06-07-2020 – How Should We Pray

Bible Text: Matthew 6:5-13 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | How Should We Pray
June 6, 2020
Matthew 6:5-8…
“5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.  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.”

This prayer focuses on God’s Divinity, Sovereignty, and Fatherhood. God’s children are to pray with sincerity, in a manner that is honoring to God. We should not pray to be heard by men, nor with “meaningless repetition” like the pagans who babble on with many words.

Nor should we recite or repeat prayers thoughtlessly; for nowhere in the NT is a prayer used in a repetitious or ritualistic manner. We don’t have to convince God of a need we have, He already knows, before we ask Him!

See Matthew 6:9a,
“Pray, then, in this way:”

This is a guide, telling us to Whom, for What, and How we are to pray.

See Matthew 6:9b,
“Our Father who is in heaven,”

God is the Creator of all but the Father only of those who come, through Jesus Christ, into the Family of God.

John 1:12-13,
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Galatians 3:26,
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

See Matthew 6:9c,
“Hallowed [Holy, consecrated] be Your name:”

God’s name is Holy and we are to revere, honor and glorify Him. We should prayerfully acknowledge Him in every detail of our thoughts, our words, and our actions.

Colossians 3:17,
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Colossians 3:23-24,
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

1Corinthians 10:31,
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

See Matthew 6:10,
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

God’s sovereign rule in heaven is not being exhibited on earth. Men sin, men die, and men go to hell; even though it is not God’s will for people to sin, die, or go to hell.

God commands us to pray for His will to be done on earth: God desires for everyone to repent of sin, believe in Christ, and be saved.

1Timothy 2:3-4,
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

2Peter 3:9,
“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.”

God commands His children (believers and followers of Christ) to willfully obey His Word in all that we do

(Romans 12:1-2),
“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. 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.”

We are to proclaim God’s will through our lives, even if we have to suffer for honoring and obeying God, so that others might see Christ in us and come to Him for salvation

(1Peter 3:14-15),
“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

God is allowing for sin to run its course and for Satan to reign over all those who oppose God, for a time; but sin and Satan will end just as God has determined, and all who reject Jesus Christ will go to Hell.

2Peter 3:3-7,
“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’ For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

Matthew 25:41-43,
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’”

Revelation 20:10, 15,
“And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Revelation 20:15,
“15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

See Matthew 6:11,
“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Bread is symbolic of the food we require for our physical needs, in Israel, if you didn’t have bread you might starve. But this prayer is referencing both our physical and our spiritual needs. Jesus provides all we need to sustain and nourish our body and our spirit.

John 4:14,
“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 6:33-35,
“‘For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.’ Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

2Peter 1:2-3,
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

Jesus is the Bread of Life who came down from the Father in heaven; He is also the Living Water who spiritually hydrates us; in fact, everything we need for life on earth and life in heaven, has come through Christ.

The Provider is the Father, the Provision is the Son. And so, we come to God for all our needs through Jesus Christ; the schedule for God’s provision is daily, not weekly, monthly or yearly, but daily; and at times, moment by moment.

See Matthew 6:12,
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

This is not talking about financial or any other form of physical human debt, it is talking about sin, our spiritual debt to God which was paid in full by Christ. Sin separates us from God and is our greatest enemy; therefore, our greatest need is forgiveness

(cf. Joel 2:32;
“32 “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the Lord has said Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.”

Acts 2:21;
“21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Romans 10:13),
“13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.””

that is what God provides to those who believe in Jesus Christ

(Romans 3:23;
“23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 6:23,
“23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8:
“8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 8:1)…
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 10:9-10,
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

1John 1:8-10,
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

Having received God’s forgiveness we forgive others; an unforgiving spirit is sinful for anyone who has been forgiven.

In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks,
“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

Because the Father is forgiving, His children are also to be forgiving.

Ephesians 4:32,
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Ephesians 5:1-2,
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

1John 3:1,
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

See Matthew 6:13a…
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

This has to do with temptations, trials and testing, through which we are enticed to sin by feeding the flesh and/or not trusting God. God tempts no one, but He does allow us to be tested

(James 1:13-15),
“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. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

We appeal to God to place a guard over and around our heart, mind, eyes, ears, mouth, feet, and hands — so that, whatever we do, where ever we are, we will not give in to sin

(1Corinthians 10:13),
“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.”

We are all weak at times, tempted to sin, and we need God’s help to avoid the traps and snares of the devil, the world, and our flesh; for God has provided all we need to succeed

(2Timothy 3:16-17),
“All Scripture is [God-breathed] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

We live in a cursed world and evil is all around us. Our flesh is weak and we are not equipped in our human resources to combat sin. Therefore, we confess our need for the protection and deliverance that only God can give.

See Matthew 6:13b
“[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]”

*This addition to verse 13 is not found in the earliest manuscripts, but it is congruent with Scripture and biblically based.

1Chronicles 29:11-13,
“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 dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.”

Our prayers should magnify and praise God’s Name [Character/Nature], God’s Kingdom, and God’s Will, at the same time, our prayers should express thanksgiving toward God for His unconditional love, forgiveness, and eternal life; but also for the daily protection, guidance, comfort, strength, nourishment, and care that God provides.
God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good!
 
Pastor Mike
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