What the Prayer Does Not Teach
(Matthew 6:5-13 NASB) "AND WHEN YOU PRAY, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, IN ORDER TO 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, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay 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} "Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him. {9}
"PRAY, THEN, IN THIS WAY:
'OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. {10} 'THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. {11} 'GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. {12} 'AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS. {13} 'AND DO NOT LEAD US INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOREVER. AMEN."
The children of God have no greater need, or privilege, than to commune with Him in prayer. As Christians we are the only people on the planet who can talk to their Creator, God and Savior and be heard. We are and must be a praying people but we do not naturally know how to pray. So, with the Disciples we ask, indeed we pray, "Lord teach us to pray as John taught His disciples to pray."
The first lesson on the "Lord's Prayer" was a general discussion of prayer and an over view of this text in Matthew. In this lesson I want you first, to notice what Jesus did not teach on the subject and then we will begin to look at the details of the prayer.
Notice that Jesus does not teach us the posture of prayer. That is, what position our bodies must be in when we pray. Fact is, any posture will do. As we make progress in the series I hope everyone will see that it is THE POSTURE OF THE HEART AND MIND that maters, not your body. In the Bible, people pray standing, lifting their hands, sitting, lying down, kneeling, lifting their eyes, bowing, placing their heads between their knees, pounding their chest, and facing a temple. There is no right or wrong posture for prayer.
Likewise, there is no place or geographical location specified. We do not have to be in a certain place to pray. People in the Bible prayed during battle, in caves, in closets, in gardens, on mountainsides, by rivers, by the sea, in the streets, in God's house, in Hades, in bed, at home, from the belly of a whale, from a housetop, while in prison, alone, in the midst of multitudes, in the wilderness and on a cross. This is consistent with the Bible's instruction to us.
(1 Timothy 2:8 NASB) "Therefore I want the men in EVERY PLACE to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." There is no wrong place for prayer. We are to pray in every place.
Further, Christ has not restricted us to some specific time of day for prayer. In the Bible people are found praying in the early morning, midmorning, three times a day, in the evening, before meals, after meals, at the ninth hour, at bedtime, at midnight, day and night, often, when they are young, when they are old, in trouble, every day, and always.
Paul, in Ephesians 6:18 said this, "With all prayer and petition PRAY AT ALL TIMES in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and PETITION FOR ALL THE SAINTS,"
Paul gives us further instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB. "Rejoice always; {17} PRAY WITHOUT CEASING; {18} in everything give thanks; FOR THIS IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS." Brothers and Sisters it is always time to pray.
Notice also Jesus did not tell His disciples what to wear of how to act while praying. We see people in the Bible wearing sackcloth, sitting in ashes, some shave their heads for prayer. Some pray quietly, some silently, some just groan not knowing how to pray. Some fast, others do not, some weep, sweat blood, some have broken hearts others rejoice while they pray.
In any posture, at any time, in every place, in every circumstance, no matter how you are dressed, prayer is the right thing to do. But again we need to know how to pray properly.
Prayer is a form of worship. All true worship is a spiritual exercise which must be in accord with truth. Prayer must always have the Glory of God in it's eye, it must have God at it's beginning and end. Even when asking God for deliverance from some terrible dilemma He must be your first concern. The great men of the Old Testament seemed to have this down pat.
Take Jonah for instance. He prayed in the midst of deep despair, misery and danger. He prayed to God from the belly of a great fish sent by God to swallow him up. This man's prayer was God centered, it was clearly an act of worship, even though it was also a request for deliverance.
(Jonah 1:15-16 NASB) "So they picked up Jonah, THREW HIM INTO THE SEA, and the sea stopped its raging. {16} Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows. And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights." (Jonah 2) "Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, {2} and he said, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; (Sheol is the grave, here, the belly of the fish.) Thou didst hear my voice. {3} "For THOU HADST CAST ME INTO THE DEEP, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All THY breakers and billows passed over me. {4} "So I said, 'I have been expelled from Thy sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Thy holy temple.' (I will worship, I will pray.) {5} "Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. {6} "I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But THOU hast brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. {7} "WHILE I WAS FAINTING AWAY, I REMEMBERED THE LORD; AND MY PRAYER CAME TO THEE, INTO THY HOLY TEMPLE. {8} "Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, {9} But I will sacrifice to Thee with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. SALVATION IS FROM THE LORD." {10} Then THE LORD COMMANDED THE FISH, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land."
Surely you see what I see in this record of danger, prayer and deliverance. God is the first cause of the whole event. Jonah recognizes this fact, he knows God is Sovereign in all things, therefore, he declares God's power and greatness. Jonah worships in the midst of his trouble, even in what could have been the last moments of his life. His prayer began, was filled with, and ended with God. Even his petition for deliverance declares the power of God to deliver. This is a God centered prayer.
Look with me for a moment at Daniel. Here was a man who lived in the midst of disaster and danger yet his prayers began and ended with God. Praying for Daniel was an act of worship.
(Daniel 9, selected verses) "And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed and said, "Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, {5} we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from Thy commandments and ordinances....... {7} "Righteousness belongs to Thee, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day-- to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which Thou hast driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against Thee....... {9} "To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;....... {12} "Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem. {13} "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Thy truth....... {16} "O Lord, in accordance with all Thy righteous acts, let now Thine anger and Thy wrath turn away from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people have become a reproach to all those around us. {17} "So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Thy servant and to his supplications, and for Thy sake, O Lord, let Thy face shine on Thy desolate sanctuary. {18} "O my God, incline Thine ear and hear! Open Thine eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Thy name; for we are not presenting our supplications before Thee on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Thy great compassion. {19} "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Thine own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name."
Such a prayer must be seen as the essence of pure worship. This prayer begins and ends with God, it is full of God and of truth. Daniel declares the greatness of God and the wickedness, the weakness, the smallness of men. Yet he does not fail to ask for help, mercy, and forgiveness which God delights in granting to His repentant people.
This is typical of the prayers of the Old Testament saints. Jeremiah and David also prayed in this way, but why? And why does Jesus teach us to pray, "Our Father who art in Heaven.?" It is because true prayer must begin and end with God, with concern for His glory, for His will to be done both in heaven and in earth. True prayer puts God in His rightful place and man in his. True prayer seeks to discover God's will in all situations while begging the grace to submit to that will. That is why the Old Testament saints begin and end their prayers with God. That is why Jesus tells us to pray, "Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be Thy name."
What a blessed and comforting thought it is, "God, the Creator, Sustainor and Governor of all things is our Father! He is OUR Father. The word "OUR" refers to Christians, to those born again by the grace of God. This word tells us that prayer is not for everyone. It is for believers only, the children of God, our Father.
For years men have taught the "Universal Fatherhood of God. "We are all the children of God, all brothers and sisters, all members of the same family. Therefore let us join hands." There is a limited sense in which this is true. Men have all been created by God, physically. We are related to every man woman and child on earth, we are all humans together with one Creator. That however, is where the relationship ends. God is not the Father of all men as He is the Father of Believers. Among the inhabitants of the earth there are the children of God and the children of the Devil. Hear the words of God on this.
(John 8:43-45 NASB) "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. {44} "YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. {45} "But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me." (1 John 3:6-10 NASB) "No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. {7} Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; {8} the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. {9} No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. {10} By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother."
(John 1:12-13 NASB) "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, {13} who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Jesus instruction on prayer has nothing to with the world of the unbelieving for they cannot pray, "Our Father who art in heaven." Their father is the devil.
This word, "Father", belongs to the Christian, it is meant to encourage him to pray. This is how sinners, such as we are, can come before God fearlessly and with confidence. It is because God is our Father by faith in Jesus Christ. Consider the words of Isaiah who helps understand that Our Great Father is also our loving Father.
(Isaiah 64:5-9 NASB) "Thou dost meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, Who remembers Thee in Thy ways. Behold, THOU WAST ANGRY, FOR WE SINNED, WE CONTINUED IN THEM A LONG TIME; AND SHALL WE BE SAVED? {6} For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And OUR INIQUITIES, LIKE THE WIND, TAKE US AWAY. {7} And there is no one who calls on Thy name, Who arouses himself to take hold of Thee; For Thou hast hidden Thy face from us, And hast delivered us into the power of our iniquities.
Here is a desperate situation. What would they do? Their sins had piled up, they were guilty before God. Would they dare call upon Him and what would encourage them to do so? Isaiah tells us in the next verse.
{8} But now, O LORD, THOU ART OUR FATHER, We are the clay, and Thou our potter; And all of us are the work of Thy hand. {9} Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD, Neither remember iniquity forever; Behold, look now, all of us are Thy people." Indeed, He was their Father and they His children. Therefore, they could come into His presence by prayer without fear of rejection.
Consider 1 Chronicles 29:10 NASB. "So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, "Blessed art Thou, O LORD GOD OF ISRAEL OUR FATHER, FOREVER AND EVER." Notice the recognition that He is both God and Father.
I refer you to Psalm 68, which is to large to examine in this lesson. There you will find God described in the most magnificent way. His greatness, power, and majesty are set forth. One might be terrified and put off by such a God, but in the midst of it all, the writer describes this great and sovereign God as, "A father to the fatherless." He is God dear Christians, he is to be feared BUT, He is the loving and gracious Father of all His blood bought people. Therefore, we go to Him in prayer without fear of rejection.
At last we turn to the New Testament, to Matthew 7:7-11 NASB. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. {8} "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. {9} "Or what man is there among you, when HIS SON shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? {10} "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? {11} "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN GIVE WHAT IS GOOD TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM!"
We begin prayer with, "Our Father who art in Heaven", because He must be our first concern. He is God in heaven over all, therefore, He is fearful, awesome and powerful, but He is also our "Father". As our Father He has our best interest in mind. God does not play games with His people. He will not do anything or give us anything that's not good for us. Neither will He withhold that which we need. He is our Father, He loves us. Therefore, His sons and daughters can run to Him in time of need and find in Him everything pertaining to this life and the next. Our prayers are to begin with the declaration of who God is, "Our Father who art in Heaven."
One more thing, as concerns the word, "our". By this word we are taught not to be self-centered but concerned for the well being of our Brothers and Sisters. We are not alone in this journey, we travel with a multitude of fellow Pilgrims. These are Christ's beloved body, the members of His Great Church. What concerns one, concerns all, for we are one in Christ. Our prayers are to be intercessory on their behalf. When we pray for our selves we must at the same time be praying for all the elect of God. Christ set the pattern for this in His own prayer life when in John 17:9 He said in reference to the elect in every age, "I pray on THEIR behalf; I DO NOT ASK ON BEHALF OF THE WORLD, but of THOSE WHOM THOU HAST GIVEN ME; for they are Thine; and all things that are Mine are Thine and Thine are Mine; and I have been glorified in them." Many millions of God's Sheep have been brought into the fold, yet many millions more must come. Therefore we pray for them saying together, "OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. {10} 'THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. {11} 'GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. {12} 'AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS. {13} 'AND DO NOT LEAD US INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOREVER.
AMEN."