How to Pray a Perfect Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
Sermon by Rick Crandall
McClendon Baptist Church - February 24, 2008
(Revised March 6, 2021 to correct my error about this being the same prayer as the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:1-4)
BACKGROUND:
*Do you ever wish you could learn how to pray better? You are not the only one. In Luke 11:1, one of the disciples saw Jesus praying, and when the Lord finished that disciple said, "Lord, teach us to pray." Jesus replied by giving them a prayer very similar to the Lord's Prayer here in Matthew 6.
*In Luke 11:2-4:
2. . . He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
3. Give us day by day our daily bread.
4. and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.''
*These two prayers are so similar that for years I thought Luke 11 was a different report on the same event. But I was wrong. The Lord's Prayer here in Matthew 6 was given at the beginning of Christ's 3-year ministry. And the prayer in Luke 11 was given just a few months before the cross.
*John Gill explained that "though the prayer in Luke 11 is similar, the prayer in Matthew 6 was given at another time and in another place. In Matthew 6, Jesus was in Galilee. The Luke prayer was given in Judea. The Matthew instructions were given as part of the Sermon on the Mount. But in Luke, the instructions came after a request from one of the disciples who saw Jesus praying." (1)
*But the thing that stands out to me, is that after 3 years of following Jesus, this disciple was still hungry to learn more about prayer. And God wants us to have that same kind of hunger! He wants us to know more about prayer, so our prayer life will grow stronger than ever before.
*Please think about this as we read Matthew 6:9-13.
MESSAGE:
*Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer as a model to teach us how to pray. And He kept it simple. Aren't you glad! There are only 66 words in the Lord's Prayer, but it can teach us how to pray a perfect prayer.
1. FIRST, FOCUS ON YOUR FATHER.
*Jesus said to pray this way: "Our FATHER in Heaven." That's the way we can pray, if we have received Jesus as Savior and Lord. Christians, God is our Father, our Father who provides for us and watches over us.
*Think of a little baby just learning to walk. He staggers and stumbles around all over the place. And there's Dad, following right behind to catch him when he falls. That's the way I see our Heavenly Father. We're not always paying attention to Him, but He is always paying attention to us.
*He wants to hear from us. He promises to listen to us, even though He knows what we need, before we ask. And He will meet every need we have according to His perfect will. Believers, we can fully trust in our Heavenly Father!
*Gene Appel tells one of my favorite Dad stories. It's about a family who went to the lake for vacation one summer. Dad was fiddling around by the boat house, while his 12-year-old and 3-year-old sons played on the dock. Older brother was supposed to be watching little brother, but he got distracted just when little Billy decided to check out the fishing boat at the end of the dock.
*Billy put his foot in the boat, but it shifted and he fell in. His older brother screamed and Dad came running. But when he jumped in, he couldn't find Billy. Sick with panic, Dad took another gulp of air, and went back down in the murky water, feeling around everywhere.
*Finally, on his way back up the second time, Dad felt Billy's arms locked in a death grip around one of the posts under the dock. He was about 4 feet under the water. Dad pried the boy's fingers loose and they popped up together for a breath of air.
*When everybody calmed down a little bit, Dad asked his son: "What on earth were you doing down there hanging onto the post so far under the water?" Billy replied, "I was just waiting for you dad, -- just waiting for you." (2)
*That little boy trusted His dad! And that's the way we should trust our Heavenly Father. But is He your Father? Tom Rothhaar asked, "On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you describe your relationship with God?"
0 -- If God exists, I haven't met Him.
5 -- We're on speaking terms, at least sometimes.
Or 10 -- I am a child of God. He is my Heavenly Father. (3)
*God wants to be your Heavenly Father. And He will be, if you will receive His Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Then you can pray, "Our Father in Heaven."
*How can I pray a perfect prayer? -- Focus on your Heavenly Father.
2. AND FOCUS ON YOUR FAMILY.
*Jesus said, "OUR Father in Heaven." He's not just MY Father, He's OUR Father. Believers, this reminds us that we are part of the family of God, the greatest family of all.
*Now, this is a family oriented church. We are blessed to have many grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren all going to church together, not to mention cousins, in-laws, aunts and uncles. You may not have realized it yet, but you have to be careful who you talk about around here!
*But even if you don't have a single blood relative in this church, you are still part of a family that will love you, care for you, pray for you, encourage you, and do all they can to help you. It's a family that stretches all around the world, wherever you find people who belong to Jesus Christ.
*God's church is a family, a great family, the best family the world will ever see. But like any family, God's church is going to have some problems. There are no perfect churches, because there are no perfect people.
*As Roger Thomas said, "The church is like a family. That's the good news. Now the bad news: the church is like a family. All families have their moments, even preachers' families."
*Roger added, "Of course, ours was the exception. When our three were younger, they always got along like perfect little angels. They got it from their father's side, I am sure! At least that's the way I remember it ever since Rose shut the garage door on my head!
*Our youngest son was all of the time telling his big sister she was the best big sister in the whole world. Of course, it was always when she was sitting on his chest, threatening to pull his hair out if he didn't say it!
*I do have these vague memories of somebody else's kids saying, 'He won't leave me alone. Make him scoot over. He's touching me again. He ate all my candy. She won't share. She gave me a dirty look. He shot me with the BB gun. She said she was going to stab me with a butcher knife. She's got a knife!'
*Families don't always get along. Brothers and sisters quarrel. Here's the real shocker: Church families don't always get along either. There's good news and bad news. It's both the same: The church is like a family. But it is no ordinary family. This is the household of God. That means there's a lot at stake. We have a special responsibility. The Father's reputation is on the line. That's why God carefully tells us how to treat each other. (4)
*We can see this in the "one-anothers" of the Bible, Scriptures like these:
-Serve one another. Galatians 5:13
-Accept one another. Ephesians 4:2
-Comfort one another. 1 Thessalonians 4:18
-Build up one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
-Live in peace with one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:13
-Encourage one another. Hebrews 3:13
-Consider one another. Hebrews 10:24
-Confess to one another. James 5:16
-Pray for one another. James 5:16
*We will never be able to do these things without the power of prayer. We will never be the family God wants us to be without the power of prayer. So when you pray: Focus on your family.
3. AND FOCUS ON YOUR FAITH.
*In vs. 11 Jesus said to pray this way: "Give us this day our daily bread." This verse reminds us of how dependent we are on God. We have never had a single bite of food that wasn't provided by God. Every good thing comes from Him, so it is most appropriate for us to pray, "Father, Give us this day our daily bread."
*But why pray for our "daily bread?" That seems so inefficient. Why not pray for our monthly bread, or just pray for a lifetime supply and be done with it? But no, it was, "Give us THIS DAY our daily bread."
*This verse reminds us of the manna the Children of Israel gathered as they wandered in the wilderness. Psalm 78:24 tells us it was the bread or corn of Heaven. And Exodus 16 tells us that this manna was strange food. It was a small and round, as fine as frost on the ground. Manna melted when the sun became hot, so God sent it every morning, except on the Sabbath day.
*You could gather all you needed, but if you gathered too much, you still only had what you needed. And if you tried to keep it overnight, it got worms and started stinking. That is, except on the 6th day. On the 6th day they gathered and prepared twice as much as any other day. That gave them enough for the Sabbath. And the miraculous manna didn't go bad that night.
*We've got a box of Raisin Bran at home that's good until December 5, 2021! Couldn't God make some food that would last more than a day or two? Yes of course! God could make food that would last forever. BUT HE WANTED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO LEARN TO TRUST AND OBEY HIM DAY BY DAY.
*And He is trying to teach us the same thing. God wants us to learn to trust in Him, even if Wal-Mart runs out of bread, and it did during the ice storm a few weeks ago. So, we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." This kind of request points to an on-going conversation with the Lord, one that will help us know Him and trust Him and follow Him more every day.
*And the reason God wants us to pray every day is because the relationship in our prayer life is always more important than the results. Yes the results will be great. But the relationship is greater. So, in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 God's Word tells us to, "Pray without ceasing."
*If God answered every prayer just exactly as we thought He should, if He gave us everything we could ever dream of asking, that still could not compare with the blessing of knowing Him. Prayer is infinitely more about relationship than results. God wants us to be taking a daily faith walk with Him, and we do that through prayer. So when you pray: Focus on your faith.
4. AND FOCUS ON YOUR FORGIVENESS.
*In vs. 12 Jesus said to pray this way: "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." "Forgive us our moral and spiritual debts, as we forgive our debtors."
*Forgiveness: We all need to get it. As someone once said in the Houston Chronicle: "If you could spank the person who gives you the most trouble, YOU wouldn't be able to sit down for a month." (5)
*We all need to get forgiveness. -- And Christians, we all need to give it.
*Corrie ten Boom told an amazing story of Christian forgiveness. It happened in Africa, and she later wrote: "A man came to a meeting with bandaged hands. I asked him how he had been injured. He said, 'My neighbor's straw roof was on fire; I helped him to put it out and that's how my hands were burned.'
*Later I heard the whole story. The neighbor hated him and had set his roof on fire while his wife and children were asleep in the hut. They were in great danger. Fortunately, he was able to put out the fire in his house on time. But sparks flew over to the roof of the man who had set the house on fire and his house started to burn.
*There was no hate in the heart of this Christian; there was love for his enemy. And he did everything he could to put out the fire in his neighbor's house. That is how his own hands were burned." (6)
*That Christian man gave amazing forgiveness. And of course, we should too, because we have been forgiven in an amazing way. Jesus Christ took the full punishment for our sins. He stretched out His hands and died on the cross for us, so that we would not have to spend all eternity in hell.
*If you have trusted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, if you have received the risen Savior, then all of your sins have been forgiven. And for this reason, Christians, we must also forgive.
*Sounds like something we need to pray about! When you pray: Focus on your forgiveness.
5. AND FOCUS ON YOUR FUTURE.
[1] IN VS. 13, JESUS FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE TWO WAYS. THE FIRST IS OUR TEMPTATION.
*Jesus said to pray to our Heavenly Father this way: "Do not lead us into temptation." In other words: "God, please lead us in the good and right direction."
*Think about it. Where are you headed in life? Are you growing stronger in faith and goodness? Is there any evidence of salvation in your life? Are you reflecting the light of the Lord in your life? Is Jesus shining through?
*"Lead us NOT into temptation." We all need to pray that prayer!
*We are like the little boy Lee Griess told about. His name was Bobby, and he desperately wanted a new bicycle. Bobby's plan was to save his nickels, dimes, and quarters until he finally had enough.
*Each night Bobby asked God to help him save his money, but one night Bobby's parents heard him pray: "Dear Lord, please help me save my money for a new bike. And please, Lord: Don't let the ice cream man come down the street again tomorrow." (7)
*It's okay to laugh about that, but praying about temptation is serious business. We see this in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before the cross.
*Luke 22:40-47 tells us that:
40. When He (Jesus) came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation.''
41. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
42. saying, "Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.''
43. Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
44. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45. When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
46. Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.''
47. And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.
[2] WHEN YOU PRAY ABOUT THE FUTURE, FOCUS ON YOUR TEMPTATION. BUT ALSO FOCUS ON GOD'S TRIUMPH.
*God is going to have the ultimate victory over all of the evil in this world! But there is brutal evil in our fallen world today. That is why in vs. 13 Jesus also said to pray this way, "Deliver us from evil." or "Deliver us from the evil one."
*Dr. Thomas Dooley gave a chilling example related to this prayer. It came from his experience in Southeast Asia between 1954 and 1960. Dr. Dooley authored three books about conditions there, the most well-known being DELIVER US FROM EVIL, published in 1956. The subject was his impression of the refugee camps in Haiphong and the repulsive cruelty of the Stalinist regime from which the refugees fled.
*The title "Deliver Us from Evil" came from an incident which Dr. Dooley had personally witnessed. Three young Vietnamese children had been brought to the border by the Communist police of North Vietnam. Their vocal cords had been cut (or tongues cut out) as punishment for treasonable speech.
*When Dr. Dooley asked the guard how children so young could possibly have committed treason, the guard asked Dooley, to recite the Lord's Prayer. When Dooley reached the phrase, "deliver us from evil," the guard stopped him. "That is the treason," he declared, "for there is no evil in the People's Republic of Vietnam." (8)
*He couldn't have been farther from the truth! There is monstrous evil in this world. But we have the power of prayer! And our future belongs to God! Victory belongs to God!
*Jesus Christ will certainly triumph over all of His enemies. He is the conquering King! So, in vs. 10 we are to pray, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." And in vs. 13 we pray, "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
CONCLUSION:
*Do you have a home in God's everlasting Kingdom? You certainly can by putting your trust in the King! Jesus Christ loves you in spite of your sins. He died on the cross for you and rose again from the dead. He is worthy of our trust, love and obedience.
*Right now you can receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Call on the Lord to save you. Then His Father will be your Heavenly Father, and you can truly begin praying, "Our Father in Heaven. . ."
*Would you please bow for prayer.
(1) Adapted from JOHN GILL'S EXPOSITION OF THE BIBLE by Dr. John Gill, D. D. - 1697-1771 - Published in 1746-1766, 1816 - Luke 11:1 - Downloaded to e-Sword by Rick Meyers - Copyright 2000-2019
(2) SermonCentral illustration submitted by Dennis Murphy - SOURCE: Story told by Gene Appel
(3) Adapted from online sermon "Daddy God" by Tom Rothhaar - Light of the Canyon UMC - 09/05/2004
(4) Adapted from SermonCentral sermon "Church Family Matters" by Roger Thomas - 1 Timothy 3:15 & 5:1-8 - June 2005
(5) Adapted from Houston Chronicle, 2/1/2008, p.E2 - Source: IN OTHER WORDS - Feb. 2008 #1 - produced by Dr. Raymond McHenry - www.iows.net
(6) Corrie Ten Boom in the book, REFLECTIONS OF GOD'S GLORY (page 69) - SermonCentral illustration submitted by Dave Allen
(7) TAKING THE RISK OUT OF DYING by Lee Griess, CSS Publishing Company, 1997, 0-7880-1030-1 - Source: Sermonillustrations.com
(8) "The American Thinker" - Feb. 16, 2008 - "Boomers and the Vietnam Shrug" - by Frank Dudley Berry, Jr.
