Matthew 6:5-15  And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them.

Matthew 6:5-15  For your Father knows the things you need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore pray:Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:5-15  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.

Matthew 6:5-15

Importance of Prayer  Jesus prayed all night for the 12 Apostles (Luke 6:12)  Jesus woke up early to pray (Mark 1:35)  Jesus prayed in the garden during His darkest and most vulnerable hour (Matthew 26:36-46)  Prayer chains  Individual prayers

Matthew 6:5-15  And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you need of before you ask Him.

Don’t Pray like the Hypocrites  Do not stand on street corners or in synagogues  Prayer times: 9:00am 12:00noon and 3:00pm

Don’t Pray like the Hypocrites  Jesus says they have their reward  What is the reward?  The applause and recognition they desired

Don’t Pray like the Hypocrites  Jesus is not saying that public prayer is wrong, but that making a spectacle out of public prayer is wrong  Jesus prayed in public and in private  Most common example today is praying in a restaurant

Long prayers with Vain repetition  Do not pray to be seen  AND do not pray to be heard  Jesus is not saying long prayers are wrong.  Repetition is not wrong. Jesus prayed in the garden the same prayer 3 times  When we are burdened we cannot help, but just repeat our needs to God

Jesus is attacking the culture  They are living in a pagan culture with their own pagan ways of praying  “if one syllable or one ritual gesture was performed incorrectly, the prayer might well be invalid.”  Get it right or don’t bother

Pagan Prayer Beliefs  Prayer was viewed as manipulating the gods  Prayers would be long and drawn out because they believed they needed to wake up the sleeping god  This is seen in 2 Bible passages

1 Kings 18:26  “So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us! But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made…Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”

Acts 19:34  “…all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

Jesus is attacking the culture  The true God does not want us using any of these pagan prayer techniques on Him.  God wont be awakened by repetition or mindless chants  So Jesus says when you get reading to pray do this…

Proper Prayer Techniques  Go into your room and shut the door  Don’t need to use vain repetitions because God knows what you need before you ask Him  Then why ask Him?  To show/recognize our dependence on Him

The Model Prayer Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name  Address who you are talking to  Call Him Father, that’s the relationship He wants with you  Recognize the holiness of God, specifically His name

The Model Prayer Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven  When Jesus spoke the Kingdom was just breaking in, in Acts 2 Christ’s Church was born and Christ was ruling His Kingdom  Colossians 1:13 – Christ ruling His Kingdom  1 Corinthians 15:24-26 – Christ giving Kingdom to the Father at the end of the age

The Model Prayer Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven  Your Will be done is an amazingly hard prayer to pray  Don’t give me what I want, but what I need  We think too often about temporary needs, God thinks about eternal needs

The Model Prayer Give us this our daily bread  Give me the necessities to live today  3 rd world countries only have food for today  Israelites in the wilderness were told to collect just enough manna for the current day

The Model Prayer And do not lead us into tempation  God does not tempt anyone, but He does allow us to be tempted. Often called a “test” (Abraham and Isaac)  God puts a limit on the devil’s temptation and always provides a way of escape

The Model Prayer And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors… 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.  God connects His forgiving you with you forgiving others  This will hinder your prayers  This will also send you to hell

This is a Prayer Template  Our father in heaven, holy and worthy is your name, thank you for your plan of salvation and for your son dying to save us from our sins. Thank you for the church and I pray that you will let your will be done in my life so that I may become more like you. Don’t give me what I want, but give me what I need. Help me to forgive my enemies and my close friend who has wronged me because I know I have to be like you, forgiving and loving. When the devil comes after me, give me the strength to stand my ground and lean on you. All glory and honor be given to you, in your son’s name I pray Amen.