The Model Prayer - Part 1 Series

The Model Prayer – Part 1

Griffith Baptist Church – 7/30/06

P.M. Service

Text: Matthew 6:9-13 (verses 9-10)

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:

During the afternoon a mother had to paddle her four-year-old daughter because she deliberately disobeyed her. That evening when the little girl prayed she said, “Dear Lord, please help me understand my mother. Amen.”

We need help understanding prayer

The disciples had not been around Jesus that long when they requested, “Lord, teach us to pray . . .” Luke 11:1

Sometimes we learn to pray by hit and miss

• We hear others pray and imitate what they do

• We approach prayer in the way we think it ought to happen

• We use natural reasoning to approach a supernatural, Holy God

There is a reason that Jesus set this example down for His disciples and us

It was not to fill up space in His Word.

We need a framework, a blueprint to work by

This is what that framework does:

• It tells us how God thinks

• It lets us know structure we need to have

• It tells us what opens God’s heart and ears to receive what we have

We may be seeing some success in our prayers, but we can always see more

We just need to understand Him more and this prayer helps us do that

Impact Statement: To pray properly is to pray our way from heaven to earth; God first and ourselves last.

1. Element One: Identification with who God is (Our Father who art in heaven)

A. I was riding with retired Air Force officer Wally Hall. We were approaching the guard house at the entrance to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. Wally was about to give me my first tour of a military base. I wondered how I would get in. Would they ask me a lot of questions and make me wait while they did a security check?

When we arrived at the gate, a burly sergeant waved us through without hesitation, “How did we get in so quickly?” I asked Wally, “This sticker,” he said, pointing to a decal in the corner of the car’s windshield. “It lets me and my guests onto the base.” Because I was with Wally, who had previous clearance, I could get through the gate with no difficulty.

This made me think about getting into heaven. On my own, I wouldn’t stand a chance. I do not deserve the right, and I could never earn it. But when I trusted Jesus as my Savior, I became identified with Him. Because I am “in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6), I have free access to God’s favor in this life and a sure hope of entering heaven’s glory. (v. 7).

Our Daily Bread, September 8, 1992

B. Creator - Isaiah 64:8 – But now, O LORD, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.

C. Connection with Jesus - John 20:17 – “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.”

D. Closeness with God the Father - Romans 8:15 – For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

i. Galatians 4:6 – Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

ii. ABBA – is father in Greek and implies intimacy

iii. It is like saying “daddy’ in today’s vernacular

E. Our Judge - 1st Peter 1:17 - And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

2. Element Two: Reverence for who God is (hallowed be Thy name)

A. Revere – to lift up and to place in a position to worship; To regard with awe, deference, and devotion.

B. Psalm 2:11 - Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling.

C. The Angels preoccupation with God’s holiness - Isaiah 6:3 – And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

D. We are ambassadors of His holiness - Ezekiel 36:23 – “I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.