The Altar Of Prayer Series

The Altar of Prayer

Matt 6:5-15

Intro

Last week – we learned about what it means to “Come to the Altar”

It means to approach, to acknowledge, to respect God

And if you recall, last week I said there were 2 primary ways of doing so. Both modeled in Scripture.

Prayer and Praise

Today I want to talk to you about prayer.

Show of hands, how many pray?

At it’s most basic: prayer is talking WITH God. Simple.

What does GOD say about how we should pray?

Well – God teaches us HOW to pray

And Jesus even MODELS a prayer for us

HOW to pray

Matt 6:5-8

You will notice that Jesus gives us some DO’s and some DON’Ts

Don’t pray for attention – Notice it says that the hypocrites have got their reward: “ To be seen by people” – they want ATTENTION

• Oh my what a mighty prayer

• Oh my he sure can pray

• Oh he must be so close to God

• I wish I could pray like that

• Big words, repeater – Thesaurus –

o Provider, supplier, laborer

o Lord lead us, guide us, direct us, navigate for us, show us the way to go

Jesus says don’t pray like that!

V6 – DO pray in private – spend time ALONE with God – Why?

I would say: Integrity – doing the RIGHT THING even when NO ONE IS LOOKING!

Jesus is talking about faith integrity!

Pray when it is you and God.

(Luke 5:16) – Jesus OFTEN went ALONE to pray –

(Mark 1:35) – You see a trend? Jesus went ALONE, to a SOLITARY place – and prayed – spent time with the Father!

Listen to me real quick – we are to be imitators of Christ – imitate that!

o If Jesus NEEDED alone time with God, and HE IS GOD’S SON, how much more do we need it?

o It’s GOOD!

Because what you do in SECRET, God sees!

7-8 – There it is again – babbling on and on – many words – acting like: if I don’t tell God, then God won’t know my needs.

• When the reality is God doesn’t NEED you to tell Him anything!

• He already knows

o He WANTS to have a relationship with you

o He wants to hear your voice

o He wants to communicate with you

? You are not informing God

? You are sharing your struggles with God

? Asking God for help

? Praising God

I am sure you know this prayer:

The MODEL Prayer

Matt 6:9-15

It is often referred to as the Lord’s prayer

Now verse 14-15 is an important message about WHY you pray specific things, but let’s go back through this again:

• V9 – Honoring God –

o your name is holy

o When we pray the first thing we should go is recognize WHOM we are praying to

? It’s not tha God doesn’t know

• It is to REMIND OURSELVES

o And at the same time, acknowledge who God is

• V10 – we are seeking God’s will

o Some would even say this can serve as a reminder that WE are to be a visible representation of God’s kingdom on earth

? And you know what, that should also remind us of WHOM we serve!

? Because we ARE supposed to be the visible love of God to people who have no clue who God is.

o But it is also a plea – let your kingdom come, let your will be done

• V11 – Give us our daily bread

o This is a look back to the 40 years the Israelites relied on God for Manna

o God met their NEEDS every day, without fail

o And God will meet your NEEDS – not your desires, NEEDS

• V12 – Father Forgive us AS we forgive others

o Look down at V 14 -

? Forgiveness has nothing to do with deserve, it has everything to do with GRACE!

? V15 - God says, I will forgive you, if you forgive others

• V13 – God protect us! Guide us and protect us!

Now some denominations will recite that prayer in repetition, typically in Congregational prayers, but sometimes alone –

• At men’s prayer breakfast every Tuesday the closing prayer is always a group recital of the Lord’s prayer

• Some people pray it, not just Catholics

There is NOTHING WRONG with that!

So don’t think I am saying that is WRONG!

This is Jesus giving us a model pray of how we should approach God in OUR prayer!

Brothers and sisters – If God gives us a model to follow – we should follow it!

ACTS Prayer –

• Adoration – Give God praise and honor for who HE is as Lord of all