The Model Prayer | Matthew 6:9-14

Scripture

• Matthew 6:9–14

About this sermon

Introduction: There is nothing in the Christian life that makes me know my own sinfulness, my own weakness, my dependency, my inadequacy, my need for growth, more than prayer. It is easier to read my Bible than to pray. It is easier to preach than to pray. It is easier to talk to fellow believers than it is to talk to God. It is easier to busy myself with activity than to pray. It is easier to think about spiritual things than to pray. AND YET THERE IS GOD-GIVEN, SALVATION PRODUCED, DESIRE TO PRAY AS I SHOULD. It is a strange kind of awareness that prayer is — at the same time — a supernatural instinct (due to God’s saving work in my life), a regular desire, and yet a spiritual discipline that my flesh would avoid. I run to prayer on a regular basis, and yet find myself struggling to pray on a regular basis. BUT I CAN BE ENCOURAGED, AND SO CAN YOU, THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THAT STRUGGLE. Martin Lloyd-Jones – “If you have never had difficulty in prayer, it is absolutely certain that you have never prayed.” (Banner of Truth, Issue 275) The sense of our inadequacy in prayer is heightened when it’s measured against the standard taught to us in Scripture. PRAYER IS NOT JUST A DUTY; IT IS A WAY OF LIFE ESV Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. PRAYER IS TO BE A MATTER OF CONCENTRATED DEVOTION ESV Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Constant — προσκαρτερέω (proskartereo) Meaning: to attend constantly PRAYER IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DEVOTE OURSELVES TO BECAUSE GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS I am convicted about my weakness in prayer when I reminded of God’s revelation to His people of His willingness to hear and answer prayer. ESV Psalm 65:2 O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. ESV Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. ESV Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. PRAYER MUST PROCEED FROM GENUINE FAITH AND PURE HEARTS You see, for prayer to be right, for prayer to be God honoring, I must be right. I must have my heart set on honoring God. ESV Proverbs 28:9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. ESV Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. ESV 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." PRAYER REQUIRES THE HOLY SPIRIT As much as I need the Spirit to obey God. As much as I need the Spirit to preach, or to serve with my spiritual gift. I need the Spirit of God if I am to pray. ESV Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ESV Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, PRAYER IS OFFERED IN CHRIST AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHRIST I must want what my Savior wants. I must ask in accordance with who He is, and what His will is. ESV John 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. PRAYER IS DIFFICULT Be encouraged by the fact that the Scriptures acknowledge this. • DIFFICULT WITH RESPECT TO CONTENT ESV Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. • DIFFICULT WITH RESPECT TO OUR PHYSICAL NATURE ESV Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." • DIFFICULT WITH RESPECT TO OUR SPIRITUAL DESIRES ESV James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. • DIFFICULT WITH RESPECT TO PERSEVERANCE ESV Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. • DIFFICULT WITH RESPECT TO SPIRITUAL ALERTNESS ESV Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Is it any wonder, then, that of all the things the disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them, they asked Him to teach them to pray?

Topics

• Prayer