Yeshuadisciple
Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2005
- Messages
- 6
SERMON: Prayer
Text: Matthew 6:5-13
I. Where to pray
a. (v. 5) Do NOT pray in public to make it known that you are praying to God. According to this verse we know that the "reward" that the pharisees are getting is not a good one. In fact, the greek word "misthos", which is "reward" in this verse, means "used of the fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavours in both senses, rewards and punishments."
b. Pray in a private place. (v.6) This could be a prayer closet, your bedroom, or, when in public, silent prayer. The only time you should pray in public is when you are leading a group in prayer or praying silently/whisper, as long as you are not trying to make it known to all around you are praying, unless of course, it is in a setting in which you do that (church), otherwise, you'll "get what's comin' to ya."
II. What NOT to pray
a. (v.7) Do not repeat things over and over, just to think you are getting it to God, and reminding him constantly so He'll do it. Let me tell you something, it just annoys him. "God, I really want a nice car, I've done many things for you, I think I deserve it. God, don't you think I deserve a nice car? I mean, I barely do anything wrong, come on, I really need a nice car. God, you know you want to give me a nice car, so just give me one." NO, NO, NO, NO! When you want something, say "God, I really would like a nice car,". DON'T REPEAT, IT GETS ANNOYING!
b. (v.8) God knows what we want ahead of time, there is no use to repeat it over and over if He knows already, is there? If it is in His will, it will happen!
III. How to pray
a. (v.9) first, praise God. Hallowed be thy name! Praise is what begins prayer. This may be worship music, silent praise, word praise, etc... Tell Him what He means to you!
b. (v.10) His will be done! This verse is saying something very simple. Ask for His will to be done. You see, His will is done perfectly in Heaven already, but for it to be transferred to earth, we must pray for it. You may be asking, well, why doesn't He just make it happen, after all, He IS God!? There are 2 reasons to this
1. He gave men free will - he can not just make us do what He wants, He gave us free will to do what we want. And if we want to do God's will, then we pray for it to happen in our lives.
2. He gave men dominion over the earth-Yes, He's God, and can do whatever He wants, but He also does not break His own promises and laws, when He created man He gave them dominion over the earth, so, by doing His will all over the earth, without man's permission, would be giving Himself dominion to do what He wants. Do you realize that the ONLY reason that God's will is starting to happen all over the world and unfolding from prophecy is because more and more Christians are praying for it to happen every day? Did you know that?
c. (v.11) Give us this day our daily bread. This does not literally, ok, God, give us our bread for today, I'm hungry. NO! Not at all. What this verse is saying is to pray for our needs. Yes, this may be bread for some people, but not all. It could be money, appliances, a deeper relationship with God, or answers to questions, whatever you need, this is the part of your prayer to ask it for, but remember, do not repeat one need over and over.
d. (v.12) Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. What is this saying? Some people may think, ask God to forgive us and we'll forgive others who have sinned against us. No, that's not what it's saying. This verse is saying to ask forgiveness AS you give it. If you don't give forgiveness, don't bother asking. You see, we are trying to be like God, so, to get forgiveness, we need to GIVE forgiveness. Give to get. Kind of like respect.
e. (v.13a) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. First, who's the evil one? My brother? No....well....umm....it might be true yet, not sure yet. But for real people, the evil one is Satan, right? So, is this verse saying, God, don't tempt us, and keep us away from the devil? Not exactly, you see, God doesn't tempt, James 1:13 says "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." You see, God doesn't tempt and is not tempted, so, the verse MUST be saying, God, don't let us fall into temptation, but, keep us away from it and the devil. Right? makes more sense now, doesn't it.
f. (v.13b) For thine is the kindom, and the honor, and the glory, forever. Amen. What is this verse saying? It is telling God what is His. So, what this is saying is praise. We should thus, end our prayer with praise, as we began it. Tell God what is His. Tell God what He is. And then "Amen" When I was a kid, I LOVED the word Amen, especially at the end of service, I always thought it meant "I'm done" or "Let's go." I was always excited. I'm sure I'm not the only one either. Actually, the Greek definition of "amen" in this verse is "so it is" "so be it" or "so may it be fulfilled" So, when you say "Amen." at the end of a prayer, you are basically saying let it happen.
CONCLUSION
Remember, pray in private, do not repeat your wants and needs, and remember the 6 simple steps of prayer, Praise, God's Will, Needs, Forgiveness, Delivery, and Praise.
Thanks,
YD
Text: Matthew 6:5-13
I. Where to pray
a. (v. 5) Do NOT pray in public to make it known that you are praying to God. According to this verse we know that the "reward" that the pharisees are getting is not a good one. In fact, the greek word "misthos", which is "reward" in this verse, means "used of the fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavours in both senses, rewards and punishments."
b. Pray in a private place. (v.6) This could be a prayer closet, your bedroom, or, when in public, silent prayer. The only time you should pray in public is when you are leading a group in prayer or praying silently/whisper, as long as you are not trying to make it known to all around you are praying, unless of course, it is in a setting in which you do that (church), otherwise, you'll "get what's comin' to ya."
II. What NOT to pray
a. (v.7) Do not repeat things over and over, just to think you are getting it to God, and reminding him constantly so He'll do it. Let me tell you something, it just annoys him. "God, I really want a nice car, I've done many things for you, I think I deserve it. God, don't you think I deserve a nice car? I mean, I barely do anything wrong, come on, I really need a nice car. God, you know you want to give me a nice car, so just give me one." NO, NO, NO, NO! When you want something, say "God, I really would like a nice car,". DON'T REPEAT, IT GETS ANNOYING!
b. (v.8) God knows what we want ahead of time, there is no use to repeat it over and over if He knows already, is there? If it is in His will, it will happen!
III. How to pray
a. (v.9) first, praise God. Hallowed be thy name! Praise is what begins prayer. This may be worship music, silent praise, word praise, etc... Tell Him what He means to you!
b. (v.10) His will be done! This verse is saying something very simple. Ask for His will to be done. You see, His will is done perfectly in Heaven already, but for it to be transferred to earth, we must pray for it. You may be asking, well, why doesn't He just make it happen, after all, He IS God!? There are 2 reasons to this
1. He gave men free will - he can not just make us do what He wants, He gave us free will to do what we want. And if we want to do God's will, then we pray for it to happen in our lives.
2. He gave men dominion over the earth-Yes, He's God, and can do whatever He wants, but He also does not break His own promises and laws, when He created man He gave them dominion over the earth, so, by doing His will all over the earth, without man's permission, would be giving Himself dominion to do what He wants. Do you realize that the ONLY reason that God's will is starting to happen all over the world and unfolding from prophecy is because more and more Christians are praying for it to happen every day? Did you know that?
c. (v.11) Give us this day our daily bread. This does not literally, ok, God, give us our bread for today, I'm hungry. NO! Not at all. What this verse is saying is to pray for our needs. Yes, this may be bread for some people, but not all. It could be money, appliances, a deeper relationship with God, or answers to questions, whatever you need, this is the part of your prayer to ask it for, but remember, do not repeat one need over and over.
d. (v.12) Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. What is this saying? Some people may think, ask God to forgive us and we'll forgive others who have sinned against us. No, that's not what it's saying. This verse is saying to ask forgiveness AS you give it. If you don't give forgiveness, don't bother asking. You see, we are trying to be like God, so, to get forgiveness, we need to GIVE forgiveness. Give to get. Kind of like respect.
e. (v.13a) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. First, who's the evil one? My brother? No....well....umm....it might be true yet, not sure yet. But for real people, the evil one is Satan, right? So, is this verse saying, God, don't tempt us, and keep us away from the devil? Not exactly, you see, God doesn't tempt, James 1:13 says "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." You see, God doesn't tempt and is not tempted, so, the verse MUST be saying, God, don't let us fall into temptation, but, keep us away from it and the devil. Right? makes more sense now, doesn't it.
f. (v.13b) For thine is the kindom, and the honor, and the glory, forever. Amen. What is this verse saying? It is telling God what is His. So, what this is saying is praise. We should thus, end our prayer with praise, as we began it. Tell God what is His. Tell God what He is. And then "Amen" When I was a kid, I LOVED the word Amen, especially at the end of service, I always thought it meant "I'm done" or "Let's go." I was always excited. I'm sure I'm not the only one either. Actually, the Greek definition of "amen" in this verse is "so it is" "so be it" or "so may it be fulfilled" So, when you say "Amen." at the end of a prayer, you are basically saying let it happen.
CONCLUSION
Remember, pray in private, do not repeat your wants and needs, and remember the 6 simple steps of prayer, Praise, God's Will, Needs, Forgiveness, Delivery, and Praise.
Thanks,
YD
Last edited:
