Longing To Be Seen Series

LONGING TO BE SEEN

Matthew 6:5-6

#Matt6Prayer

INTRODUCTION

We are going to begin a short series on prayer this week. There will be 3 messages on prayer all focusing on Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount which we find in Matthew 5-7. We will be in Matthew 6. Prayer is significant for the believer in Jesus Christ. Why? Why is prayer significant? Before we even get into the Bible passage for today… What is the big deal about prayer?

QUOTES FROM “The Ministry of Intercession A Plea for More Prayer” by Andrew Murray

I am going to read a few quotes this morning from Andrew Murray’s book “The Ministry of Intercession: A Plea for More Prayer” which I believe I got free on my Kindle years ago. Free does not necessarily mean cheap or worthless. Andrew Murray was a writer and pastor who lived 1828-1917. Old does not necessarily mean out of touch. I want to read them and then give you a moment to think on each quote.

“Prayer is meant to be as simple and natural as breathing or working to a healthy man. The reluctance we feel, and the failure we confess, are God’s own voice calling us to acknowledge our disease, and to come to Him for the healing He has promised.”

[pause]

“Prayer is one of the most heavenly and spiritual of the functions of the Spirit-life.”

[pause]

“Nothing but intense believing prayer can meet the intense spirit of worldliness.”

[pause]

“Where there is much prayer there will be much of the Spirit; where there is much of the Spirit there will be ever-increasing prayer.”

[pause]

“Here is the life that can pray. A branch entirely given up to the Vine and its aims, with all responsibility for its cleansing cast on the Vinedresser; a branch abiding in Christ, trusting and yielding to God for His cleansing, can bear much fruit. In the power of such a life we shall love prayer, we shall know how to pray, we shall pray, and receive whatsoever we ask.”

[pause]

I love how the author reflects that not only is prayer to be simple and natural for us who are believers in Jesus, but prayer is an important part of our spiritual lives. A Christian person who is filled with the Holy Spirit will be someone who prays. Prayer is communication with God in Jesus’ Name by the power of the Holy Spirit.

READ MATTHEW 6:5-6

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

As I read over and prayed over and meditated on these two verses from Matthew 6, I noticed many truths presented. I would like to focus on three truths this morning.

TRUTH ONE: “WHEN” NOT “IF” (VERSE 5)

I noticed, and I want to point it out to you, that Jesus begins with a very particular simple word. Jesus says “WHEN you pray” … not “IF you pray.” I personally believe that prayer is a natural and normal part of human life because all of us desire to be connected to our Heavenly Father. Even atheists know there is a big hole in their life… they just refuse to believe that the hole is God.

Why does Jesus present prayer in that way… “when” not “if?” Because it is true. It has been God’s way to communicate with His creation from the very beginning. It has been natural for people to pray to God from the very beginning.

READ GENESIS 1:28

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

The phrase “And God said to them” happens right after God created men and women in His image. God did not create human beings and then just let us be… He communicated with us right away about His will and desires and His way of life for us. Even sin did not stop the communication between God and people and people and God.

READ GENESIS 4:25-26

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.