Let’s Review… Prayer is… A partnership with God Working with God to accomplish His purposes Established by God as a law of the universe
Let’s Review… Prayer requires Prayer is essential for Biblical knowledge Persevering faith Prayer is essential for Ministry effort Social justice
So…how do we pray?
Matthew 6:9-13 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil 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.]’” New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
First, we must un-learn Don’t be “skype-guy” Personal prayer is not for show Personal prayer is private and intimate
First, we must un-learn Don’t be a pagan Don’t be a babbler Personal prayer is not an incantation Personal prayer is not mindless repetition
Pray…in this way… It is a manner of praying Not to be mindlessly recited (verse 7…hello???) It is to be thoughtfully understood and applied
The use of these words as a mindless incantation borders on pagan mysticism.
An upward look Who we pray to…Father Authority Respect Intimacy Love
An upward look “Who is in heaven” His supremacy His separateness His sovereignty
An upward look “Hallowed be Your name” Reverence for God’s holiness Desire to honor to God’s holiness
“We should not miss the balance in this opening to the prayer “We should not miss the balance in this opening to the prayer. We address God intimately as ‘Father’…
…but we immediately recognize His infinite greatness…express[ing] an aspiration that He…will be seen as holy.” (Morris, pp. 144-145)
An upward look “Your kingdom come” God’s rule and reign Submission to Jesus as King Evangelistic…sinners Eschatological…victory over spiritual forces of darkness
An upward look “Your will be done” Must be connected to King and Kingdom Request of submission God’s will, my life, His eternal purposes
Let’s Pray… Be mindfully personal Remember who Remember what Father King Remember what His glory His purposes