Praying the Psalms

Teach Us to Pray   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Prayer is Participation

Prayer is the discipline of the Spirit that gives me access to SEE into what God is already doing.
Despite what Christians have often been taught, prayer is NOT...
a spiritual technology for getting things
a pious exercise that somehow makes God happy
or a special code for entry into heaven
We live in a culture where people are more interested in getting something from God or getting somewhere with God rather than being formed through prayer in Christ.
It’s amazing how my prayers begin to change once I realize that God is ALREADY in my world bringing about the “good” AND he’s inviting me to “get-in on it!”
*Look at familiar Scripture Romans 8:28:
Rom8:28 “We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
“God will work out all things...”
“God is in all things...”
“God is with us (working with and through us) making all things work together for good...”

How did Jesus pray?

We know that Jesus taught his disciples to pray using “The Lord’s Prayer”....
But when the words of prayer were on Jesus’ lips, those words came from the Psalms...
Jn 12:27 ““Now I am deeply troubled (Ps 6:2). What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? No, for this is the reason I have come to this time.”
Jn 17:12 “When I was with them, I watched over them in your name, the name you gave to me, and I kept them safe. None of them were lost, except the one who was destined for destruction, so that scripture would be fulfilled.” (Ps 109:8)
Matt 27:46 “At about three Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my God, why have you left me?”” (Ps 22:1)

Jesus quotes the Psalms more than any other OT Book (49 quotes)

He was asked for a sign to show who He is  (Ps 78:24, John 6:32-33)
the Jews wanted to stone Him for claiming to be God. (Ps 82:6, John 10:34).
He called Himself the chief cornerstone (Ps 118:22-23, Matt 21:42, John 2:10, Luke 20:17).
countering the Pharisees on several occasions (Ps 8:2, 110:1, Matt 21:16, 22:44, Mark 12:36, 14:62, Luke 20:42-43).
foretelling Jerusalem’s destruction (Ps 118:26; Matt 23:39, Luke 13:35).
talking about his betrayal (Ps 41:9, John 13:18).
telling that He would be hated without cause (Ps 35:19, 69:4, John 15:25).
Pilate asked if He is the son of God (Ps 110:1, Matt 22:44, Mark 12:36).
dying on the cross: (Ps 22:1; Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34).
committing his spirit to His Father (Ps 31:5, Luke 23:46).
speaking about those who try to work their way into the Kingdom (Ps 6:9, Matt 7:23).
speaking of the hate the world has for Him (Ps. 35:19; 69:4, John 15:25)
speaking of the sorrow of His soul (Ps 42:5,9-11, 43:5, Matt 26:38, Mark 14:34)
speaking of Man’s reward for his works (Ps 62:12, Matt 16:27)
speaking of the manna God gave to their forefathers (Ps 78:24, John 6:31) 
telling about the time they will see Him again (Ps 118:25-26, Matt 23:39)

Why are the Psalms so important to prayer?

Psalms are the most read portion of the Bible.
The Psalms teach us that prayer is not a formality or a church doctrine…prayer is a continual habit of communion with the Father.
The goal of prayer is PARTICIPATION - getting in on what God is already doing...experiencing the reality of God NOW in the present.
There is not one part of your life where God is not present…So, there should not be one part of our lives where prayer is not practiced.

Types of Prayers in Psalms

There are all kinds of reasons to pray:
Praise/Joyful Prayer - Prayers that highlight the character and accolades of God. They call others to acknowledge the greatness of God and praise him as well.
Lamenting Prayer - Prayers asking for God’s deliverance in moments of despair.
Thanksgiving Prayer - Prayers of praise to God for his gracious acts of love and kindness.
Royal/Authority Prayer - Prayers that acknowledge God’s rule and authority in the earth.
Wisdom Prayer - Prayers that teach us to cultivate a heart that is focused on the ways and paths of God, rather than the wisdom or practices of this world.
Trust Prayer - Prayers that are often born out of desperation for God’s intervention, but conclude with confidence in God’s faithfulness.
Hymn/Singing Prayer - Prayers to be sung or repeated with music.

Learning to Pray like Jesus

Remove the Pretense from Prayer
Don’t pretend like your’e happy about everything…that you love everyone…that your’e confident about all the things in life....
Honest conversation with God can become what the Holy Spirit uses to reveal the real issue that needs healing in YOUR life, rather than fixing in someone else’s life.
1 Cor 2:9-10 “But this is precisely what is written: God has prepared things for those who love him that no eye has seen, or ear has heard, or that haven’t crossed the mind of any human being.God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, including the depths of God.”
Don’t use Praise to mask Pain
Give suffering & hardship time to do its work.
The promise of Salvation IS NOT a promise of a life without hardship or
suffering.
Every battle might not be from the devil!
How can this discomfort draw me deeper into communion with the Father?
Anchor your Prayer in God’s Faithful Love
Hesed (translated as mercy, righteousness, faithful love, loyal love, etc) appears well over 100 times in the Psalms. This word is important because it is one of the words God uses to describe himself, as in Exodus 34:6-7, when he says to Moses, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in hesed and faithfulness, maintaining hesed to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”
ps13.5 “But I have trusted in your faithful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation.”
Re-format your Prayer with Faith
Not positive confession…trying to trick your mind into believing a fantasy.
Faith confession is praying what we know based on God’s faithful love.
Examples:
Matt 26:39 “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”
God, despite the challenge of this season, I know you have already provided for my need. Open my eyes that I could see that provision. Teach me to faithfully steward what you have provided already.
Jesus, through the cross I know I am healed. Show me how to endure faithfully as you release that healing into my body.
Lord, I know that you have created me with infinite worth because I am made in your image (Gen 1:27, Ps 139:14). Today I thank you that I am loved by you (Jn 3:16) and by many others around me. My life has purpose in Jesus name.
Based on what I know about God, what can I be sure of? PRAY THAT!

Group Prayer

Take a moment to look at the different kind of prayers in Psalms (handout).
What seems to be the type of prayer most common in your prayer life?
What would be one type of prayer psalm that you would like to include in your prayer life more often?
Leader: Choose a Psalms to read from the Psalms diagram. Read it and then let the Holy Spirit direct the group in a time of prayer.
Praise/Joyful Prayer - Prayers that highlight the character and accolades of God. They call others to acknowledge the greatness of God and praise him as well.
Lamenting Prayer - Prayers asking for God’s deliverance in moments of despair.
Thanksgiving Prayer - Prayers of praise to God for his gracious acts of love and kindness.
Royal/Authority Prayer - Prayers that acknowledge God’s rule and authority in the earth.
Wisdom Prayer - Prayers that teach us to cultivate a heart that is focused on the ways and paths of God, rather than the wisdom or practices of this world.
Trust Prayer - Prayers that are often born out of desperation for God’s intervention, but conclude with confidence in God’s faithfulness.
Hymn/Singing Prayer - Prayers to be sung or repeated with music.
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