The Ten Commandments of Prayer!
Text: Matthew 6:5-15
5 “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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 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. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ (For your is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen). (Footnote/MSS)
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
These words may be the most repeated words in all of human history!
1. “Our Father” – We Pray To Our Heavenly Father: v. 9
a. Lord’s prayer….” When you pray say, Our Father…”
b. “Your heavenly Father” means prayer is a family matter.
c. Paul picks up this thought in Ephesians 3:14ff …”from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.”
d. Your heavenly Father knows… Matt. 6:8 and 6:32
e. Your earthly Father is limited in resources – not so with your heavenly Father!
f. Jesus prayed to the Father in his high priestly prayer of John 17:1 ff
g. Approx. 100 times in the Gospel of John – Jesus refers to his Father.
h. It is by our adoption through Christ that we call God “Father”
i. In other words, to call God Father – is to pray in Jesus name!
j. If you then, though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Luke 11:13
2. “Hallowed be” ...Yes, Pray with Worship and Adoration: v. 9
a. Jesus teaches us to begin prayer with, Our Father, Hallowed by thy name. Matt 6:9
b. First – that I may not dishonor God!
c. Second, This is a missional prayer – for more and more people to worship our God!
It's a prayer to get the word out...
He alone is worthy of worship! He is the king of all kings!
Sovereign over all
When you lose perspective – choose to worship
d. And also worship!!!
i. To be a Christian is to love God with all your heart...
ii. Who is at the center of your heart?
iii. Who receives your highest adoration?
e. Once again Paul writes, for this reason, I bow before the Father ... Eph 3:14 “bow” in worship...
3. “Your kingdom come... - Yes, Pray Missionally: v. 10
a. Your kingdom come – your will be done; v. 10
b. First, may his kingdom take hold of me!
i. Through his Word and by his Spirit, in community.
c. Second, This is a prayer of gospel proclamation - and for people to believe and receive the good news.
d. Let his kingdom come into your heart and soul!
Let Jesus be your king!
e. Third, This is also an eschatological prayer – for Jesus our King to return – and establish his kingdom fully!
f. This prayer confesses that the world is desperately in need of Jesus our King!
***“your will be done... (Not on slides...)
g. A prayer of trust in God’s ways and character.
h. A submission to his sovereignty.
*** first half of the prayer – God-centered! (not self)
4. “Give us daily bread” - Yes, Pray For Personal Needs: v. 11
a. Daily bread
b. Now – weekly grocery!
c. Monthly paycheque
d. Government safety net
e. Person to person... church community sharing/giving
Remember who provides – and remember to ask him.
**Our needs are tempered by our satisfaction & Contentment in Christ!
This is also a prayer for a healthy society/economy/supply chain etc...
**Prays against corruption! (in so many countries – all?)
*Saying grace is an excellent spiritual discipline.
What is your need?
Physical
Emotional
Relational
God is our Father...provider...teacher... he sent the HS
5. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive”... v. 12
***Speaks of our relationships...
a. We Pray with a Heart of Forgiveness Toward Others
b. Unforgiveness will certainly hinder our prayers
c. Unforgiveness isn’t consistent with Christian discipleship – because our very identity is as forgiven people – and Jesus makes it very clear – “forgiven people forgive”
6. Deliver us - We Pray For Holiness - Victory Over Sin And Temptation: v. 13
a. “Deliver us from the evil one” v. 13
b. We have an enemy who wants to deceive and destroy God’s kingdom
c. We go to our Father for protection
d. The Holy Spirit – is HOLY – and grows the holiness in God’s people – what Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit.
7. We Pray In Jesus Name:
a. Prayer is always founded upon our union with Christ. (S. Chan, “Spiritual Theology”)
b. It is Jesus now teaching his disciples how to pray – it's his teaching & his authority.
c. Prayer in Jesus name is the faith expression of the authority he has given us.
d. In John’s Gospel14 to 16, Jesus tells us 6 x he will give everything we ask “in his name.”
e. Peter: “It is Jesus name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” Acts 3:16
f. When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1
8. We Pray in The Spirit/with the Spirit’s help: Eph 6:18
a. And pray in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers. Ephesians 6:18
b. Prayer is a Trinitarian activity.
c. Since the Holy Spirit is our Helper and Counsellor, we can pray with the Holy Spirit’s insight, access and power.
d. The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
e. Build yourself up in the most Holy Faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Jude 20
f. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit; I will also pray with my mind. 1 Cor. 14:14-15
9. We Pray With Faith-Faith in God–not faith in faith: Heb 4:16
a. Let us then approach the throne of grace with boldness and confidence in our time of need. (Heb 4:16)
b. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…that man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. James 1:6
c. Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law or because you believe what you heard? Gal 3:5
d. Without faith it is impossible to please God. For whoever comes to God must believe that he exists and he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. Heb 11:6
e. The prayer prayed in faith will make the sick person well. James 5:15
f. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. {Eph 3:20}
10. We Pray with Thanksgiving: Phil 4:6
a. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving; present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
b. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
c. Makes perfect sense when we connect this to God our Father, and Jesus our saviour!
*** For yours is the kingdom, power, glory...forever!!!
Application:
• Develop habits
• Develop consistency
• See prayer as a spiritual discipline... (we all have disciplines- exercise/diet/words)
• Prioritize God and his kingdom purposes
• Remember ... you’re talking to your Father!
Conclusion: Pray Without Ceasing!!!
a. Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1
b. Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess 5:17
c. “Always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18)
Bonus material:
1. Pray With A Listening Heart:
a. I do nothing on my own. I only do what the Father tells me. John 8:28
b. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5
2. Pray Scripture
3. Pray mission-centered prayers...
