Introduction

Good morning, family. I am thrilled to be standing here before you today, and I am excited about the message God has placed in my heart to share. The subject of our sermon today is one that is as old as the faith itself, yet it remains as relevant today as it was in the days of the early church. We are talking about prayer, my dear friends.

The great Charles Spurgeon once said, "True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that - it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth."

Our Scripture reading comes from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 9 through 13. It reads as follows:

"This, then, is how you should pray:

'Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.'"

These are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, teaching us not just how to pray, but revealing the heart of prayer. We will look at three main points today: Perceiving the Purpose of Prayer, Practicing the Principles of Prayer, and Proclaiming the Power of Prayer.

But before we do so, let us bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts open and ready to receive Your Word. We ask that You guide our thoughts and open our understanding as we discuss the subject of prayer. May Your Holy Spirit illuminate our minds and hearts, and may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Perceiving the Purpose of Prayer

We begin our understanding of prayer by looking at its purpose. Why do we pray? What's the point of it all? To answer these questions, we turn to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in the scripture we just read.

The first thing we notice is that prayer is about relationship. "Our Father in heaven," Jesus begins. Not a distant, impersonal force, but a Father. Prayer, then, is a means of communication with our Heavenly Father. It's how we talk to Him, how we express our love, our fears, our hopes, and our needs. It's also how we listen to Him, to His guidance, His comfort, His reassurances, and His commands.

But prayer is not just about asking for things. "Hallowed be your name," Jesus continues. Prayer is also about worship. It's about recognizing the holiness, the majesty, the power, and the love of God. It's about acknowledging His place in our lives and in the universe. It's about giving Him the honor and the glory that He deserves.

The next part of the prayer, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," shows us another purpose of prayer. It's about alignment. It's about aligning our will with God's will. It's about seeking His kingdom and His righteousness above all else. It's about surrendering our desires, our plans, and our lives to His sovereign rule.

Then we come to "Give us today our daily bread." Here we see that prayer is also about dependence. It's about acknowledging our need for God, not just for our physical needs, but for our spiritual, emotional, and relational needs as well special. It's about recognizing that every good thing we have comes from Him, and that without Him, we can do nothing.

Finally, "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one," shows us that prayer is also about confession and protection. It's about admitting our sins, asking for forgiveness, and seeking God's help in overcoming temptation. It's about asking for His protection from the evil one and from all harm.

Practicing the Principles of Prayer

As we continue to immerse ourselves in the teachings of Christ, we find ourselves drawn to the principles that govern the act of prayer ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO