Sermon “Lord, How Are We to Pray?”

it’s a form of prayer it’s a form of we’re praying what did how did David Price sometimes he he wrote songs he wrote him he prayed through music and you know we can do that through music just as well with through talking and it’s funny that that came to mind since we’re going to be talking about prayer today.

So

Jesus our Jesus told His disciples how to pray and how what was that it was the Lord’s Prayer wasn’t it so we’re going to go ahead right in real quick we’re going to start with the Lord’s Prayer and we’re going to go from there says and when you pray you shall not wait and I’m looking at something I got David’s script up here and I need mine

so Matthew 65 to 15 this is a New King James 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 where we were due openly was that mean in the secret place what do you think that is

your heart’s what I take it to be who can see in your heart only God can say can see in your heart and know what’s in your heart absolutely not only God can see into your heart to me that’s the secret place.

And when you pray do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do for they think that they will be heard for their many words therefore do not be like them for your father knows the things you have need of before you ask him and this manner then pray our Father 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 Brit and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one for yours is the kingdom and the power in the glory Amen we say this prayer every week don’t wait

and we just sat it

who remembers when they 1st learned this prayer

you know when you 1st learned this prayer you got.

It that what.

They can see them also in the blood in the cells but they can’t see the feelings of your heart to the things that make you they can’t see into your soul and they they don’t know they might cut into any heart but they’re not going to know what you’re like what your personality is what your thoughts are only God can.

Anybody else remember when they learned the large prayer.

When you

when you came here you learned it by repeating it didn’t you Rosanna.

I don’t know.

John

in schools

you’re telling your age.

So you learned in school to.

A body else when you remember the Lord’s Prayer or when you learned it

he said Frankie and the 1st grade. So we all have learned it somewhere along the line didn’t we I can tell you when I learned it when we lived out in Williams road I was a little kid we had a telephone that was mounted on the wall in the corner condos and of course it was out just a little bit from the corner and there was a cabinet over here and the countertop was here and there’s a cabin there was a corner shelf and mom had a little porcelain little thing that had a look like a bible or a book and it had a violets on it it had the Lord’s prayer written in one and I would climb up on that shelf and get on my hands and my knees and look up there and read that until I had it memorized because I wanted to know what that was even back as a child I can remember I want to know what that is I want to know how to pray because you know we don’t all know how to pray do way it’s not something that for some comes naturally for some it does but for others it may not some people think it’s very difficult to pray they’re like I don’t know what to say I don’t know what to do but God has given us a template a platelet a recipe if you will as to how to pray

you guys know that telephones used to be mounted when the wall or had to sit on the table.

That.

You know.

It I know with COLVIN You know what to do with it.

Yeah phone just be attached to a wall times have changed so anyway our prayer that Lord’s Prayer is a template for how we’re to pray it gives us the things that our prayers need to include in order even of how to offer them so why they we memorize it why do you think why do we memorize the Lord’s Prayer is simply so that we can know how to pray and the fact is there’s going to come a time in your life when you’re not going to know how to pray when the words aren’t going to come.

In a crisis of your life it maybe you’re in a car and you get ready to veer off the road and you’re not going to know how to prayer or maybe you fall in in your heart and you just nothing will come or there’s going to be some emergency and you’re not going to have the words but the Lord’s Prayer is going to come to your mind sometimes all you’re going to be able to say is oh Lord oh God or Jesus or help me or please when Jennifer was sick it was God you were so good there were days that’s all I could say God you are so good because nothing else is going to come in now but there’s going to come a time when you’re going to want to pray but the words aren’t going to come but those words will and God will honor what’s in your heart it may not come out of your mouth the way you want it to but if he’s going to honor it if you’re trying to pray God will honor your words even if it’s a reciting prayer like the Lord’s Prayer God were honored because he’s going to know what’s in your secret place is and

God knows the condition of your heart

so we’re going to break it down 1st by 1st and see what we end up here

1st door prayers need to be long and flowery and use big words.

Dirk prayers need to be out loud so that everyone can hear him while they do if you’re stand up here lead in prayer if you’re in a group then you’re called on to lead a prayer or have a blessing yes it needs to be out loud but if you’re just praying for yourself you don’t go to get down in Baltimore City just stand out loud and pray so that people are going to look at you you might stand up there and preach to the people hear the word but you’re not to stand up there and just pray along and know for an hour you’re not to do that because it doesn’t glorify God it wharfies you

what good would come out of if we talked to God The only time we talk to God it was when we were in public and out loud

what kind of relationship with that say you had with God If that’s the only time you prayed was out loud in a group. You would be like the husband or wife who only talk to their family when they’re in a public setting for everybody to hear so everybody would think oh this they are such great parents right now look how they interact with their kids and yet when they go home nobody says a word to anybody

that’s our how our relationship with God is

if we can only talk to him in public and we don’t talk to him in private what kind of a relationship do we have

suppressors a very big thing prayer is your your conversation with God It’s the way you get to know him it’s the way you have a relationship with him you learn it from reading his work for sure you learn who he is but you only know somebody when you talk to them

is that how you get to know people you don’t get to know somebody just by sitting there looking at him or sent to Saddam and never saying a word you don’t know who they are it’s only by talking with them that you learn who somebody is that you learn and have a relationship and build a relationship we need to make it a priority that we spend that private time talking to God just like the man or the woman that you know only talks in public they should desire to spend time with their family that should be their desire their utmost desire what they want to do more than anything is the be with those they love and that needs to be our priority as well to spend that time with the Lord we should make it a priority so that we get to know him there’s no other way

you’re only going to know him when you start talking to him it’s a big deal we have to tell him how much we love him.

So our prayer should be in private between you me and God between ourselves and God not showy and stiff they need to be heartfelt so want to verse 9 our Father in heaven this is teaching us to whom to address our prayers you could use different words you know I don’t know what you use when you pray you might use creator god or heavenly Father Great Jehovah I don’t know something that exalts him something that says who he is

you might say Daddy God Some people call him Papa Papa God they have you know that’s their prayer language to God it’s personal whatever your personal relationship is with him find your words find your words that tell you and tell him who you are to him and who he is to you

so moving on how to be the name what’s that telling us

it’s telling us to worship God to acknowledge His Holiness

some words I use or my creator god or if I’m praying for healing for somebody all calling my healer

sometimes its creator if I’m out walking around in the ocean and my best part time I’m going to tell you right now it isn’t at home in the closet it’s when I’m outside I have the best prayer time when I’m outside used to be on the lawn mower let me drive a lawnmower that much anymore so now it’s when I’m walking or or if I’m out on the porch or walking in the yard or if I’m at the ocean which is my happy place you know but anyway that’s where I have my best per times is when I saw it and I’m alone with God and then I look at him and I look around and I say Oh Oh Creator God you are so good we’re acknowledging who he is working knowledge his holiness his greatness we’re lifting him up we’re worshipping him we’re glorifying him. He wants us to understand who he is and he wants us to anyone’s to remind us of that as well remember he doesn’t need to be reminded who he is

we need to be reminded who he is has anybody heard the song and I’m not sure who writes it who sings it it’s a popular song that said God When did I forget that you are God and I am not

and you know we go into our prayers and we might give God a lot of Oh Lord please where I want 9 me but we need to remember that he is God and we are not

verse 10 Your kingdom come your will be done On earth as it is in heaven Matthew 417 and this is from the New King James says from that time Jesus began to preach and say repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand what did he mean by that Jesus was the kingdom of heaven come on our city Jesus represented the climax of God’s plan to establish His kingdom in Jesus the sovereign power of the kingdom was present in flesh among humanity one earth the kingdom had come to Earth in the form of Jesus Christ when we say these this verse of the prayer were saying Jesus have your way here on earth have your way in my life

where knowledge ing that it is God’s will and His plans that are in control and not ours he alone is solve or he alone is our king he alone is in control and by saying this type this part of the prayer we’re recognizing that fact and submitting to his authority we’re both basically saying I am yours like we just sang in that song I am yours and you are mine.

We’re asking for God’s kingdom to be among us and as we do His Will His Kingdom is acknowledged and we are ushered into his kingdom not in a physical way but in a spiritual way in the spiritual realm were ushered into his glory and then where then but to and that we are dwelling with him spiritually and asking God to be made known to those who don’t yet know him that needs to be a big part of our prayer we’re in essence telling him that we trust him with every aspect of our lives and how hard is that to do can we really say God I trust you with everything I trust you with my kids I trust you with my finances I trust you with my health I trust you with my relationships I trust you with my tester my school work I trust you with my friendships I lay it all at your feet I trust you with it

that’s pretty hard to do when it’s hard when you’ve got a daughter who’s got cancer to say Lord I trust you with this I trust you are a wife that’s got cancer or maybe it’s a husband I don’t know maybe it’s a relationship it’s hard to say God here’s the situation I trust you with it I’ll leave it with you it’s hard but that’s what we have to do that’s part of our relationship is trusting him with it whatever it is.

Verse 11 says give us this day or daily bread pretty straightforward right I think we’re just telling him I trust you I trust you’re going to provide for me today I trust you’re going to give me the food I need the clothes I need the the things I meet not the things I want the things I mean we may want to big old fat ice cream cones we don’t need a big fat ice cream cone so we might not get a big old fat ice cream and believe me I always won a big old fat ice cream cone.

So we’re saying I trust you with that you’re going to supply my needs. Matthew 631332 and again this is New King James says therefore do not worry saying What shall we are what shall we drink what shall we wear for after all these things the Gentiles seek your heavenly father’s knows that you need all these things but seek 1st the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things sufficient for the day is its own trouble pretty much says it all done in.

Verse 12 forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us some version 3 deaths and debtors

It simply means those who may have wronged us in some way or may know us this is a really critical part of the prayer and that we ask God to forgive us but we cannot but if we can’t forgive others who have wronged us when that be rather hypocritical to ask to be forgiven.

If we can’t forgive

Will God forgive us if we can’t forgive others is God going to forgive us

this is such importance that Jesus when one when no one it took the time break didn’t explain this prayer

it just goes on right after the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 614 and 15 for if you forgive men their trust passes your heavenly Father will also forgive you but if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your father forgive your trespasses

if we can’t forgive others he won’t forgive us as hard you know way always we always like to say all you got to do is ask and you’re going to be forgiven

but this tells me a little bit different than it says you have to forgive to be forgiven.

And that’s hard Matthew 1821 through 35 says then Peter came to him and said Lord how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him we were talking about this today up to 7 times Jesus said to him I do not say to you up to 7 times but up to 70 times 7 are basically forever dis analysts Lee therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servant and when he had begun to settle accounts one was brought to him who owed him 10000 talents but he was not able to pay his master command of that he sold with his wife and children and all that he had and that payment be made the servant therefore fell down before him saying Master have patience with me and I will pay you all then the master of that servant was moved with the compassion released him and forgave him the dead but that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who had him a 100 to marry and he laid his hands on him and took him by the throat saying pay me what you can you just you pay me what you owe me so a stellar servant fell down.

At his feet and begged him saying Have patience with me and I will pay you all just like he did with the master and he would not but went through him into a person till he could pay the debt so when his fellow servant saw what had been done they were very grieved and came and told their master all that had been done in his master after he had called him said to him You wicked servant I forgave you all that debt because you beg me should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you and his master was very angry and deliver him to the torturers until he could pay all that was due him so my Heavenly Father also will do to you if you each of you from his heart does not forgive his brother his trespasses.

Think about that

do we need to forgive.

It’s a pretty big part of it in.

First John to 9 through 11 I know there’s a lot of scripture but we need it anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in darkness whoever loves his brother lives in the light and there is nothing in him to make him stumble but whoever hates his brother is in darkness and walks around in darkness he does not know where he is going because darkness has blinded him. Does hatred cause on forgiveness or does unforgiveness calls hatred

both you said it’s got

either way it’s not a good condition for our heart to be in it if hatred causes unforgiveness or one unforgiveness causes hatred it’s up bad place for our heart it makes

it puts a root of bitterness in our heart and it’s just I don’t know how many of you have seen that tree up there that has a big old group ball one it you know roots grow deep.

They just root so hard have you ever tried to dig a root out of a garden or a flower bed and yeah it’s not fun is it I’ve got crabgrass.

And you you think you got it all and you can dig and dig and you get that piece of grass and you lift it up and and there are keeps going and next thing you know it’s over here and that’s over there and you think you’ve got it all rich grow deep and they get there they hold on one we gotta keep that root of bitterness that root of unforgiveness out of our hearts because it’s hard to get out of there

when we ask God why don’t you give me what I pray for this might be the answer be certain you have forgiven before you ask God to forgive you this also tells me that if we’re not in the right heart for God Maybe our their prayers aren’t going to be as effective.

Asked daily God forgive me God forgive me if you have bitterness in your heart said God I don’t want this anymore help me get rid of it help me to get rid of it help me to forgive help me he doesn’t say we can forget he can forget I have not read anywhere that God says you can forget and it says forgive we may never forget but we need to forgive we have that capability on not sure we have the capability to forget Will some of us might some of us can forget what we did yesterday but generally we don’t forget something that’s been done to us but we need to forgive that doesn’t mean you have to put yourself back in a situation that caused the trouble but you need to forgive.

You know all of our sins are not sins that.

We do purposefully some things are sins of omission we don’t even know we’re doing and it’s basically something that we should have done that we didn’t do

everything by without him by ever knowing knowing they should have done something but didn’t do it is just as much a sin as doing something that you shouldn’t done.

Sin begins with our allowing our mind to do well what it should not for Libyans for 8 says

and I brought the wrong glasses so bear with me because this prince a lot small

summing it all up friends and this is all the message Bob when they’re not going to have this on screen summing it all up friends I’d say to you you’ll do best by filling your minds. And meditating on things true noble reputable authentic compelling gracious The best not the worst the beautiful not the ugly things to praise not things to curse put into practice what you learn from me and what you heard and saw and realized I do that and God who makes everything work together work you into his most excellent harmonies.

So we need to put things in our mind that are good things don’t dwell on things that are negative things that are bad think about good things think about God you know if you get into the habit of doing that if you’re if you fink of something that you know you should be thinking of putting him into your mind if you’re into a song or if you’re not into music get something else into your mind that’s positive something that speaks to you make it personal to you but think positive things think good things keep your mind keep your mind on Christ you know sometimes when I’m going to bed at night in I’ve got things Mullan through my head and I can’t get to sleep I’ll start thinking of a hammer all start to pray and hymns will start going to the my mind or pray songs because I’m a music person I can’t sing but I love it I love music and and the words just start coming through my mind and I’ll start praising him you know pretty soon you find yourself relax and go and sleep because you’re putting your mind where it needs to be

don’t be too proud to think that you are doing everything perfect because none of us are perfect I’d be willing to bet that most of us sin daily

maybe not all in it if you’re not one of them that’s great I’m thrilled but if you’re not sure if you think you might stand daily it would be a good idea Daley asked for forgiveness I know I have to because I am far from perfect.

Proverbs $1618.00 says Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall don’t be too proud

one little note of what sin is the translation of sin means to miss the mark the mark being the standard of perfection established by God in evidence by Jesus are we missing the mark

verse 13 but lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one there are 2 thoughts here and what temptation means the 1st is trial but since a trial often makes a stronger

and something that we can learn from is believe that temptation here means to Laura away from God.

Or to Loris away from what His will is for us so who is the evil one

Satan

so here we’re simply asking God’s protection from temptation from what Satan wants to put in our minds what temps us fame money pleasure things cars boats trips jewelry I don’t know physical pleasure love bitterness anger all that can be a temptation acceptance can be a temptation you know we do a lot of things to be accepted the list can just go on and on I could probably go on and on but I’m not going to

but the point is Satan will use these things to lure you away from God If we let Him He will Laurus away

so really our prayer symphony to be us talking with God It doesn’t have to be fancy it doesn’t have to be long but it needs to be heartfelt it needs to be a conversation with a father and his children

talk to him talk to God play with your heart use your emotions use the recipe or template that Jesus gave us. Back when we were in Holy Cross years and years ago we were in a Sunday school class and one of the lessons was to take the Lord’s Prayer and personalize it and that has stuck with me for all these years and I urge you guys to look at that and do that just you don’t have to write it down but look at it and put yourself in each 1st and and what those verses mean to you personalize it

I’m going to give you several verses here as we finish up just little things if there is a keep notes you can you feel have something about prayer you might read running down and here’s another thing prayer can be many different forms it can take forms it can be some people prayer journal some people pray out loud some people pray in quiet some people pray with song some people might pray only in their cars or you know if they spend a lot of time there at prayer can look very different from many people some people might pray by writing a book you know that is right out there prayers and it can be many different things some people pray and poetry I don’t know what prayer looks like for you but I pray that you find out what that is James 516 says therefore can special sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed Psalm 14518 the Lord is near to all who call on him to all who call on Him in truth

Probert 1629 The Lord is far from the wicked that hears the prayers of the righteous verse John one and if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness.

So just some things that if you like to jot things down these are things you can reference and in closing I want to leave you with this it’s called an empty chair and the author is unknown but this really speaks to how our prayer relationship needs to be with God.

A man’s daughter had asked a local pastor to come and pray with her father and when the pastor arrived he found the mind the me and lying in bed with his head propped up on 2 pillows and an empty chair beside his bed the pastor assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit I guess you’re expecting me he said No Who are you well I’m the new associate pastor at your church the past replied and when I saw the empty chair I figured you knew I was going to show up oh yeah the chair said the bedridden man would you mind closing the door puzzled the pastor got up and shut the door I’ve never told anyone this not even my daughter said the man but all of my life I have never known how to pray at church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer but it always went right over my head I abandoned any attempt at prayer the old man continued until one day about 4 years ago my best friend said to me Joe Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus here’s what I suggest sit down on a chair and place an empty chair in front of you and in faith see Jesus on that chair it’s not spooky because he promised to always be with you then speak to him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now so I tried it and I’ve liked it so much that I do it a couple wears every day I’m careful though if my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair she either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm the pastor was deeply moved by the story encourage the god to continue on the journey that he prayed with him and returned to the church 2 nights later the daughter called to tell the pastor that her daddy had died that afternoon did he seem to die in peace he asked yes when I left the house around 2 he called me over to his bedside told me one of his corny jokes and kissed me on the cheek when I got back from the store an hour later I found him dead but there was something strange in fact beyond strange kind of weird apparently just before daddy died he leaned over and rest just head on the chair beside it