The Model Prayer – Part 2
Griffith Baptist Church – 8/6/06
P.M. Service
Text: Matthew 6:9-13 (verses 11-13)
Theme: The elements of Christ’s model prayer give us a glimpse into a living, breathing example of form and structure that God desires for effective prayer.
Introduction:
Once there was a rich man who had a son to whom he promised an annual allowance. Every year on the same day, he would give his son the entire amount. After a while, it happened that the only time the father saw his son was on the day of allowance. So the father changed his plan and only gave the son enough for the day. Then the next day the son would return. From then on, the father saw his son every day. This is the way God dealt with Israel. It is the way God deals with us.
Now we move to the earthly aspect of prayer
This is the part that deals with ourselves
Impact Statement: To pray properly is to pray our way from heaven to earth; God first and ourselves last.
1. Element Five: Request for our specific needs (Give us this day our daily bread)
A. In its early days, Dallas Theological Seminary was in critical need of $10,000 to keep the work going. During a prayer meeting, renowned Bible teacher Harry Ironside, a lecturer at the school, prayed, “Lord, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. Please sell some of those cattle to help us meet this need.” Shortly after the prayer meeting, a check for $10,000 arrived at the school, sent days earlier by a friend who had no idea of the urgent need or of Ironside’s prayer. The man simply said the money came from the sale of some of his cattle! Today in the Word, MBI, January, 1990, p. 36
B. This is symbolic of all our physical needs
C. God knows our needs – Matthew 6:8 – Don’t be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
D. Matthew 6:32 – “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
E. His promises - Philippians 4:19 – And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
F. If God already knows our needs, than why pray to begin with?
i. We are commanded to pray (pray without ceasing – 1st Thes. 5:17)
ii. It reminds us of our dependence on God
iii. Our prayers do get a reaction from God (ask and it will be given . . .)
iv. It draws us closer to God
v. It increases our faith (seeing the results)
2. Element Six: Confession of our sins (Forgive us our debts . . .)
A. There is nothing more important than a right heart with God.
B. There is also nothing more prayer-interruptive than a heart not right with God
C. Opheilēma (debts) is one of five New Testament Greek terms for sin.
D. Confession opens God’s ears - Psalm 66:18 – If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear;
E. Guilt removed thorugh confession - Psalm 32:2-5 – 2Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. 4Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” and you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (NLT)
F. It is contingent on our forgiving others (see 6:14-15)
i. Unforgiveness obscures our relationship with God
ii. It is a sin
iii. It must be made right
iv. Mark 11:25 – “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.
3. Element Seven: Reliance on God’s protection and guidance (lead us not into temptation . . .)
A. God’s holiness would not allow leading into temptation to sin.
i. James 1:13 - Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
B. So why ask Him not to do what He would never do anyway?
i. Peirasmos – can either mean temptation or trial
• Temptation – solicitation to do evil
• Trial – testing designed to make us stronger. This may involve a temptation. We grow spiritually, morally, and emotionally.
• James 2:2-3 - 2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
ii. Jesus is talking about the heart desire or inclination we have to sin
iii. He is pleading for God to help him not experience that sin to which he would give in.
iv. The choice is to avoid rather than defeat temptation
v. We do not want to be in a place where the possibility of sin is increased.
C. James 4:7 – Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
D. Psalm 119:11 - I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
E. This is what Jesus means by this. In other words: Don’t allow us access to the possibility that we would encounter a temptation we could not overcome, but instead deliver us from that temptation. (JFT - JOHNSON FREE TRANSLATION)
3. Element Eight: Acknowledgement of God’s priority (for Thine is . . .)
A. This is a call to close the prayer by leaving much open for God to work
B. There are three aspects of God that are appealed to:
i. Kingdom – His dominion – Colossians 1:13 – For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
ii. Power - His potential – Psalm 145:11 – They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power;
a. Jeremiah 32:17 – ‘Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by
Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,
iii. Glory – His character – Revelation 21:23 - And the city has no need of sun or moon, for
the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.
The Elements are:
1. Identify with God
2. Reverence God
3. Affirm God’s authority
4. Submit to God
5. Request from God
6. Confess to God
7. Rely on God
8. Acknowledge God
More simply put:
1. Begin with God
2. Move to yourself
3. Let God work
