17) Reverencing God In Prayer Series

LORD TEACH US HOW TO PRAY

Part 2 - Reverence God’s Name.

TEXT: Matthew 6:9-13

Ok, so last week we found ourselves here in the Gospel of Matthew,

As we continued in our Scriptural search for…

“…those things most surely believed among us”

And in particular, our focus of late has been all about Prayer.

In fact, after opening the Bible and studying the Scriptures

We now all know the answers to some pretty basic questions like:

“What Prayer Is?”…

“Who Prays?”…

“Where We Pray?”…

“When We Pray?”…

“And Why We Pray?”.

Last week we even began to explore - “How We Pray?”

But the thing is – as we discovered through the Word of God...

There is a right way to Pray – and a wrong way to Pray.

And Jesus teaches us about both.

In way of a quick recap - it was The Gospel of Luke that actually provided us...

With a useful introduction into How we ought to pray last week.

Remember In Luke Chapter 11 verse 1…

We actually found one of the disciples requesting of Jesus:

“Lord, Teach us to Pray.”

You see, the disciples had all seen Jesus Pray…

They had all heard Jesus Pray….

And they knew Prayer was of the utmost importance

When it came to their relationship with God.

But what they didn’t yet know - was How they should Pray.

Now there is perhaps no better example given us on “How to Pray”

Than the teachings Jesus provides us with here during the Sermon on the Mount.

In this sermon - Jesus covers the whole spectrum on Prayer,

Beginning with instructions in “How not to Pray.

Read with me now Matthew 6 verse 5: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.

To all the Religious “Hypocrites” of the world…

Jesus reminds us all that – God knows exactly where a person’s heart is at!

Remember that term Hypocrite there means “pretender”,

In the Greek it pictures an actor…

Who would play out on stage various roles through the use of masks.

Jesus says – “don’t pray like the Religious Hypocrites…

…Because they’re just a bunch of pretenders.”

They wear the mask of spirituality - because they want others

To be convinced of how righteous they are.

And in doing so, there hearts seek after the praises of men...

More than the praises of God.

And Jesus says: “They have their reward”

They will fool some into believing how great they are - but they will not fool God.

And I find this interesting…

Because when teaching on the topic of Prayer,

Jesus first step was to teach us how we ought not to pray like the Hypocrites.

But then He continues on to say - don’t pray like the Heathens either.

Take a look at verse number 7:

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Now I like this because Jesus quickly covers all the angles.

He talks firstly about the Jews...

Who like to pray in the synagogues and on street corners – so “they can be seen”.

And then He starts talking about the Heathens,

Which is of course a gentile or non-Jew...

Who Pray using “vain repetitions” and “much speaking”

Now in doing this – and by providing these examples

Jesus effectively teaches us that – the true essence of prayer...

Is not about what can be seen outwardly,

Neither is it about what is said verbally.

In fact, Jesus outlines to us that this is what the Hypocrites and Heathens do,

Some put on a show of Prayer before others,

And some pray the same prayer over and over again...

Thinking they will be heard for their much speaking.

So then, if prayer is not about what can be seen…

Or about the words that can be heard – what is prayer really about?

Do you know what Jesus shows us here?

By teaching us how not to pray…

He begins to show us what prayer is really all about.

Because prayer is always a matter of the HEART.

Prayer is about us talking to God,

As we humble ourselves before Him - and share our hearts with Him.

Prayer is not about you look…

It is not an outward show.

Prayer is not about reading something…

It’s not about quoting something…

It’s not about reciting something,

Even if it is something as significant as “the Lord’s Prayer”.

In fact, Jesus says that such practices are just - Vain Repetitions,

Or literally as it comes out in the Greek – “Empty Babblings”