Lord, Teach Us to Pray

And if you would open your Bibles once again to Matthew chapter 6 Matthew chapter 6.

In our text will be verses 6 to 15 before I begin with an introduction, I may say something that I've said many times when I've had opportunities to preach, it's good to be prepared and a pastor should be prepared in and I have worked to be prepared that I am fully aware unless the Holy Spirit empowers. I am merely feeding information. Some things that I share with you tonight are not new, but I think in the culture in which we live. We need to be reminded to think over how we approach the throne of grace. How is our prayer life.

I think every now and then each of us life were not careful, take our prayers for granted and becomes rote becomes retain my desire tonight is through five questions just to get you to think about your own prayer life and the title.

My message is Lord, teach us to pray and I want to read an introduction to the end because after some of the sentence and think them through. I've told our teenagers before.

Sometimes I like when I'm reading Scripture to try to envision, try to envision in my mind what is taking place on Wednesday nights were going through an exposition of first and second Samuel in the life of David as we get to different scenes in his life. I think it's good for us to just picture what it would be like to be there looking in, and that's what I'd like us to do just for a moment as we think about some things along the line teak Lord, teach us to pray, imagine what it must've been like to hear Jesus pray. Imagine what it must've been like to hear Jesus pray there are at least 25 instances of him, praying that are recorded in the gospel imagine his prayers in Galilee as a child growing up at minimal.

Jesus knew at the age of 12 when he was in the temple that his father was God.

Remember, he said to Mary and Joseph when they were asking him why he left them.

He said this. Why did you say to me. Did you not know that I must be about my father's business. And as I thought about that. I wonder what it was like to see Jesus grow in his ability to pray at 12 years old.

He's in the temple talking with the teacher then years later, in John 17.

He personified reference 20 address God as all righteous father and again when he played. Glorify your son, so that your son also may glorify you full knowing what lay ahead of imagine hearing Christ's agonizing prayer in Gethsemane were drenched in the blood he swept from stress, he prayed three times for the cup to pass from them if that was possible in the father's will just see him there in the darkness of that night pouring out his father to his father Abba, father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not I will but as thou wilt and one that perhaps you haven't thought of. And I surely hadn't, but imagine the prayers of Jesus surely prayed at GABA as he was merciless mercilessly mutilated to the astonishment of onlookers and those onlookers were accustomed to seeing people scourged before, and yet they were astonished.

Imagine the prayers of my death must've gone up from him. Imagine his praise to the father when he ascended to glory victorious over sin and death, love tonight we would do well to reflect upon our own prayer life as we consider the guidelines Jesus gave to his disciples on the said Lord, teach us to pray. Jesus did not give us his model prayer for us to memorize site verbatim a number of times. In fact, he gave this prayer to keep us from using vain repetitions, he didn't say pray these words he said, pray after this manner that is use this prayer as a pattern, not as a substitute. Christ first gave some introductory thoughts that we want to look at in verses five through eight and will make a brief comment about these, but our main text. Like I said, will be his model prayer.

But notice verse five 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. Why, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 11 as we pause for minute Christ is certainly not condemning all prep public prayer he is condemning public prayer. This motivated by pride just like you condemned giving to others in verses 1 to 4 and if we read following his instruction on prayer. He condemned fasting to be seen of men member. He said you you disfigure your face or whatever and you want to look sharp and so no one would know that your your fasting. He is condemning public prayer that has as its objective to be impressive in any men who prayed from this pulpit. Starting with this man know that that's difficult for some, it's easier than others but I I believe all of pray before service want your prayers to go beyond the seal and that takes thought that takes thought that takes prayer for me that takes prayer to pray I never want to become a rote I never want to be concerned about impressing people in public prayer, and that's what is warning against the notice verses six through eight. Starting with verse six but you, when you pray on your room, and when you shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret place in your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 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, Christ is basically commending intimate private prayer that is thoughtful and trusting and then he shares with his disciples categories that can guide God honoring prayer and were going to address these by asking five questions of application is verses five questions of application.

I'll ask at the front end and I'll ask at the backend notice verse nine. Our father in heaven. Paola would be your name, here's here's the first question for you to contemplate.

When you pray does the attitude with which you approach the throne of grace reflect the adoration and awe that accompanies fearing our heavenly father.

Let me read that again when you pray does the attitude with which you approach the throne of grace reflect the adoration and all that accompanies fearing our heavenly father. I taught our young people that the fear of God is a reverent attitude of adoration, what God is done and author who God is, whereby the child of God guards and guides his thoughts, words and deeds by the word of God for the glory of God and as you reflect upon your prayer is an indication that this is true, reverent awe and adoration of God as you approach the throne of grace, the words are father signify the common adoration of being a part of the family of God. And when you look through this prayer the planet. The use of the pronouns our and us are used in every part of it.

Why because we are part of the whole.

We are part of the church. We are part of the bride Jesus is use of the word father to address God was scandal is use of the word father was scandalous to the Jews. One verse that I'll share with you. John 518 therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him because he not only broke the Sabbath he broke the Sabbath by healing a man, he not only broke the Sabbath, but he also said that God was his father, making himself equal with God.

Pious Jews use terms like the Almighty, the one above hi Shannon, which in Hebrew is the name they wanted to do that to avoid using God's name in vain or misusing surely folks. It was remarkable to be his disciples that Jesus told him to address Almighty God is our father. And here's the point if you lost the that you can call the creator of the universe. Father and I think we need to think that through. For a moment if you lost the all that you are not as children of God can call him father first John 31 is another text that emphasizes the unity of believers as children of God. Listen to it if you would behold what manner of love the father is bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God. And sometimes we read over things and it just doesn't hit us. The way it should.

Behold what manner of love the father is bestowed on us, that we file centers whose whose hearts are desperately wicked and evil should be called the children of God, and that comes about as we heard this morning because of the grace of God. All of grace. Romans 815 to 17 is another passage that emphasizes this unity of our father listen to it if you would in this text reflects the intimacy that is ours as brothers and sisters in Christ with our father Paul writes for you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, father the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. That word Abba conveys a sense of intimacy similar to our English words daddy or pop is not a perfect translation of it, but it's similar. It it conveys a sense of intimacy. Christ himself use the words Abba father when he poured out his heart to God in Gethsemane, we move on in this verse the words in heaven remind us of the transcendent majesty of our father. I love Ecclesiastes 51 into Solomon wrote walk prudently and that word. The words walk prudently in the Hebrew means guard your steps way your words feel deeply think much speak little and when were speaking little start talking about the volume that you speak, but they speak thoughtfully and you'll find out why he admonishes us to do this as I read he says this and in Ecclesiastes 5 wanted to walk prudently when you go to the house of God and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they did not know that they do evil to not be rational, quick with your mouth. Let not your heart utter anything hastily before God, and here's why God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few and again when he says walk prudently as you approach the throne of grace. Guard your steps way. Your words feel deeply think much speak little David said in Psalm 11 for the Lord is in his holy temple of the Lord's throne is in heaven.

His eyes behold his eyelids test the sons of men Dr. Steven Lawson states quote when we go to heaven. We have to have a glorified body with glorified eyes to even be able to look upon this holy, awesome glorified God in heaven or we would burn up like a sender in his very presence. I thought that was wonderfully put when we go to heaven. We have to have a glorified body with glorified eyes even be able to look upon this holy, awesome glorified God in heaven or we would burn up like a sender and is very presence and beloved the words in heaven also remind us believers. This world is not our home, no matter how bad it may get in this world. The best is yet to come.

A place that is indescribable will be our eternal abode in the final words in this first verse hallowed be your name proclaims that our father is wholly other. There is God and then everything else. He is wholly other and praiseworthy. The Puritan preacher Matthew Henry states it hallowed be thy name is not said as a petition but as an acclamation like the Lord be magnified or glorified. He says for God's holiness is the greatness and glory of all this perfection. He says we must begin our prayers with praising God. We don't want to start her prayers out with the wish list reputations want to start at her prayers, praising God for who he is and for what he's done on our behalf.

I love this verse. Isaiah 5715.

Imagine saying this for thus says the high, lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy. I dwell in the high and holy place with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble to revive the heart of the contrite ones and then Revelation 5 I'll not read it, you're well aware from a Sunday evening study. Revelation 5. The four living creatures around the throne of God will do not rest day or night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come and someone is a side note, notice it does not say that they do not rest day and night singing, holy, holy, holy, not knocking, singing, would love to do that.

But there is something about speech when it's done corporately. If you've ever listened to court reading. There's just something about that. They don't have music to keep them in St. there's just something about the knife. I tried to envision what the Bible how how the Bible describes the throne room of God and to think of those angels say holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty inspiration it's inspirational so we started out asking this question for?

When you prayed is the attitude which you approach the throne of grace reflect the adoration in awe of reverently fearing our heavenly father. Just think about that.

Does the attitude that you approach the throne of grace reflect the adoration and all of reverently fearing our heavenly father.

Question two for consideration is in verse 10 he says, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And here's the question. When you pray, is it your ambition to desire Christ's return.

Above all else, and God's will, no matter what that might mean me. Read that again when you pray, is it your main ambition to desire Christ's return. Above all else, and God's will, no matter what that may mean the first part of that verse 10 a says, your kingdom come. When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God, Jesus said this, behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you, behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you, the translation of the in the midst of you accurately points to the presence of the kingdom in the person of Jesus and points of the kingdom in the person of Jesus. The New Testament indicates that the kingdom of God is both present and future.

There's an already and not yet. He has come, he is, and that I think situs the Lord has come. And when he came that first time he came to pay a ransom that he might save his people from their sin and there is day a day coming when he will return for those people for whom he died. First Peter 1325 and keep in mind as I read this there's an already and not yet you'll pick this up in peters versus first Peter 1325 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, that's the not yet who are kept by the power of God to faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time and he speaks of a living hope in these verses living hope is a confident expectation of the future reality. There is an already when it comes to the kingdom and the not yet in beloved. The bottom line when we pray your kingdom come. For prime. Even so, Lord Jesus. He has come to die for his people.

He will come again to take his people to be with him forever. Reformation study Bible makes a statement Jesus is current status as cosmic king is invisible. The world is ignorant of his sovereignty, or they deny is the task of the church to give visible witness to the invisible kingdom may read that last sentence again. It is the task of the church believers to give visible witness to the invisible kingdom. I can remember my grandmother on my dad side, making the statement, you may be the only Bible that someone read I know what she there may be people and never read Bible. I've known people never read the Bible and probably their only interaction or not.

They don't have much more interaction with the Bible than they did with me. That makes sense. My interaction with the working I can remember stocking shelves at a Grand Union in New York State and it's late at night and I got in discussion with these two guys about biblical things and it was obvious they had read the word they were trying that they were trying to trip me up faith and works faith and works in one of them and gotten the word enough to know that hey, there's a there's a bit of problem here and I I was given the opportunity to explain to them no, I can tell you I was an art major. I could take you to my office in the same bachelor of science and art education you can believe you don't while you say that you are an art major in you could've gotten that stupid foam online about 50 now. Hopefully if I showed you painting I did, you would believe. But then again you could say how do I know that you really did. But if I took out a piece of paper and do something or you hopefully would say maybe there's some evidence he was an Army. Why would you believe that because of the works that I do.

As a result of being an art major and we work. We know that that's elementary for us.

We do good works out of love for God.

As a result of our salvation. We are to trust God is our provider and demonstrate contentment with this provision for us now. I want us to look at the second part of verse 10 he says your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What a statement.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven is a question do we unconditionally desire that God's will be done on earth as perfectly as it is in heaven. My sit there and quickly say yes but think that through.

Do we unconditionally desire that God's will be done on earth as perfectly as it is in heaven. Would you want God's will to be done if it meant alliance and were a fiery furnace or chopping block seen in Andrews Cross. See what I'm saying. So we should be sober when we say, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven and really mean it. All too often what we really pray for is a God will place his stamp of approval on our desires.

If were honest, we really want him to place his stamp of approval upon our desires and Jesus is the preeminent example of desiring God's will in the midst of extreme circumstances and I think that you realize that John asked 38. He said I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me, and I would have you recall again that Christ prayed three times that that cup that he described to his disciples as they were going to Jerusalem my pass from and yet again, each time he prayed that he said not my will but yours be done. The second question would repeat when you pray, is it your ambition to desire Christ's return. Above all else, and God's will, no matter what that might mean. Question three verse 11. He says give us this day our daily bread. The question when you pray, do you acknowledge that you are entirely dependent upon God for your daily necessities and friends. I would say this, that I doubt very many of us in here would say that in the affirmative may read it again when you pray, do you acknowledge that you are entirely dependent upon God for your daily necessities were to trust God. As I said before, as our provider and were to demonstrate contentment with this provision for us. At times we can grumbly grumbly compare what we don't have with what other people do have instead of greatly thanking God for what he's given us in many parts of the world friends in many parts of the world. People know what it is to be uncertain for the next meal. Let me say that again in many parts of the world. People do know what it is to be uncertain about the next meal. For most people in America. Food is discarded.

That would be treasured elsewhere. For most Americans. Food is discarded.

That would be treasured in other parts the world. I will never, I will never forget going to the Dominican Republic and getting on a bus and going to the city dump. As we were riding the bus and I looked ahead of us thought, whoa they got mountains pretty close to the city one mountains was the city dump and it will change you when you see people picking through the city dump. It will change and please take this right when I say this when I make coffee. Usually there's some left against I will drink yesterday's coffee to remind myself how good I had held good.

I have I have never had to wonder where my next meal is going to come from folks yet I had to add one there may come a time. Yes, in these United States of America for that which we once threw away treasured and if we think that's impossible. I think we may be a little naïve, and I think you'd agree with me brought down to verses 31 to 34. This is a good medicine for greed. Jesus said therefore do not worry, saying, what shall we eat or what shall we drink, what shall we wear for after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own thing sufficient for the day's its own trouble. So the third question repeated when you pray, do you acknowledge that you are entirely dependent upon God for your daily necessities for question four. Notice verse 12 he says. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

The question when you pray, do you have assurance that comes with forgiving the sins of others against you, like your heavenly Father forgive your offenses against him let you read that again when you pray you have assurance that comes with forgiving the sins of others against you, like your heavenly Father forgive your offenses against him. You see brother Bob.

I'm not sure that I understand why did you use the word assurance simple and unforgiving person is an unregenerate and ungodly person and unforgiving person is an unregenerate and ungodly person. A person who was unable to love his enemies, bless those who curse him, do good to those who hate him and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute can have the assurance he is a child of God is the only way that that can have is to the enabling of the Holy Spirit. God has given us a pattern to follow. And I hope you really grab these wonderful versus Psalm 103 versus 10 to 12 God's pattern. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him. Get this folks. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from he didn't say north from south you go far enough north, you can start going south you go far enough east deep in that direction you're going to keep going and that's how far he's separated our sins from us. Hebrews 812. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their lawless deeds. I will remember.

11 we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

Matthew 1821. A final verse, Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my mother, my brother sin against me and I forget up to seven times.

Jesus said to him I did not say do you have a seven times but up to 70×7. In other words, what the Lord was saying is, without number.

That means that you cannot judge a person sins.

There they came up to you seven times in a day and asked you for your forgiveness and then they offended you again. He sang forgive forgive him.

MacArthur says that forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors is the heart of this prayer is what Jesus stressed and the words that immediately follow the prayer and were going to cover.

Verses 14 and 15. At this time.

Listen to what he says again.

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors is the heart of the prayer is what Jesus stressed in the words and immediately follow the prayer verses 14 and 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 yours and folks, this forgiveness that he's talking about by God is not in reference to our once for all. Just nation but are unhindered fellowship with the father. That's what it's referring to is not about him failing to forgive us for our justification. That's a done deal. But as far unhindered fellowship with the father.

Why do I say that because discord among the brethren and unforgiving spirit grieve the Holy Spirit and in so doing we heard our fellowship with the father, and I think that's obvious discord in and unforgiving attitude, grieve the Holy Spirit and necessitate repentance. JC Ryle said this.

The purpose of this verse is to remind us that we must not expect our prayers for forgiveness to be heard. We pray with malice and spite in our hearts towards others to pray in such a frame of mind is mere formality and hypocrisy are person nothing without love. We must not expect to be forgiven. If we cannot forgive.

Matthew 523 and 24 Jesus said in this is pretty profound.

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. How does this fit into this model prayer when he says forgive us as we forgive others. Here's how it does reconciliation involve seeking forgiveness from her brother whom we've offended and also for giving a brother who is offended us if we will not forgive someone who is offended us when they ask is going to hurt our worship of God as the bottom line. It's a two-way street. Question 4/5.

Again, when you pray Assurance it comes with forgiving the sins of others against you, like your heavenly Father forgive your offenses against him in our final question verse 13 he says do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen. The question when you pray, do you demonstrate awareness that you live in a spiritually dangerous world of which Jesus is a victorious king and all I'll ask that an different way in the moment.

Let me repeat it first when you prayed, you demonstrate awareness that you live in a spiritually dangerous world of which Jesus is the victorious king folks.

The opposite of awareness are attitudes of complacency do you start your day without prayer, your complacent you live in a lion country, spiritually speaking in the opposite of awareness are attitudes of complacency, carelessness, callousness, her cockiness and that's why we ask when you pray, do you just demonstrate awareness so when we wake up in the morning we start the day with our prayers. Lord help me to guard my thoughts, my words by actions. Help me not to be spiritually cocky him who thinks he stands let him thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. We got end of the day with that kind of attitude and awareness that this is a spiritually dangerous world in which we live, and I can start listening listing people that it one time all of us would've respected who have fallen.

I remind myself of that daily. Don't think beyond sin. The man after God's own heart, look lingered, lusted letdown and lost lost most of the time you will remember the story the history of David and Goliath if you were to ask. Maybe teens are above what else to remember. While there was that matter, would bash and what a heinous sin he committed that included murder, and he paid for.

He paid for it dearly. The question is when you prayed, you demonstrate awareness that you live in a spiritually dangerous world of which Jesus is the victorious king noticed the first part of verse 13 and do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil. That's a safeguard against a false sense of security and self-sufficiency blood that we as believers must see every trial is attached to which the Holy Spirit will display and further develop godliness in our obedience to me stop there.

We must see every trial is a test to which the Holy Spirit will display further develop godliness in our obedience. The flipside of that or as a temptation to which yielding to the flesh could destroy life opportunities and relationships. Now let me give you a quote by Jim work. The word really crystallized.

He states the exact Greek word can be used in some context to mean attempt in another context, both tempting and testing and entail a trial whether the trial is a temptation or a test depends on who was orchestrating the trial and what his ultimate purposes, and that's pretty profound and it it it explains this the exact Greek word can be used in some context to mean temp and others test both tempting and testing entail the trial whether the trial is a temptation or task depends on who was orchestrating the trial what his ultimate purposes and you can be certain of one thing folks that is this Satan's purpose is to foster the greed to feed your flesh, that is his purpose.

That is what he will try to do would temptation while God's purpose is to just to bestow the grace to make you godly for his glory.

Two sides of the same coin. If I can paraphrase or one side will be a temptation your left side test obedience to the task means you demonstrate display got honest and even develop greater God's I have told the kids when I'm looking at a TV program, a provocative image comes on their and I choose to look away up into things I've exercised myself on the godliness and I is solidified even more firmly my oneness with my wife and understand one of sign when I look at something that comes on that screen through no fault of my own.

I gotta do is leave the TV on long enough now get you with that and I choose to look away from God.

Knowing what I I've exercised myself on the godliness and I have further deepened my oneness with my wife and let me say this to young couples that something that you better guard and grow is the opposite of guarding and growing downhill going downhill hired one radio preacher, either on the way out this morning are for tonight. He talked about counseling a couple in his church that had not spoken for three months. How did they communicate John and go ask your mother. John you go tell your father, and he said it was heartbreaking. Those kids lived with that for three months. They lived with Blevins. The thing that I want us to get is this little things like that little things like that in the every day drudgery of life will exercise ourselves under godliness as we obey the word and I gave the illustration of turning away from looking at something provocative. The enemy would then is the devil in this world system. And Jesus said in John 17.

I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but you should keep them from the evil the enemy within is this world system.

The enemy, the enemy without as this will system I should the enemy within is our flesh. I gave this identity teens this morning, but I think it's is very good. MacArthur states this Paul uses the term flesh to refer to sinful propensities that are intertwined with physical weaknesses and pleasures all of the old self is dead. Sin retains a foot hole in our temple flesh. Our unredeemed humanness with its corrupt desires and that's not hard to get our head wrapped around we are saved by the grace of God, but we live in a body still has cravings that need to be harnessed. I keep my body under so that when I myself have preached others I will be a castaway. Paul said we live in a body of flesh we can be certain that Satan's purpose is to use our flesh to make us fall, God gives us every opportunity to pass the test now not read it, you've read first Corinthians 1012 and 13 where it says he gives the very way to escape, so we have no excuse whatsoever. Finally, the last part of the last verse will consider denying verse 13. The second part, he says, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen. Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory.

Amen.

Another way of putting it.

We are on the winning side. Matthew Henry was a Presbyterian minister who said quote that a true saint never thinks he can speak honorably enough of God, a true saint never thinks he can speak honorably enough of God. David and his praise teaches us much about praising our king, and if this doesn't inspire you. I don't know what will this this prayer was offered when the people brought an offering for the temple. Remember, David wasn't allowed to make the temple building because he was a bloodied man, a man of war. So God gave him the thumbs up to unmask things, it would be used for the temple. Listen to what he says at this dedication of the offering. He says this.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory of the victory and the majesty for all that is in heaven and in earth as your yours is the kingdom, the Lord, and you are exalted as head over all, both riches and honor come from you when you reign over all in your hand is power and might, in your hand it is to make grading to give strength all now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name but who, when my and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly. Is this for all things come from you and of your own. We've given to you folks at kingdom of God. Focus is all about choosing to place the glory of our great God and the spiritual welfare of others ahead of getting what we want in this life. I've given you five questions and I'm then read them again, but I simply want you to go away from here thinking about your prayer life. You have to remember all five just think about your prayer life isn't what it gotta be, and we all have to say no it isn't, we can all become more diligent in our perlite, but we need to contemplate our prayer life will even want our prayer life to be exemplary if were to be no verse nine when you prayed is the adjective which you approach the throne of grace reflect the adoration and reverently fearing our heavenly father. Keyword attitude verse 10, when you pray, is it your ambition to desire Christ's return. Above all else, and God's will, no matter what that might mean keyword ambition verse 11.

When you pray, do you acknowledge that you are entirely dependent upon God for your daily necessities, keyword knowledge, because if you don't it's cockiness on the captain of my fate mentality.

The acknowledge that your entirely dependent upon God. Verse 12 when you pray, you have the assurance it comes with forgiving the sins of others, which is unnatural.

Yet the assurance it comes with forgiving the sins of others against you, like your heavenly Father forgive your offenses against him, and then finally when you pray, do you demonstrate awareness that you live in a spiritually dangerous world over which Jesus is the victorious king awareness you going today knowing that you are going to face temptations and test and you pray that God will give you the grace and the strength to evict be victorious for his glory.

Let's close in prayer father is my desire that Saturday night would cause all of us just reflect on our prayer life I know is I study paired this I was just convicted time and time again.

And Lord, I pray that as we leave this place tonight. We would truly do an inventory about the attitude which we approach you about the goals and ambitions that we have in our prayers about acknowledging that we do owe you everything and were totally dependent upon you for everything, including the next breath.

Lord help us to have an assurance they were truly in Christ because you enable us to do that which does not come naturally forgiving people who have offended us in the Lord finally help us to demonstrate awareness that this is a dangerous and dark world that we need to shine as lights we need to shine as beacons of the gospel help us to do that, we pray in Christ name, amen