Sermon Notes-"Teach Us To Pray" based on Matthew 6:5-13
Introduction: Carol Conner
Why don’t we
pray? Some answers: we don’t know
what to say, what if we don’t hear, what if we don’t like what we hear, we
don’t have time, I’m not good at it, I can’t pray like…
We have an Enemy who does
not want us praying. Stop feeling guilt,
shame, and condemnation for the reasons we don’t pray and recognize that Satan
will lie to you and do everything to keep the church from praying together.
See (vs. 5-6)
·
Vs. 5-The
Problem: It’s all about them and being seen by others
o
Hypocrites-those
who profess to do a pious action, but do so with their eye on people...[1]
·
Vs. 6-Solution: Secret Place. Matthew Penner talked about this last Sunday. We
need to abide and be with Jesus in the Secret Place. It is not out of obligation, but from
relationship.
·
Not a rule against
praying in public or in groups
Hear
(vs. 7-8)
·
Vs. 7-The
Problem: It’s all about them and being heard by others
o Gentiles
·
Vs. 8-Solution:
God knows
o They
pray, not to inform the Father on matters of which he is ignorant, but to worship
him.[2]
·
Not a rule against
praying long prayers or repetitive prayers
Feel
(vs. 9-13)
·
Like
this
indicates that what follows is meant as a guide, a model, rather than as a set
form of words[3]
·
As we move to the
Lord’s prayer, let us not forget how the Sermon on the Mount has flowed in
previous verses. You say, but I say… I
had not noticed this before but Jesus in this model prayer is also reminding us
it’s not just about externals (see previous two points), but it’s about the
heart. This is not just a prayer model
to follow, but it is the heart of prayer.
·
Vs. 9-Our Father
o
Our not
My-intended to be corporate, links us with community, body of Christ
o
Father-intimate,
love; Heaven-greater, stronger
o
Pastor Jared
often prays we have a God who is intimately personal and infinitely powerful.
·
Vs. 9-Hallowed be
your name
o
Hallowed-holy,
sacred
o
There is power
in names-“the name and the qualities associated with the name
went together.[4]”
o
Father-Everlasting
Father, Yahweh (Shalom, Jireh, Rohi, Rapha, Sabaoth)
o
Son-Jesus,
Savior, Lion of Judah, Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Lord of
Lords
o
Spirit-Counselor,
Convictor, Living Water
·
Vs. 10-Your
Kingdom Come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
o
What does this
mean-Your Kingdom Come
§ We therefore pray that God would exert his power,
both by the Word and by the Spirit, that the whole world may willingly submit
to him…and would restore to order, by the gracious exercise of his power, all
the disorder that exists in the world.[5]
o
What does it
look like? Let’s think about heaven.
Revelation 21:3-4-“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He
will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be
with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear
from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be
mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed
away.”
·
Vs. 11-Give us
our daily bread
o
Reminder that
God provides for us (Yahweh Jireh)
o
No prayer is too
small. Ask God for what you need. You
are not bothering Him.He loves to hear His children ask and depend on Him!
·
Vs. 12-Forgive
our debts, as we forgive our debtors
o
Reminder that in
Christ, you are forgiven!
o
A reference to
our sin and again a reminder that we need to humble ourselves and confess and
repent
·
Vs. 13-Lead us
not into temptation, deliver us from evil
o
Reminder that
God protects us (Yahweh Sabaoth)
o
A reminder that we need help in this
battle and that we have an Enemy (not flesh & blood)
Closing: Bookmark
from Disciple Nations & My prayer is not that you walk away saying I heard
good information about prayer this morning, but that the Spirit has stirred
your heart to pray. Is God asking you to
be a Carol Conner to someone and say, when are we going to pray? Is God asking you to start a prayer group at
your school or workplace? Is God asking you
to allow the prayer team or someone else to pray for you today? Is God asking
you to show up at 9 a.m. to pray each Sunday?
Please receive this as I intend it in love: Church, we don’t need to
talk more or learn more about prayer, we need to be praying together.
[1]
Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel
according to Matthew (p. 140). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester,
England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
[2]
Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel
according to Matthew (p. 142). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester,
England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
[3]
Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel
according to Matthew (p. 143). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester,
England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
[4]
Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel
according to Matthew (p. 144). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester,
England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
[5]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on a
Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Vol. 1, p.
320). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
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