:5-8