This morning we will be continuing in our series RED: Teachings From the Words of Christ. Today we will be looking at Matthew 6:5-15
If you do not have a Bible the Scriptures have been printed on the insert located in your bulletin.
(ME)
The story of my first prayer - did not know how. But have learned and used the Lord’s prayer as a model for walking with Christ.
(WE)
Many of us have grown up hearing if not memorizing a portion of this passage. Mostly we know verses 9-13. These verse are commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer.”
Jesus, after having taught the disciples about the righteous act of giving, speaks to them about the righteous action of prayer. Just like giving - prayer makes a declaration of our dependance on God. It requires humility and time and the motivation to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us. In prayer we find God the Holy Spirit convicting us - encouraging us - and prompting us to give space and time for prayer about OTHER PEOPLE.
Prayer is not about a physical posture but an attitude. An attitude where one’s heart is open to the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit that is within us.
(TRANSITION) But what is Jesus doing when he gives us this “model prayer” in Matthew 6:9-13? Is he giving us a formula to be repeated? Or a framework to help us learn to communicate with Him on a deep and intimate level.
(GOD)
Let’s begin by looking at READ vv. 5-8 - notice the compare and contrast
v.5 - again Jesus assumes that we will be people of prayer - WHEN you pray. But he tells us not to make a public spectacle of our prayers. Now there is nothing wrong with public prayer. But again - what is the motivation behind your prayer - TO BE SEEN BY MEN - TO LET OTHERS KNOW JUST HOW PIOUS AND HOLY YOU ARE - this type of motivation behind prayer brings an earthly reward but does not necessarily bring you any closer to God’s ultimate reward
Charles Spurgeon once said, “He who prays long in private has no need to do so in public.”
v. 6 - Again Jesus assumes that we will pray - when we do instead of making a show we enter into a place where we can be undistracted. A place where we can devote our full attention and heart to hearing from and worshiping God. What we pray in secret and in that private place will HAVE PUBLIC ANSWER.
I suppose it is possible to have a quiet and distraction free place to pray and still have the wrong motive - just a chore - an obligation - a religious duty
That is what I think Jesus is dealing with next when he tells us what NOT to pray like…
v. 7 - do not enter into your prayer closet do not be like the pagans who “keep on babbling”
this is an interesting phrase - the Greek term used here is battalogeō the word is derived from the name of an ancient pagan poet named Battus who was known for his long wordy run-on neverending massive long wordy run on neverending poems
Jesus is telling His audience - do not be like this Battus guy who thought that poetry equaled volumes of words and rhymes and cadence - that is not what prayer is to or to become.
There seems to be a sense here that what the pagans did was ask for the same things over and over and over and over - as if their god were unable to know their needs or desire without being reminded again and again. I think this because of what v.8 says...
v. 8 - God knows what we have need of even before we ask. But that does not mean we cannot ask of God. I think the Scriptures would tells us to place our petitions before God. BUT WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING WITH THE PAGANS IS NOT ONLY ARE THEY REMINDING THEIR god BUT THEIR CONTINUAL REPETITION DEMONSTRATED THEIR WORRY.
Jesus is reminding us that God knows. He has heard our prayer and He has an answer. It may take some time to get that answer and there maybe some things we need to work on before it come through but God has answered (maybe he said no - if so then stop bringing it up to God - I would reckon His no was a way of preparing your for something better)
If we are not to be like the pagans and constantly worry about whether God hears or answers or is even out there - Jesus gives us a model to pray. In this prayer there is no hint of doubt or worry. It directs worship to whom worship is due and recognizes that all good and perfect gives come from the Father. It also places us in a position to ask of God and expect God to answer. But it also calls us to a place of repentance and of forgiveness - this allows us to live a life that is FREE.
Let’s look at it.
v. 9 - This is an act of worship and of humility. As we come to God in prayer we begin by offering up to Him the sweet sacrifice of praise. That may be very different from person to person. Some might sing, others may simply give thanks - some may do other things. His name is HALLOWED - it is to be respected, praised, revered.
v. 10 - this is where we learn to submit our lives to the will and way of God. This is where I ask the Lord to take the REIGNS of my heart. I ask Him to reveal to me those areas where I am being both obedient and disobedient to the ways of His Kingdom - because I am trying to build my own Kingdom.
Ultimately I want the purpose (will) of God to be done on earth. I pray this with confidence that God has already established His purpose (will) in heaven - NOW I AM HUMBLING MYSELF TO COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH HIS WILL FOR IT TO BE ABLE TO COME TO PASS ON THE EARTH - this is cooperative work - God will work BUT WHO WILL LET HIM?
God’s purpose on earth will be completed through someone - will that someone be you? This is a prayer of agreement and cooperation - a statement that I will do what God wants because I see my place in the big picture.
v. 11 - We live in a day and age where bread is easy to get. You just run into the store and pick up a loaf. Not so in Jesus’ day. Bread took time and energy to make and was a staple for every family. To not have bread was to be considered poor.
But this is not just about a loaf of bread. Asking the Lord to give us our daily bread is an act of saying, “I depend on the Lord for everything.”
This is that place in prayer where I ask the Lord for specific provisional needs. Finances - wise investment - decisions about purchases - giving.
Why? Because if I truly believe that God is the provider of my daily needs (not just my job or employer) then I think He deserves to have some input into how I steward His bread.
V. 12 - Now many have asked me in the past. Why is the forgiveness part almost at the end of this prayer. Wouldn’t it be better to ask forgiveness at the beginning? Well, I am not sure but think about it this way…
We’ve offered up worship - we’ve agreed with God to cooperate with His will - we have declared that we are dependant on Him for everything.
If our motivation in praying this way is right then our heart is prepared to both BE FORGIVEN and to FORGIVE
This is that place in prayer where I ask the Lord to search my heart and reveal my sins of omission and commission - I repent and trust in His forgiveness. But it does not end there. It is also the place in prayer where I take those offenses that have come my way and ask God to help me let them go. I pray that no root of bitterness would form. I pray that God would give me love for that person. I pray God will help me have the opportunity to speak with that person about things.
Jesus is going to give us more about this in a couple verses so let’s come back to this idea of forgiveness and forgiving.
v. 13 - this is pretty cool. Now that I have poured my heart out to God I simply ask God to protect me from being led into temptation.
In one sense I am asking not to be led back into a place of unforgiveness. After all, I have just ask God to help me forgive. But the devil comes and tries to tell me that I am neither forgiven or that I have really forgiven other people. So - I need help to overcome the desire to hold on to hurts and pains and bitterness.
In another sense I am asking God to help me recognize my weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Everyday is a new day of seeking to do the will of God - and in that seeking we will be tempted to NOT do the will of God - to NOT worship God - to NOT depend on God - HELP US TO RESIST.
Again this is a declaration of my need for God’s help in every area of my life.
Now let’s talk about verses 14 & 15 (READ)
WOW! Sounds pretty tough. Well, it is! But let’s drill down into this a bit further for some clarity. This will allow you to walk in freedom - it will allow you to have confidence and patience in your prayers.
When Jesus talks about forgiveness in the passage He is not talking about the initial forgiveness we experience at salvation. He is speaking more about the day-to-day relationship that we have with God and with other people.
Let me just get down to the brass tax about these verse. The refusal to give other people forgiveness is a sign that one has not received the forgiveness offered in Christ. “Where there is no human forgiveness offered or received, God’s forgiveness is absent.” Jesus told Peter to forgive 70x7 per day. The act of praying for those who persecute us is an act of offering forgiveness.
The act of forgiving others opens us up to the reality of God’s forgiveness of our sins. In no small way we become a conduit through which God’s forgiveness is realized by others. The beauty of being forgiven and the freedom that comes with it should cause us 1) to want others to experience it and 2) to not go back to the bondage of unforgiveness and thereby become shackled again to the will of our own flesh.
So- FORGIVE!!!! Let it GO!!! Trust that God will make the wrong - right. PRAY without being constantly constrained by sin - be FREE and let others be FREE too.
(YOU)
Do you need to set some people free this morning? Or, better put, do you need to be free of that chain of unforgiveness that has hindered your prayers and your relationship with God?
I say - let’s find a place to allow God to work on our heart and forgive others. I know it can be difficult. Years of frustration and pain have built callouses around the scars left on us by other people - BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL.
Do you want to experience God’s abounding forgiveness this morning? Then forgive! Ask the Lord to forgive you and then ask the Lord to give you the strength and power to forgive others.
(WE)
As a church we want to be people of prayer! I have tried to give you a model for praying. But all the models in the world will not help us if we don’t set aside that time to pray. You may pray in your car (don’t close your eyes). You may have a special place in your home to pray. You may wait until the kids are gone or before they get up to have your time with God.
The HOW is not as important as the DOING!
But when we pray let’s come to God with hearts of humility and attitudes of praise. Let’s let God speak into and move on our hearts. Let’s declare that as a church and a person we are completely dependant on Him - AND THEN LIVE THAT WAY! But also as a church and as people let’s practice forgiveness!
PRAYER: As a matter of fact I want to end today with a season of prayer.
If you are with us and you have never prayed for Christ to come into your life - I want to help you do that today. Just like I was unsure of what to pray (or even what prayer is/was) you may feel that way too.
Let me help you. If you are ready for Christ to come into your heart and transform your life. Just pray with me - you can say what I say or you can say it in your own way but let’s pray.
SINNERS PRAYER
Now, as a church let’s gather at these altars and pray for God to place a deep burden of prayer on us. To become a people and congregation of prayer. Let’s expect God to hear and answer.
