Praying for the Right Reason
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“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.
Prayer is a Basic Expectation
Prayer is a Basic Expectation
People were created to speak and walk with God.
People were created to speak and walk with God.
In the Garden, God walked with Adam and Eve daily. (Genesis 2-3)
Immediately after the Fall, men spoke with God regularly and directly. (Genesis 4)
Faithful people pray.
Faithful people pray.
The Ancient Faithful spoke plainly and regularly with God.
The Ancient Faithful spoke plainly and regularly with God.
Abraham (Genesis 12-21)
Moses (Exodus 2-17)
Joshua (Joshua 1-10)
David (1 Samuel 16 - 2 Samuel 7, Psalms)
Ezra (Ezra 9-10)
Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1-6)
Job (Job)
Daniel (Daniel 6)
The New Covenant Faithful spoke plainly and regularly with God.
The New Covenant Faithful spoke plainly and regularly with God.
The first disciples (Acts 1)
The early church (Acts 2)
Peter ( Acts 9, 11)
Paul (Acts 14)
John (Revelation 1)
Jesus was characterized by prayer.
Jesus was characterized by prayer.
He woke early to pray (Mark 1)
He left the crowds to pray (Mark 6)
He prayed alone before big decisions (Luke 6)
He went into desolate places to pray (Luke 5, 9)
He taught his disciples to pray (Matthew 6)
He modeled prayer for his disciples (Matthew 26)
We are invited to pray throughout the Scriptures.
We are invited to pray throughout the Scriptures.
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We are told to pray in every situation.
We are told to pray in every situation.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
We are taught how to pray in every situation.
We are taught how to pray in every situation.
When interceding for wicked people (Genesis 18)
When interceding for God’s people (Numbers 14)
When giving thanks for prayers answered (1 Samuel 1)
When giving thanks for unexpected good gifts (2 Samuel 7)
When asking for wisdom (1 Kings 8)
When praising God for salvation (Jonah 2)
When facing the wickedness of bad people (2 Kings 19)
When desperate for deliverance (Nehemiah 1)
When facing the consequences of personal sin (Psalm 51)
When facing the sin of God’s people(Ezra 9)
When facing the sin of a nation (Daniel 9)
When pleading for the rescue of the lost (Romans 10)
When reflecting on God’s sovereignty (Romans 16)
When praying for wisdom and hope (Ephesians 1)
When praying for strength (Ephesians 3)
When thanking God for his people (Philippians 1)
When praying for missionaries (2 Thessalonians 3)
When praying for peace (1 Timothy 2)
When thanking God for a faithful brother or sister (Philemon 4-7)
When longing for the return of Jesus (Revelation 22:20)
How you pray sheds light on why you pray.
How you pray sheds light on why you pray.
“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.
Two ways to pray.
Two ways to pray.
The wrong way to pray
The wrong way to pray
They “love” to stand and pray in the synagogues and streets.
Actively seeking opportunities to pray publically.
They pray in order to be seen.
Hoping for the praise of men
Result: Man’s Attention
The right way to pray.
The right way to pray.
Go into “your room.”
The storage closet
The place you won’t be found or expected
Shut the door.
The only lockable room in the house
Make yourself inaccessible
Result: God’s Attention
How you pray will teach you whose attention you crave.
How you pray will teach you whose attention you crave.
If your prayer life consists primarily of public moments, your heart craves the attention of men.
If your prayer life consists primarily of private moments in secret places, your heart craves the attention of God.
Our Father is in the Secret Places
Our Father is in the Secret Places
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.
He doesn’t just see you, he’s with you.
He doesn’t just see you, he’s with you.
Notice the shift that’s taken place.
“…your Father who sees in secret…” (Matthew 6:3)
“…your Father who sees in secret…” (Matthew 6:18)
“…your Father who is in secret…” (Matthew 6:6)
In your secret seeking, you’ll find him.
He’s there with you, when you speak to him secretly.
He’s hearing you and helping you in your private prayers.
The reward of our Father who is and sees?
His company (he is)
His attention (he sees)
His help (he rewards)
A few thoughts, and some advice.
A few thoughts, and some advice.
Public vs. Private? It’s time to run an audit.
Public vs. Private? It’s time to run an audit.
Your public prayer life should be dwarfed by your private prayer life.
Your public prayers should be...
an overflow of worship, not an opportunity to be worshiped
an expression of gratitude, not a felt obligation
an extension of your care, not a facade of care
directed toward God (actually, not just apparently)
Your Father is THERE, with you, when you pray.
Your Father is THERE, with you, when you pray.
Rid yourself of the heresy of a distant God.
When you feel his distance, it’s a feeling problem (not a distance problem).
Your Father, who’s there, sees you.
Your Father, who’s there, sees you.
You are known and understood.
Your prayers are heard and taken seriously.
Your Father, who’s there and sees, rewards your labors in prayer.
Your Father, who’s there and sees, rewards your labors in prayer.
This sort of prayer is hard work.
There is no surer investment.