Prayer #4
- we're studying Bible Basics, this is our fourth week on
prayer
- have you taken steps of growth in this critical area of
life?
- today we're going to continue to study Jesus' instructions
to his disciples on how to pray
I. How not to pray - vs. 5-8.
(A. As a means of bragging on your own spirituality-v. 5.)
3. What is the solution?
a. Private prayer - v. 6.
b. Result of correct understanding of prayer.
4. Does not rule out public prayer, but remember these
rules when praying in public.
1) Pray for things common to the group.
2) Don't be "preachy" in prayers - they must be
directed to the Lord
- cf. the "exception"
3) Pray loud enough so everyone can say "Amen" -
I Cor. 14:16
4) Keep it short
B. Repetitious, ritual prayers - v. 7.
INPUT - according to the verse - what is the reason
a person might develop the habit of
repetitious praying? (the wrong belief that
God will be obligated to answer if I pray
enough)
- or the wrong belief that long prayers make you
spiritual.
- these are people that liken praying to receiving a
government grant
- where you make the presentation as "slick" sounding
as possible
- you want to impress them so they'll pick you and
grant your request
- you know the resources are limited so much is
dependent on you
- you may even want to beat everyone out by sending a
video!
- point - your success is dependent on your
ability to package the request in an eye
catching way
contrast that to 2nd verse from "Rock of Ages" -
Could my tears forever flow,
Could my zeal, no langour know
These for sin could not atone
Thou must save, and thou alone
In my hands, no price I bring
Simply to thy cross I cling
INPUT - what is the difference between this and
praying for the same person every day?
(focus of repetitious praying is on
one praying - focus of latter is one being
prayed for.)
C. Simply reciting this one
"After this manner," in this way - Not simply
repetition of the Lord's Prayer.
- these are the guidelines or principles to use in
praying.
II. How to pray - vs. 9-15.
A. Addressed to God.
1. Our Father - Significance?
a. When we believers talk to God we are talking
to our Father.
b. Has your best interest at heart.
- Knows your needs, cares, difficulties,
desires.
- More concerned for you than you are your
children.
- Will do only what is best for you.
- too good to do wrong, too wise to make a
mistake.
- Ps. 31:19.
2. Which art in heaven - Significance?
- "Our Father" indicates His willingness and
eagerness to hear our praises and petitions.
- "Which art in heaven" shows His power and
sovereign right to answer our requests.
- cf. Eph. 3:20
B. Adoration.
1. Hallowed by thy name.
a. May your name be revered, honored, glorified,
exalted.
1) God used various names to reveal Himself
to the children of Israel.
- Jehovah - the self-existent One.
- Elohim - the strong One.
- Adonai - the Lord
- El Elyon - the Most High
- El Shaddai - the Almighty God
- Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide
- Jehovah Sabbaoth - the Lord of Hosts
2) All these reveal his nature and being, His
character and attributes to mankind.
- INPUT - Why does the prayer start with this?
- To help us realize we are talking to the
blessed, eternal, absolute, almighty
God.
- We are to desire that the whole world
bow before God in adoration, in
reverence, in praise, in worship, in
honor, and in thanksgiving.
- Prov. 9:10 - read
- Ps. 19:1; 8:1 (read), 3, 4, 9;
34:3; 96:1-9, 1 Tim. 1:17;
Rom. 15:6.
2. Thy kingdom come.
a. Mt. 6:33.
Seek first the kingdom of God - God the
king in His domain.
b. Rom. 14:11 gives understanding of the
ultimate goal of this kingdom.
INPUT - What are we really requesting with
this part of the prayer?
- The success of the gospel, the
conversion of men and women.
- that we, as individual
believers, SS class members,
church members, will be found
submissive to God's rule in our live
- God's kingdom ruling in the
hearts and lives of men through
salvation. - An all-inclusive
missionary prayer.
cf. Phil 2:10-11
3. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
a. May Your will be done on earth just like
it is in heaven.
b. Example of Jesus.
- Jn. 6:38; 8:29.
- 2 Cor. 5:9; 1 Th. 4:1; Phil. 2:13. -
- Our obedience to God honors Him and
demonstrates that His kingdom is
the focus of our life.
- God's will being done on earth
honors Him.
Robert Law - "Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting
man's will done in heaven, but in getting God's will done
on earth"
Note - Focus of these 1st 3 parts of the prayer.
- Directed toward God, pertain to Him.
- INPUT - Significance? (Focus of our prayers should be
on God and His concerns. - Should begin
praying with attention to Him.)
C. Petitions.
1. Give us this day our daily bread.
a) What about to Rom. 14: 17? (Read)
cf Rom. 14:18
- We have a physical body created by God.
- We are to be good stewards of the body as of
everything else God gives us.
- Must feed and care for the body as good
stewards.
b) How reconcile with Phil. 4: 19; Isa. 65:24;
Ps. 145:15,16?
- God enjoys our prayer, praise and petitions.
- This part of the prayer helps us realize our
utter dependence on Him.
- It reminds us that our times, our health,
our very existence are in His hands.
- Does not remove our responsibility. -
1 Thess. 3:10.
2. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
- Proof you are forgiven is that you forgive
others.
- If you refuse to forgive, it may be because you
are not forgiven.
- If you are holding bitterness toward someone, it
is evidence you are not forgiven.
- Mt. 6:14,15; Mk. 11:25,26.
3. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil.
- we know that the Lord does not tempt us to sin
James 1:13
- but we also recognize that staying away from
temptation to sin can only be accomplished by
co-operating with the Spirit of God
- it's just like the previous request for
food
- prayer for food doesn't absolve us from
our responsibility to work
- prayer to be kept from temptation
doesn't absolve us from our
responsibility to do our part
INPUT - If this is to be a part of our prayer
life, what does that require of us?
- We do everything we can to avoid
temptation.
INPUT - List some ways.
Point - God is so concerned we avoid
temptation he tells us to make it a
part of our prayer requests.
D. Thine is Kingdom, power and glory for ever.
1. Must end as begun, by praising Him.
2. Ends on a note of thanksgiving for Who God is.
3. Proper after considering our needs, our dependence
on Him and our relationship to Him.