The Lord's Prayer Series

Main Point: God wants us to spend time with Him in prayer.

Key Verse:

Jesus often went away to be by Himself and pray. - Luke 5:16

Background/Review

Jesus had come to earth to bring the Kingdom of God to men. Jesus made it clear that things in the Kingdom were very different from things in the world. In the Kingdom of heaven, people who have nothing to offer God are accepted. Those who are meek, peace-loving, and want what is right will finally have what they long for because Jesus came to conquer sin and death.

As Jesus taught on the mountainside, many people gathered to hear Him. Jesus taught that those who follow Him should never do good things just to call attention to themselves. The good things they do should be done in secret - just between them and God. God sees what we do in secret and will reward those things. (Matthew 6:4).

Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15)

One of the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus said that prayer should not be a way to get attention and praise from people. It is wrong to pray to impress people. It should be done with a right heart toward God.

"When you pray, do not be like those who only pretend to be holy. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and street corners. They want to be seen by others. What I am about to tell you is accurate. They have received their total reward.

"When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who cannot be seen. He will reward you. Your Father sees what is done secretly." - Matthew 6:5-6

That would be like a husband who only talked to his wife when other people were around. He would publicly tell her how wonderful she was, so people would think he was a good husband. However, when they were alone, he would never say one word to her. Is that how a good husband treats his wife? No. Would she believe that he truly loved her? No. His actions show his true feelings. He could not wait to talk to her if he loved her. He would make time to be alone with her to talk to and listen to her. Jesus continued teaching:

"When you pray, do not keep talking on and on the way ungodly people do. They think they will be heard because they talk a lot. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask Him." - Matthew 6:7-8

The original word that Jesus used (battalogeo) means do not say the exact words repeatedly (vain repetition). Big, fancy words do not impress God, nor does repeating a memorized prayer repeatedly.

Prayer is the time you spend being honest with God. It is when you pour your heart to Him. You can tell God anything and everything. You can tell Him when you are angry or hurt or disappointed. You can talk to Him about the good stuff that happened in your day. He is with you every minute, so it should be easier to talk to Him than to your best friend or even your mom or Dad. Prayer is also when you stop to listen to His voice (John 10:27).

Jesus gave a perfect example of how to pray. We call it "The Lord's Prayer." Many people can say this from memory, but remember, Jesus just said not to repeat the exact words. Reciting this prayer does not take the place of heart-felt conversations with your heavenly Father. Jesus wanted to tell His disciples the type of prayer to pray. These things are the type of things that God will honor in your prayers.

"This is how you should pray

.

"'Our Father in heaven,

may Your name be honored?

May Your Kingdom come.

May what You want to happen be done

On earth as it is done in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us.

Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.

Save us from the evil one.'

"Forgive people when they sin against you.

If you do, your Father, who

is in heaven, will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." - Matthew 6:9-15

TL Note: When reciting the Lord's Prayer, we stop short of verses 14 and 15. Jesus took the time to elaborate on forgiveness; we must not overlook it. Forgiveness MUST be a part of our prayer time! Citizens of God's Kingdom understand God's forgiving, saving grace and can similarly extend grace to those who have wronged them.