01/10/15 The Pattern for Prayer!
Are You That Witness Series – Matthew 6:9-13
Intro: This passage is often referred to as the
Lord's Prayer. In reality, it is the Disciple's Prayer. It was given to them as
a pattern for them to follow when they prayed. This model prayer has a pattern
to follow; however, the disciple cannot allow this pattern to become so
repetitious that it becomes a mindless repeat. This pattern can when properly follow
be used as a framework to build a prayer life that is offered to God, heard and
answered by Him, and one that glorifies His Name. “Beloved, now we are children
of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that
when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1
John 3:2
Text: Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our
Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will
be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us
into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and
the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Application: The basic definition of
prayer is “communion with God,” and if He is not involved there is only the
pretense of prayer.
Jesus’ earthly ministry was remarkably brief, barely three
years long. Yet in those three years, a great amount of time was spent in
prayer. The gospels report that Jesus habitually rose early in the morning,
often before daybreak, to commune with His Father. In the evening He would
frequently go to the Mount of Olives or some other quiet spot to pray, usually
alone. Prayer was the spiritual air that Jesus breathed every moment of His
life.
1. Our Prayers Should Be to a Person: Vs. 9-10
“In this manner,
therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your
kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
The who in this
pattern implies a relationship with our heavenly Father: “And whatever you ask
in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John
14:13 This person is Jesus Christ and there must be a belief and a saving
knowledge of Him.
This person has a position of sovereignty and our faith
should be based on this throne room in Heaven. This person is worthy of our
faith. Faithlessness has no place in our prayer lives. “Without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
There are things we should
remember when we come before His presence, “Hollowed” reminds us of His
Holiness. When we come before Him, we need to remember that our only access to
God lies in that name which is above every name. Jesus is our only access and
road of approach to the Father.
The pattern of prayer includes an awesome
concept, there is a Kingdom to come and our prayer must continue to focus on
that understanding, He will return and He will rule and reign upon the earth in
perfect glory, peace and righteousness! He must have the key to every room in
our lives! Another way God's Kingdom is brought to the earth is when a new soul
is brought to Him through salvation. When we pray for the lost, we are praying
for God's Kingdom to expand in the earth! This persons will is “Your will be
done On earth as it is in heaven.” Prayer moves Heaven in the earth! The key is
to be lost in His will! Our prayer should be to a person.
2. Our Prayers Should
Include Petitions: Vs. 11-13
“Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive
us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into
temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the
power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Just two weeks ago the message from Matthew
spoke of the importance of physical as well as spiritual bread. We should pray about
physical needs. Our prayer and the pattern we follow should include petitions
for our daily needs, but leave tomorrow’s need until tomorrow. To worry over
tomorrow is a sin – “But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not
worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient
for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34. God's call is for us to rest
in Him to today and trust Him totally for tomorrow!
We should pray about our spiritual
needs which means; Forgiveness for Self, “sin, trespass, shortcomings,
resentments, what we owe to God, or anything we have done wrong.” When we spend
more time in His presence, we become more aware of His holiness and our sinfulness.
You are never more like God than when you forgive - What kind of God do we
serve? He is loving, gracious, kind and forgiving! When we forgive others, we
are exercising true godliness - What is being done in Heaven? Worship, Exaltation
of Jesus, Forgiveness of sin! You are literally bringing Heaven to earth when
you forgive a brother in Christ. Temptation and evil are a part of our daily
life, how we handle this has all to do with prayer and the pattern we follow.
Our prayer should include petition.
3. Our Prayers Should Include Praise: Vs. 13b
“Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
He is to be
praised for the King He is. He deserves to be glorified. He is sovereign and we
cannot afford to forget that. He is to be praised for His abilities and for the
times in which He has demonstrated His power in our lives! He demands and deserves
all the glory in every situation in life. He should be glorified on earth as He
is in Heaven!
Conclusion: Our praying can be defined as an activity that must
include ACTS.
A - Adoration - God must be worshipped
C - Confession - Our sin
must be dealt with
T - Thanksgiving - We must always possess a thankful heart
before Him.
S - Supplication - There is room to tell Him what we need.
Another
letter could be added to the front, and that is the letter F. It stands for
Faith, without which we can expect nothing from God. How's your praying look
when it is compared to this pattern? “But he who doubts is condemned if he
eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is
sin.” Romans 14:23
In : Sermon
Tags: "are you that witness series" "book of matthew"
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