05-01-2022 – “How Should We Pray?”
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May 1, 2022
“How Should We Pray?”
Matthew 6:9-15
Every person who repents of their sins and confesses Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior, comes into an intimate and eternal relationship w
ith God the Father, who loves us unconditionally, without measure.
Prayer is way we communicate with God. God loves to hear the
prayers of His children and to answer according to His eternal love,
majesty, and grace.
Isaiah 65:24,
24 It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while
they are still speaking, I will hear.
Read Matthew 6:7-15…
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the
Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before
you ask Him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours i
s the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your
transgressions.
Our prayers to God should not be “meaningless repetition,
” like pagans [unbelievers] who babble on with many words;
neither should our prayers be give in rote fashion [mechanical,
mindless].
Nowhere in the NT is a prayer ever repeated or used in a
ritualistic manner. We don't have to try and convince God of
our needs; for He knows what they are, even before we ask Him!
Matthew 6:9a…
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Pray, then, in this way:
The Lord’s Prayer is given as a guide to how we should pray.
There are six petitions in this prayer - three toward God’s sovereignty:
His Name, His Kingdom, His Will; and three toward our human needs:
daily necessities, forgiveness, protection from evil.
Matthew 6:9b…
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Our Father who is in heaven:
God is the Creator of all but the Father only of those who come through
faith in Jesus Christ, into the Family of God, having been born of God’s Spirit
(John 1:12-13),
12 But as many as received Him [Christ], to them He gave the right to
become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the
will of man, but of God.
(John 3:6-7),
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
Matthew 6:9c…
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Hallowed be Your name:
God is Holy and we are to revere, honor, worship, and glorify Him.
We are to prayerfully acknowledge Him in every detail of our thoughts,
our words, and our actions
(1Corinthians 10:31),
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Matthew 6:10…
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven:
Those who belong to Christ will want to express God’s rule in their lives,
as He already rules in heaven; for God’s ultimate will is not being
exhibited on earth, e.g., people sin, people die, and people go to hell;
but ut God’s will is for people to repent, believe, and live forever in
heaven with Him.
1Timothy 2:3-4,
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men [people] to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Peter 3:9,
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient
toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
“The Lord is… …patient toward you, not wanting any to perish but for
all to come to repentance.”
All true believers and followers of Christ, will seek to serve God, by
knowing and doing His will.
Romans 12:1-2,
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a
living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and
acceptable and perfect.
Colossians 3:17,
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
We are to pray for God’s will to be done, while seeking to obey
God’s Word.
Matthew 6:11…
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
Give us this day our daily bread:
Bread is symbolic of what we require for our physical and spiritual needs.
In Palestine, bread was eaten at every meal, without it, you would be hungry.
In John 6:51
51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of
this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the w
orld is My flesh.”
Jesus says, “[He is] the living bread that came down from heaven,”
through which the Father grants us eternal life.
Philippians 4:19,
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in
Christ Jesus.
(2Peter 1:2-3),
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life a
nd godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory
and excellence.
The schedule for God’s provision is daily, meaning, we need to come
to Him daily for the provision of our needs, not weekly, monthly, or
yearly, but daily, sometimes hourly, or even minute by minute,
when in crisis.
Matthew 6:12…
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors:
This is not talking about financial debts, it is talking about sin -- our
spiritual debt to God, which was paid in full by Christ, for He is the
once for all sacrifice, for all sin, for all people.
Sin separates man from God and is man’s greatest enemy. Therefore,
mankind’s greatest need is forgiveness, and that is what God provides
when we confess our sinfulness
(1John 1:8-10),
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not
in us.
God is forgiving, and therefore, all of God’s children, should be
forgiving
(Ephesians 5:1),
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
The only physical form of God revealed to us is Jesus Christ
(Colossians 2:9),
9 For in Him all the fullness of [God] dwells in bodily form,”
He is our example to follow.
On the cross Jesus said
(Luke 23:24),
24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.
and so, Christians should exemplify the character of Christ in their lives
(Ephesians 4:32),
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in
Christ also has forgiven you.
Matthew 6:13…
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
[‘For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen’]
*This is not found in early MSS, but is recorded in the Scriptures
(see 1Chronicles 29:11;
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and
the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the d
ominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.
Revelation 5:12-13;
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and
riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth
and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
Revelation 7:12).
12 saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and
power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
This is speaking of trials and testing that can entice us to sin
(James 1:13-14),
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.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
We should pray for God to place a guard over our eyes, ears, mouth, feet,
hands, mind, and heart -- so that, we will not give in and do that which is
sinful.
1Corinthians 10:13,
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation
will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
In prayer we ask God to strengthen us against sin, to help us know His
will, and to obey His Word, in every situation of our life.
We live in a cursed world, evil is all around us, so we are commanded
(Romans 12:9),
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
to “Abhor [hate, turn away from] what is evil; cling to [imitate, hold on to]
what is good.”. Our flesh is weak and we are not equipped in our humanity
to combat sin, or to defeat the devil’s schemes, and so, we confess our need
for the protection and provision that only God can give.
This sovereign lesson in prayer concludes with a reminder of how our forgiving
others is an illustration and reflection of how the Father has forgiven us.
Matthew 6:14-15…
14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses:
Please don’t misunderstand what this verse is saying. God has forever
removed the penalty of sin from all true Christians
(cf. Romans 8:1).
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
However, sin does effect our present joy and our ability to serve God;
therefore, we confess our sins in order to remain cleansed from sin’s corruption,
much like washing our face, hands, and feet when they have become soiled
by dirt or contaminated in some way.
Having been cleansed by God ourself, i.e., having received God’s eternal
forgiveness, we must forgive others; for an unforgiving spirit is inconsistent
with one who has been forgiven by God
(Matthew 18:21-22),
21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me
and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Peter asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive
him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven
times, but up to seventy times seven.”
Jesus then tells Peter a parable about a king who forgave one of his
slave’s very large debt, instead of throwing him in prison; but that slave
later was unwilling to forgive a fellow slave’s debt, that was much less
than the debt he had been forgiven by the king, and he had him thrown
into prison. When the king found out he called the unforgiving slave
before him and said
(Matthew 18:32-33),
32 Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you
all that debt because you pleaded with me.
33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way
that I had mercy on you?’
Why should we pray?
Prayer allows us to draw close to God, to know Him more intimately
(Hebrews 4:16),
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we
may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(1Thessalonians 5:17-18),
- “Pray without ceasing [continually];
- in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
What should we pray?
That God’s will be done through every situation in our individual lives and
in the Church of God; so that men, women and children
(Ephesians 3:18-20),
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and
height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up
to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us,
How should we pray?
Constantly and reverently, bringing our petitions and praises, sorrows and joys,
concerns and considerations, before God.
Jeremiah 29:11-13,
11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and
not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 33:3,
3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which
you do not know.’
In Genesis 18:22,
22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was
still standing before the LORD.
Abraham prayed standing;
in 1Chronicles 17:16,
16 Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O LORD
God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?
King David prayed sitting;
in Matthew 26:39,
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father,
if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Jesus prayed lying face down on the ground.
Our physical position in prayer isn’t important; but our attitude is, we are
to revere God’s holiness, recognizing our own sinfulness; for only then will
we truly be thankful for His loving kindness, forgiveness, mercy, and grace.
Prayer is the means by which we come into and remain in God’s presence,
while separated from Him on earth.
The Holy Spirit helps us to pray for those things that bring glory and honor to
God, as we exalt the character and nature of God
(Revelation 1:8),
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who
is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:17-18,
“I am the first and the last, and the living One; I was dead, and behold, I am alive
forevermore.”
God has revealed Himself to us, forgiven our sins and saved us, and He desires
for us to live out our lives on earth, while trusting Him to bring us to heaven,
where we will experience
(Revelation 21:3-6),
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold , the tabernacle [dwelling] of
God is among men, and He will [live] among them, and they shall be His people, and God
Himself will be among them,
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death;
there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said,
“Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
‘It is done.’
Pastor Mike
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