SERIES: UNLOCKING THE POWER OF HEAVEN
UNLOCKING THE POWER OF HEAVEN • Sermon • Submitted
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LAST WEEK WE SPOKE ABOUT
THE KEY OF GIVING (Matthew 6:1-4-)
THE KEY OF GIVING (Matthew 6:1-4-)
TODAY’S MESSAGE:
UNLOCKING THE POWER OF HEAVEN WITH THE PRAYER KEY
UNLOCKING THE POWER OF HEAVEN WITH THE PRAYER KEY
TODAY’S TEXT: Matthew 6:5-15-
“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.
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.
“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.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
I. THE MIND THAT UNDERSTANDS THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER
I. THE MIND THAT UNDERSTANDS THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER
WHAT THE MIND MUST KNOW ABOUT PRAYER
A. Prayer Is Not A Matter of LENGHT Or ELOQUENCE
A. Prayer Is Not A Matter of LENGHT Or ELOQUENCE
“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.
1. Empty phrases (Eloquence as the pretense of PIETY)
1. Empty phrases (Eloquence as the pretense of PIETY)
empty phrases such as these call attention to self rather than to God - which is the point of prayer.
2. Many words (Length as the pretense of POWER)
2. Many words (Length as the pretense of POWER)
DO NOT THINK THAT THE LORD IS IMPRESSED OR IS MOVED OR BLESSES ON THE BASIS OF ELOQUENCE, LENGTH AND WE COULD ADD THE LOUD PLEA . THE LORD IS LOOKING AT THE HEART
WHEN PEOPLE CELEBRATE YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR PRAYERS OR PRAYER LIFE - THIS CAN BE EXCEEDINGLY DANGEROUS
WE ARE NOT TO CALL ATTENTION TO OURSELVES IN PRAYER
AND WE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO CAUSE ANOTHER TO SUMBLE BY OVER CELEBRATING THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR PRAYING
B. Prayer Is Not the Act of INFORMING GOD About Our NEEDS
B. Prayer Is Not the Act of INFORMING GOD About Our NEEDS
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
DO NOT BE LIKE THEM = DO NOT THINK THAT THE LORD IS IN NEED OF YOUR WORDS IN ORDER TO KNOW WHAT YOU STAND IN NEED OF
Prayer is not for the purpose of informing God. Rather, prayer expresses to him (and to ourselves) the fact of our impotence to meet our own needs. Biblical prayer is an act of faith, an expression of dependence on God.
- DANIEL’S PRAYER (Daniel 9)
- DANIEL’S PRAYER (Daniel 9)
At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.
- DAVID’S CONFESSION OF GOD’S KNOWLEDGE OF HIM (PSALM 139:1,4-)
- DAVID’S CONFESSION OF GOD’S KNOWLEDGE OF HIM (PSALM 139:1,4-)
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
The Hymn - I must tell Jesus all of my troubles
YOU MUST TELL HIM - NOT BECAUSE HE NEEDS YOU TO
YOU MUST TELL HIM BECAUSE YOU NEED TO
THE POWER OF HEAVEN COMES TO AND UPON US WHEN WE RELEASE OUR PRESUMPTUOUS AND PRETENTIOUS POWER
THE POWER OF HEAVEN COMES TO AND UPON US WHEN WE RELEASE OUR PRESUMPTUOUS AND PRETENTIOUS POWER
SAY SOMETHING HERE ABOUT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN PRAYER
C. Prayer Is the Way We ALIGN our AFFECTIONS to His
C. Prayer Is the Way We ALIGN our AFFECTIONS to His
PRIORITIES
PRIORITIES
Prayer is our DAILY fight against ourselves, begging the Lord to make us more like Him and more hungry for Him above all of the distractions in this world that COMPETE for the PASSION of our hearts
Prayer is our DAILY fight against ourselves, begging the Lord to make us more like Him and more hungry for Him above all of the distractions in this world that COMPETE for the PASSION of our hearts
THIS IS WHAT THIS PRAYER THAT JESUS IS GOING TO TEACH US IS ALL ABOUT
II. THE PATTERN THAT UNLEASHES THE POWER OF PRAYER
II. THE PATTERN THAT UNLEASHES THE POWER OF PRAYER
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
A. Powerful Praying Takes Place In the Context of Relationship
A. Powerful Praying Takes Place In the Context of Relationship
The pattern of meaningful prayer is to
Begin by majoring on the person and nature of God and his kingdom interests,
Personal requests and needs only secondarily.
1. An Intimate and Growing Relationship with JESUS
1. An Intimate and Growing Relationship with JESUS
A lack of a relationship with Jesus stagnates prayer
The notion of being spiritual or being a person who says
I don’t read the Bible but I prayer, blocks prayer from being heard
Intimacy with the Lord grows out of knowledge of the Lord in His Word
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
“to sanctify, make holy.”
we tend to take this line in Jesus’ prayer as a statement of fact, when, in fact, it is a request.
Jesus was teaching us to make the request, “Lord, may your name be sanctified.” Why should we pray to God that he would sanctify his own name?
Jesus was asking that God himself be set apart as holy, not only in the world but in the lives of His Kingdom Representatives
2. Intimate and Growing Relationship with BELIEVERS
2. Intimate and Growing Relationship with BELIEVERS
The plural pronoun our indicates that prayer should be an expression of corporate desires to God, and should often be prayed in fellowship with other believers.[4]
Racial division kills prayer because praying to the Lord while divided with those who are His children is contradictory to Kingdom living and discipleshi
Relational division kills prayer
Husbands (specifically – 1 Peter 3:7)
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Wives (indirectly: Do not respect husbands)
Children (indirectly: Do not honor parents)
Employers
Employees
o THIS THING IS PRACTICAL
A PLEA: STOP CALLING YOURSELF A PRAYER WARRIOR, INTERCESSOR, MAN OR WOMAN OF PRAYER WHEN AND IF YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO DYSFUNCTION IN RELATIONSHIPS
SO, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT:
A. Powerful Praying Takes Place In the Context of Relationship
B. Powerful Praying Is Filled with God’s Interest
B. Powerful Praying Is Filled with God’s Interest
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
ASKING FOR HIS KINGDOM AND WILL TO BE DONE MEANS THAT
WE DO NOT SEE IT FULLY MANIFESTED IN THE WORLD AND EVEN IN OUR LIVES
WE ARE DESPERATE TO SEE IT MANIFESTED IN THE WORLD /OUR LIVES
THEREFORE, IT IS A PRAYER THAT WE, HIS SERVANTS, WOULD BE
FAITHFULLY OBEDIENT
AND EFFECTIVE IN LIVING HIS KINGDOM PRINCIPLES IN OUR OWN LIVES
AND THEN SPREADING THE KINGDOM THROUGH OUR ACTIONS AND WORDS.[7]
“Our Prayers Are To Be Continual Reminders To Ourselves To “Get With” The Kingdom Program. Sadly, Too Many Believers Live For The WEEKENDS And Not For Christ’s KINGDOM (S.K. Webber)
“Our Prayers Are To Be Continual Reminders To Ourselves To “Get With” The Kingdom Program. Sadly, Too Many Believers Live For The WEEKENDS And Not For Christ’s KINGDOM (S.K. Webber)
WE HAVE SEEN THE POWERFUL PRAYING:
A. Takes Place In the Context of Relationship
B. Is Filled with God’s Interest
C. Powerful Praying Is Rooted On Neediness
C. Powerful Praying Is Rooted On Neediness
Give us this day our daily bread,
This petition is probably best taken at face value—as a request for the food needed daily, and that it be provided when it is needed. Most[9]
WHAT IS INTERESTING HERE IS THAT THE PETITION IS NOT SIMPLY ONE OF URGENCY – ONLY ASKING WHEN THE NEED ARISES – BUT ONE THAT NEVER TAKES FOR GRANTED THAT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE WHAT WE NEED
SOME PEOPLE PRAY WHEN THEY ARE IN NEED
JESUS IS TEACHING TO ALWAYS BE IN NEED SO THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS PRAYER LIKE ONE WHO IS NEEDY, EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE THE PRESENCE OF ABUNDANCE
§ Compare this with the lesson Israel had to learn during forty years of daily manna; any excess spoiled by the second day. They were always just one day away from starvation, and yet they ate well during all those decades.[10]
AS THAT GREAT LYRICAL THEOLOGIAN M.C HAMMER SAID:
“WE GOT TO PRAY JUST TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY!”
WE HAVE SEEN THE POWERFUL PRAYING:
A. Takes Place In the Context of Relationship
B. Is Filled with God’s Interest
C. Is Rooted On Neediness
D. Powerful Praying Is A Continual CYCLE of FORGIVENESS and REPENTANCE
D. Powerful Praying Is A Continual CYCLE of FORGIVENESS and REPENTANCE
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
NOTE THE PHRASE: AS WE HAVE....
JUST AS WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN BY EXTENDING FORGIVENESS TO THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED AGAINST US
FORGIVE US!!!!
IMPORTANT TRUTHS TO REMEMBER AT THIS POINT:
You do not GAIN or EARN forgiveness by forgiving.
However, we EVIDENCE that we have been forgiven by forgiving others.
When we fail to forgive we block the power of God to fight against our own SITUATIONAL and PERSONAL chaos / disfunction
WE HAVE SEEN THE POWERFUL PRAYING:
A. Powerful Praying Takes Place In the Context of Relationship
B. Powerful Praying Is Filled with God’s Interest
C. Powerful Praying Is Rooted On Neediness
D. Powerful Praying Is A Continual CYCLE of FORGIVENESS and REPENTANCE
E. Powerful Praying Is Mindful of PERSONAL Sinful LEANINGS
E. Powerful Praying Is Mindful of PERSONAL Sinful LEANINGS
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
PERSONAL SINFUL LEANINGS
Everyone has a bent or leaning towards specific sins. THIS CAN BE FOR VARIOUS REASONS, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT ALL OF US KNOW THOSE ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES THAT DISHONOR GOD BUT ARE OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE.
THE HEBREW WRITER PUT IT THIS WAY:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
THE KINGDOM DISCIPLE PRAYS - - - -
1. THIS IS A PRAYER THAT SEEKS TO PROTECT INTIMACY WITH THE LORD
1. THIS IS A PRAYER THAT SEEKS TO PROTECT INTIMACY WITH THE LORD
HE PRAYS ALWAYS MINDFUL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LIKELY TO TRIP HIM UP BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THESE SINS CAN CAUSE A DISRUPTION IN HIS INTIMACY WITH THE LORD.
THIS IS WHY JOHN MADE THIS POINT
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
THE KINGDOM DISCIPLE’S PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE IS A PRAYER THAT DEALS WITH THE ONGOING INFLUENCE THAT SIN CAN HAVE IN HIS LIFE, AND MIND
2. THIS IS ALSO A PRAYER THAT SEEKS TO REMEMBER THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM PAST FAILURES
2. THIS IS ALSO A PRAYER THAT SEEKS TO REMEMBER THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM PAST FAILURES
TO UNLOCK THE POWER OF HEAVEN WITH THE KEY OF PRAYER MEANS TO BE A KINGDOM DISCIPLE WHO PRAYS
A. In the Context of Right Relationships With God and Other Believers
B. With God’s Interest As Our Primary Focus
C. In A Spirit of Continual Neediness
D. As One Who Forgives Because You Are Forgiven