Purpose: To show that a relationship with God is a requirement for prayer.
Aim: I want the listener to see prayer as a way to put God on display.
INTRODUCTION: Why should we pray? The purpose of prayer is to put God on display. John 14:13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (NAU)
If we understand that prayer is primarily to glorify God, and if we love the Lord, then we will want to know HOW to pray so He can be glorified. This is why Jesus gave us what we call "The Lord's Prayer" even though Jesus never prayed this prayer. After all, He never had to ask forgiveness for His sins.
This prayer gives us a pattern, or an outline to follow when we pray. Many time people ask, "Should we recite the Lord's prayer?" Jesus didn't tell us to recite this prayer and there are no records that the disciples ever recited this prayer. I think they understood that this was a pattern for us to follow when we pray. On the other hand, I don't see any harm reciting this prayer if it is prayed with understanding.
► I. Real Prayer Follows God's Instructions "Pray, then, in this way"
George Barna had a poll done that said that 64% of Americans say they pray every day. I wonder how many Americans are praying the way God wants us to?
If you want to know how to pray, open the Bible and study what it has to say about prayer. I can't count the number of times when people, who know nothing about the Bible, have told me that they pray all the time. If we are praying to please God, then we need to learn how He wants it done.
Matthew 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. (NAU)
► II. Real Prayer Begins with a Relationship with God "Father"
In Jesus' day there were many wrong ideas of what God was like. The Stoics believed that the gods could not have feelings. If they experienced joy, then they would have to experience sorrow which would be a weakness. The Epicureans believed that the supreme attribute of god was calmness so the gods had to be far removed from humans so that they wouldn't be infected with emotions. The Jews believed that God was only concerned for their nation, so He wasn't involved in the lives of individuals, only the Jewish nation.
Jesus was contradicting all of these ideas when He told His followers to address God as "Father." A father cares for his children, he is intimately involved in their lives, is grieved when they make wrong choices, and rejoices when they do well.
In what ways is God our Father?
► A. God is our Father because He created us
Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. (NAU)
Just because we are created by God does not mean we have a father-son relationship with God. Jesus told some religious people: John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. ... (NAU)
► B. God is our Father when He adopts us
Even though we belong to God we have turned our backs on God. This is why we need our relationship with God restored. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (NAU)
John 1:12 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, (NAU)
Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" (NAU)
1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. ...(NAU)
The idea of God being a loving father to His own is not just in the NT. Isaiah 63:16 ... You, O LORD, are our Father, Our Redeemer from of old is Your name. (NAU)
►How Does Having God as our Father Affect us?
2 Corinthians 6:18 "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. (NAU)
► #1 Our heavenly Father takes away our fears
Christians have no reason to fear the future because an all-powerful and loving God has promised to take care of them. Matthew 6:25--26 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? (NAU)
► #2 Our heavenly Father relieves our loneliness
Isaiah 49:16 "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.... (NAU)
Shortly before Moses died he told the Jews: Deuteronomy 31:8 "The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (NAU)
► #3 Our heavenly Father expects our obedience
We obey earthly fathers, not just because they are older and wiser, but because of who they are. Malachi 1:6 " 'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you... (NAU)
Charles Spurgeon: "When I say 'My Father,' it is not for me to rise up and go in rebellion against his wishes; if he be a father, let me note his commands, and let me reverentially obey; if he hath said 'Do this,' let me do it, not because I dread him, but because I love him; and if he forbids me to do anything, let me avoid it." [1]
► #4 Our heavenly Father always gives us what is best
In this life: Matthew 7:11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! (NAU)
In eternity: Romans 8:17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (NAU)
► III. Real Prayer Involves Other Believers "Our Father"
We can learn two important things from this little word, "our."
► A. We possess God
We think it is great when we can say, "This is my house" or "This is my car," but just think that a believer can say, "This is MY God."
Psalm 119:94 I am Yours, save me... (NAU)
Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him. (NAU)
Psalm 42:11 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. (NAU)
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. (NAU)
John 20:28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (NAU)
► B. We share God
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (NAU)
Jesus prayed that all believers would share God with each other. John 17:11 "... I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. (NAU)
When we pray together, we are worshiping God together.
► "We should never be ashamed to own him as a brother whom God will own as a son." Thomas Manton [2]
► IV. Real Prayer Requires a Knowledge of God "who is in heaven"
We must not just pray to "God" we must pray to the one true God.
Jesus warned us that there are false gods: Matthew 24:4--5 And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. (NAU)
► A. The God of heaven is present everywhere
1 Kings 8:27 "...Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You... (NAU)
Jeremiah 23:24 "Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD. (NAU)
► B. The God of heaven rules creation
Isaiah 66:1 Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. ... (NAU)
Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. (NAU)
Jesus is the ruler of all things. Paul prayed that we would know, what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:19--20NAU)
Listen to how King Jehoshaphat prayed: 2 Chronicles 20:6 "O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. (NAU)
► C. The God of heaven hates sin
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men ... (NAU)
► V. Real Prayer Glorifies God "Hallowed be Your name"
"HALLOWED hagiazo (ἁγιάζω, 37), "to make holy" (from hagios, "holy"), signifies to set apart for God, to sanctify, to make a person or thing the opposite of koinos, "common"; it is translated "Hallowed," with reference to the name of God the Father in the Lord's Prayer, Matt. 6:9; Luke 11:2. See sanctify." [3]
"Ultimately, therefore, a man discovers the real condition of his spiritual life when he examines himself in private, when he is alone with God." D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones
How can we pray so that God will be put on display as holy?
► A. Pray about God's holiness
Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. (NAU)
Psalm 123:1 To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! (NAU)
"Therefore we should labor all that we can to get the heart above the world into the presence of God and company of the blessed, that we may deal with him as if we were by him in heaven, and were wholly swallowed up of his glory." Thomas Manton [4]
► B. Pray that others will see God as holy
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; (NAU)
► C. Pray that we will reflect God's holiness to others
2 Thessalonians 1:11--12 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NAU)
► D. Pray eagerly for God's holiness
Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. (NAU)
"The great work of faith is to see him that is invisible; and the great duty of prayer is to get a sight of God in heaven, and Christ at his right hand." Thomas Manton [5]
God is not interested in bland prayers. Lamentations 3:41 We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven; (NAU)
CONCLUSION:
When George Washington was about 20 years old he wrote this in his prayer journal: "O most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ my merciful and loving father, I acknowledge and confess my guilt, in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on thee for pardon and forgiveness of sins, but so coldly and carelessly, that my prayers are become my sin and stand in need of pardon. I have heard thy holy word, but with such deadness of spirit that I have been an unprofitable and forgetful hearer, so that, O Lord, tho' I have done thy work, yet it hath been so negligently that I may rather expect a curse than a blessing from thee." [6]
Maybe we need to repent of our prayers as well as our sin.
"Prayer means speaking to God, forgetting ourselves, and realizing His presence." D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones
Psalm 46:10--11 "Cease striving [or "let go, relax"] and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. (NAU)
[1]The Fatherhood of God September 12, 1858 by C. H. SPURGEON
[2]The Works of Thomas Manton Vol. 1 Page 57
[3]W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger and William White, vol. 2, Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 287-88 (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996).
[4]The Works of Thomas Manton Vol. 1 Page 61
[5]The Works of Thomas Manton Vol. 1 Page 64
[6]George Washington's Prayer Journal From William J. Johnson George Washington, the Christian (New York: The Abingdon Press, New York & Cincinnati, 1919), pp. 24-35.
