Re-learning to Pray
Matthew 6:9-13
Via TV this week I met Meghan. The weekend after Megan’s high school homecoming she was in a horrible car accident that left her in a coma for several weeks. Now, she’s awake and only wants one thing-to graduate. The one word that motivated Megan and her entire family was “believe.” It became the mantra for fulfilling Megan’s wish. Megan met with expert doctors and started rehabilitation. She was determined to get up out of her wheelchair, walk across that stage and get her diploma! The entire town later gathered for Megan’s Graduation. The high school football field was once again transformed and almost all of Megan’s former classmates had returned to don their caps and gowns in her honor. Megan surprised them all by standing up and walking to receive her diploma. It was truly a miracle, but what caught my attention was how this high school track star had to re-learn to walk.
As we begin reading through NT, you will see that Jesus was in constant communication with His Father. Similar to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
As much as we might like to, we just can’t measure up to the prayer life of Jesus. Because of the Fall, we need to re-learn what it means to communicate with God on His terms.
Just like Meghan re-learned to walk, we have to re-learn prayer.
The disciples had to re-learn prayer.
Disciples had been with Jesus 2 years when they asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
So if you haven’t learned to pray yet, don’t feel too bad. The disciples missed it too.
If Jesus were here today, I can hear us saying, Lord teach us to…
Raise money for your work
Do powerpoint more effectively
Praise and worship
Have a dynamic children’s ministry
Reach out to our community
Speak in tongues
Do miracles, etc.
Disciples said “Teach us to pray.”
Is any one of us proficient enough at prayer that we couldn’t use a refresher course from Jesus on prayer?
Jesus lays out two main lessons of prayer.
HONOR YOUR FATHER’S NAME
Our father, hallowed be thine name
Prayer starts with God, not us
Our father
Term of intimacy (Abba)
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Mark 7
Syrian Phoenician woman whose daughter was possessed by evil spirit. Jesus told her that he needed to take care of his own family first and that it wouldn’t be right for him to take food from the children and give it to the dogs. She answered, “Even the dogs under the table are given some crumbs from the children’s plates.”
Who art in heaven: reminds us of His ultimate authority
Hallowed be thine name
“Thine name” Jewish people avoiding saying God’s holy name. When they wrote the name of God in any form they were to reverently wipe their pen, and wash their whole body before writing "Jehovah " lest that holy name should be tainted even in writing.
To sanctify, set apart, make special
Set apart as holy
Do we set God apart as Holy in our lives?
Set aside Sundays, quiet time, etc.
*In what ways are you setting Him apart as holy?
Wording of this phrase basically says, “Cause your name to be honored.”
*In what ways are you causing God’s name to be honored?
Whose name are you really interested in honoring? Yours or His?
Compare “Our father which art in heaven” with “My boss which art in the corner office.”
Sometimes we are more in awe of other people than we are of God.
We rely on others more than God
We fear others more than we fear God.
Cause God’s name to be honored. My former Pastor used to pray, “Lord, do this in such a way that none of us can take the credit.”
Jesus moves from God’s name to his plan for the world.
Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done in earth. Robert Law
Thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven
Call for the messianic kingdom rule of Jesus-the climax of history.
We are Kingdom-minded when we call for His kingdom to come.
But we are also kingdom minded here on earth. Call for His kingdom to reign here in everyday life.
We have no right to ask God for anything that will dishonor His name, delay His kingdom, or disturb His will on earth. Warren Wiersbe
The prayer shifts from God to God’s family.
ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED
Give us this day our daily bread
Necessities not luxuries!
Daily bread (only time word is used in the NT)
Grandma used to go daily to the store.
Today we do convenience store runs.
We get just enough for the week ahead.
Jews and the manna experience: just enough for one day.
Give us: communal aspect.
Not just Give Me, but give us.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Forgiveness: you need to receive it
2nd grader misreading the words of the familiar hymn Amazing Grace: “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wreck like me.”
You and I are a wreck; we can’t possibly pay the debt we owe to God.
Forgiveness: you need to give it
Kid reciting the Lord’s prayer got confused: “Forgive us our trash passes as we forgive those who pass trash against us.”
We can’t expect God to answer our prayers when are harboring ill will toward a brother/sister.
Forgive our debts AS WE FORGIVE.
Can you really pray that?
What if God treated you the way that you treat other people?
How would that work for you?
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Praying for safety from temptation.
Literally: Do not allow us to be pierced as with a spear (wiles of the devil).
Can you really pray this part sincerely?
Deliver us from temptation: free us!
Pastor Vinnie Cappetta, PhD
www.faithandreality.com
info@faithandreality.com
