Cornerstone Church February 26, 2006
“Prayer 101 - Lord, Teach Us To Pray” Series
LESSON 2: “PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME”
Matthew 6:9
REVIEW:
Last week we started a short series on the subject of prayer.
“Lord, Teach Us to Pray.”
Was anyone bold enough last week to make that commitment and pray to the LORD Jesus Christ this prayer:
LORD, TEACH ME TO PRAY?
If you did not, I hope that some of you will sincerely ask the LORD to teach you how to pray.
We cannot just simply make a decision that we are going to pray more. If we make that decision in the flesh – we will fail.
The LORD Jesus Christ desires to teach us how to pray just as much as He was willing to teach His disciples how to pray. We learn prayer best by allowing the LORD to take us through trials and hardships.
As Christians we should not look at prayer as a burden. A something that we must do to get brownie points with God. Prayer is vital to knowing God and learning to understand His will and His ways.
We should never view prayer as how fast can I get this over so I can get on to other things. It should be the other way around. We should be thinking, how fast can I get other things done so that I might have more time to fellowship with God?
From Matthew 7:7-12 we understand that the LORD Jesus Christ wants us to ask Him for our needs.
Ask
Seek
Knock
Each of those are imperative commands that are in the perfect tense. What it means is we are to: Keep on asking, Keep on seeking and Keep on knocking!
Ask and you Receive!
Seek and you Find!
Knock and the Door will be opened!
INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS
Our verse this morning starts off with these words:
“This, then, is how you should pray:
Matt. 6:9a NIV
Did you notice that it didn’t say this is what you ought to pray!
WE ARE TO PRAY:
“along these lines”
“in the following manner”
WHAT THIS MEANS IS:
This prayer is a blueprint for us to follow.
This prayer is a map for us to follow.
This prayer is pattern for us to follow.
When we pray, we want our prayers to honor God and to be as productive as possible. It is my desire that this series on prayer will help us to have a clearer understanding of God’s great purpose behind prayer.
Illustration:
We do not want to be like the lumberjack who was fired because he was too busy to sharpen his axe! Sure he was active and sweating, but he was less productive then he would have been had he taken the time to sharpen his axe!
We need to blade of our prayer lives sharpened!
Learning how to pray and practicing the presence of Christ in our lives:
Will give us greater joy each day as we face life.
Will give us greater joy each day as we serve Him.
Will teach us to wake up each day saying: “not my will, but your will be done!”
Will teach us to walk through the day sacrificing selfishness to be filled with the Holy Spirit!
If Jesus has a right pattern to follow then there must be a wrong example to follow. Just before Jesus gave this model prayer He taught about the improper ways to pray.
Look back to Matthew 6:5-8
JESUS ISSUES TWO WARNINGS!
Don’t pray like the hypocrites – Matthew 6:5-6
Don’t pray like the pagans – Matthew 6:7-8
Jesus would say to us this morning, don’t follow their bad example!
DON’T PRAY LIKE THE HYPOCRITES – Matthew 6:5-6
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matt. 6:5-6 NIV
Hypocrite = “actors who wear a mask”
Those praying to be seen, who did not have a life of prayer when people weren’t looking were playing a part like an actor.
JEWISH PRAYER LIFE
At morning and evening they would recite the Shema
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Deut. 6:4 NIV
Throughout the day: 9:00 AM, Noon and 3:00 PM they would recite the Shemoneh Esreh (18 Benedictions). I get the picture that many who were wanting to fulfill the outward trappings of their faith without the inward reality timed their prayer times to be in key places where many would get to see them praying.
It appears that prayer had become so rote, and such a ritual, that many used it to impress others with their spirituality.
Look at Brother Jacob in the public square praying. He must be a saint! He is truly a devoted follower! Wow, I sure wish I were like him!
WHAT ADVICE DOES THE LORD JESUS CHRIST GIVE TO AVOID THIS?
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Examples:
Mark 1:35 NIV Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Dan. 6:10 NIV Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
2 Kgs. 4:32-33 NIV When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD.
Jesus is not saying that we shouldn’t get together and pray openly in groups! Group prayer can encourage true prayer. Jesus is saying, don’t do in public what you don’t do in private!
DON’T PRAY LIKE THE PAGANS – MATTHEW 6:7-8
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matt. 6:7-8 NIV
This should remind us that a sincere prayer offered to God, from a heart that desires to please Him, is heard by God and answered. (The 400 Prophets of Baal and Elijah’s prayer)
Jesus warns:
“…do not keep on babbling like pagans…”
babbling (battalegeo is an onomatopoetic word)
Avoid religious babble and meaningless prayers. All of us have rote or canned prayers that we use. One author said that we need to free ourselves from these. The sooner we do, the sooner we will begin to pray, God-honoring prayers.
Do any of you remember what a record player is? They aren’t used much these days with Compact Disks, MP3 Players, and Mini Disks. Meaningless, thoughtless prayer is prayer performed like a phonograph needle dropped on a record and letting it go!
Prayer on auto-pilot!
Some people wanted to fool others by their life of prayer, while others wanted to impress God but their endless requests to Him.
Pagans pray with many words trying to appease their false gods and idols.
“The heathen tired to tire out their gods
with endless prayers.”
Lenski, pg. 262
A missionary I knew once told me about a man who was praying just before Dr. Warren Wiersbe was scheduled to speak. The man prayed on an on and on as if he was praying his way all the way around the world. Finally Dr. Wiersbe took the platform to speak and said:
“We’ll go on with the message while
our dear brother continues to pray!”
JESUS WANTS US TO AVOID:
Praying like the hypocrite (all for show)
Praying like the Pagan (trying to motive their idols and false gods to action).
OUTLINES OF THE LORD’S PRAYER
Outline One
God’s Name
God’s Kingdom
God’s Will
Man’s Need:
God Gives us
God Forgives us
God Delivers us
God’s Kingdom
God’s Power
God’s Glory
Outline Two (from Dr. David Jeremiah)
I. Emphasis on God
A. Praise (6:9)
B. Priorities (6:10)
II. Emphasis on us
A. Provision (6:11)
B. Personal Relationships (6:12)
C. Protection (6:13a)
III. Emphasis on God
A. Promise (6:13b)
The various relationships we have with God will also be brought out in the Lord’s Prayer.
“When outlined from the perspective of our relationship to God, we see: Our Father showing the father/child relationship; hallowed be Thy name, the deity/worshiper; Thy kingdom come, the sovereign/subject; Thy will be done, the master/servant; give us this day our daily bread, the benefactor/beneficiary; forgive us our debts, the Savior/sinner; and do not lead us into temptation, the guide/pilgrim.”
Dr. John F. MacArthur, Commentary on Matthew
OUR FATHER
“ ‘Our Father…”
When Jesus used this simple phase He opened up a whole new dimension for those living at that time. It also opens up a great truth to us who know Him as our LORD and Savior.
By the time Jesus came to earth the prayers of God’s people were rote, cold and predictable.
Passion and love were missing.
And in the midst of the darkness Jesus prays to God and calls Him, Father!
Father (Greek = pater) is used, but was probably the Aramaic word Abba = Daddy!
This should warm our hearts! It reflects the fact that God is knowable and approachable.
This speaks of His nearness (immanence) and closeness to us!
It brings up another aspect to our relationship with Him. He is our Father!
HE IS THE FATHER OF ALL IN ONE SENSE BY CREATION
Mal. 2:10 NIV Have we not all one Father ? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another?
HE IS ALSO OUR FATHER - THE REDEEMED BY REGENERATION
Rom. 8:15 NIV For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, {“Abba,} Father.”
Gal. 4:6 NIV Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, {“Abba} , Father.”
John 1:12-13 NIV Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God —children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
God is only a true Father to those who know Him as their LORD and Savior. Satan is the father of the lost and the unbeliever.
John 8:44 NIV You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Important Thought: You better know - Whose your Daddy?
God as our Father = a family relationship! It means that we are connected to one another. The Christian life is a family affair.
If you are God’s child through regeneration then you are connected the rest of God’s world-wide family, the church.
You are connected to your other brothers and sisters in Christ at Cornerstone Church.
You are connected to God’s worldwide church.
You are connected to God’s plan!
THOUGHT:
What good does it do to allow expectations, preferences and opinions to stir up or destroy the love and bond of peace that should exist within the body of Christ?
When Christians don’t get along they are acting just like siblings in a family that are fighting and fussing at one another.
“I want to do it my way!”
“I want more attention!”
“I’m mad at you!”
“Give me that toy, I want what you have!”
“He looked at me funny and made a face at me!”
What do you think Dad is going to do when we tell Him we don’t like one of our siblings?
Knowing that God is our Father should excite us! Natural Fathers want to do the following for their children:
Love them
Protect them
Provide for them
Defend them
Love them
Our heavenly Father not only loves us but He has all power to help us!
WHO ART IN HEAVEN
“Our Father who Art in Heaven”
Acts 7:48-50 NIV “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: “ ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?’
God doesn’t live in temples made by man!
God cannot be found in an idols created by the hands of man!
HEAVEN IS HIS THRONE!
EARTH IS BUT HIS FOOTSTOOL!
This speaks of God’s Immensity and Holiness!
It speaks of HIS Transcendence!
It speaks of HIS Omnipotence (All-Powerful)
The Heavens declare His Glory!
Ps. 19:1 NIV The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Billions of stars are in each galaxy that we see in the universe. And there are a billion galaxies out there with a billion stars in each! Wow!
Angelic Hosts surround Him shouting: “Holy, Holy, Holy!”
All this should give us hope that if we have a need He can instantaneously dispatch an angel to minister to us. Or He can speak to a Christian to help meet our need!
How can we picture in our mind an AWESOME and All-Powerful God with a loving Father who is knowable and cares for us?
ILLUSTRATION: How many remember the famous Life Magazine picture of John F. Kennedy in the Oval Office talking on the phone while his two children: John Junior and Caroline were busy playing? At one moment he was the leader of one of the most powerful nations on earth and at the same time he was a father.
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
“…hallowed be your name,”
Hallowed = “to make holy”
Ascribe to HIM proper Worth!
Ascribe to HIM proper Praise!
Holy is His Name!
God’s Name equals all that He is!
Ex. 34:5-7 NIV Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”
WE NEED TO EXALT HIS HOLY NAME!
WE NEED TO GLORIFY HIM
Ps. 7:17 NIV I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Ps. 113:1-4 NIV Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
Ps. 20:7 NIV Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
His Name explains and proclaims all that He is!
…He is El-Shaddai – The Almighty One
…He is El-Elyon – The Most High God
…He is El-Olam – The Everlasting God
…He is El-Roi – The God who sees
…He is Yahweh-Jireh “The Lord will provide” (Gen. 22:14)
…He is Yahweh-Nissi “The Lord is my Banner” (Ex. 17:15)
…He is Yahweh-Shalom “The Lord is my Peace” (Judges 6:24)
…He is Yahweh-Sabbaoth “The Lord of Hosts” (1 Sam. 1:3)
…He is Yahweh-Tsidkenu “The Lord our Righteousness”
…He is Yahweh-M’Kaddesh “The Lord Who Sanctifies”
WHEN WE HALLOW HIS NAME:
1) We Rehearse Who He is! (which we just did)
2) We Relinquish control of our lives and say – Your will be done!
Ps. 19:14 NIV May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Martin Luther – Large Catechism
Here now the great need exists for which we ought to be most concerned, that this name have its proper honor, be esteemed holy and sublime as the greatest treasure and sanctuary that we have; and that as godly children we pray that the name of God, which is already holy in heaven, may also be and remain holy with us upon earth and in all the world.
But how does it become holy among us?
Answer, as plainly as it can be said: When both our doctrine and life are godly and Christian. For since in this prayer we call God our Father, it is our duty always to deport and demean ourselves as godly children, that He may not receive shame, but honor and praise from us.
3) We Recognize His presence in our lives
Ps. 16:8 NIV I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
REMEMBER IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM!
His Name
His Kingdom
His Will
His Glory!
WHAT DOES GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE MEAN FOR US?
He has the power to save us (the gospel)
He has the power to keep us (security of the believer)
He has the power to raise us (our future resurrection)
He has the power for daily living (sanctification)
When we begin our time of prayer, we need to remember to Praise His Holy Name! We need to Exalt His Name and all of His glorious and wonderful attributes!
Praise the LORD for God Himself in all of His Glorious Attributes (Perfections)!
His Omniscience (all knowing)
His Omnipotence (all powerful)
His Omnipresence
His Justice
His Wrath
His Righteousness
His Mercy
His Grace
His Love
His Holiness
His Eternality
Hi Immutability
His Sovereignty
His Truth
Dr. David Jeremiah gives us these benefits when we praise the LORD:
1) Worship Enhances our appreciation and love for God.
2) Worship Expands our vision.
3) Worship Eclipses our fears.
4) Worship Energizes our work.
5) Worship Refreshes our spirit.
6) Worship Exhausts our enemy.
7) Worship Prepares us for heaven.
“What a man is on his knees before God,
that he is, and nothing more.”
Robert Murray McCheyne
“No religion has ever been greater
than its idea of God.”
A.W. Tozer
The same is true of a church. No church can ever be greater than the awe in which it holds him.
A.W. Tozer is famous for two books
“The Pursuit of God”
“Knowledge of the Holy.”
