Praying the Lord"s Way

Do you know how to pray dear.

We just say that you know how to pray in your heart how do you answer this question, I was your prayer life. I know was a follower of Jesus Christ. You pray by that is that in the case that we struggle in this very very important aspect of the Christian life. Most of us struggle in our prayer life as read the New Testament we understand that the disciples also struggled in this area and Luke records them saying to the Lord teach us to pray, that's what were saying this morning. Lord, teach us to pray and were going to listen to the very words of Jesus as he is going to teach you how to pray. You ready to learn to pray a couple of weeks ago we learned not to pray. I Jesus said when you pray, don't be like the hypocrites don't pray like the hypocrites they pray long prayers. They play mindless repetition. They pray to impress others in their ostentatious way of praying to get the praise of others who are impressed by their spirituality. So Jesus know when you pray I don't want you to pray like that.

I want you to pray this way that Jesus is not giving us a mechanical prayer that we are going to repeat mindless ladies warned us against that this is not Jesus giving us some kind of mechanical pious platitudes to author and think that we can use them as a kind of magic formula.

No, that's not what Jesus is doing rather is giving us a model he's given us an example he's given us a pattern of how you are to pray as I say prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. If you are on this end. Take follower of Jesus Christ. I know you do pray but let's learn from Jesus how to pray we going through the sermon on the minds and this morning we come to Matthew chapter 6. So as you sit at home that hope you got your Bible and I'm going to read from Matthew six verses nine through 50 no-hitter the words of Jesus are not mine. Listening Jesus says pray that like this are farther in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. Matthew six verses nine through 50. Jesus is saying. First of all, and very importantly, when you pray, pray to your heavenly father not notice the command is to pray when Jesus is talking against the hypocrites play, praying he says in verses five and six and when you pray, but when you pray, the assumption then is that you pray.

I know in verse nine he said pray then like this. Yes, God want you to pray, God commands you to pray. Jesus said we want.

We ought to pray always so we don't get discouraged.

Paul says in Colossians 4 to the cautions I want you to devote yourself steadfastly to prayer. He says to the Thessalonians in first Thessalonians 5, pray without ceasing. So every follower of Jesus Christ is pray.

But as I say most of us find it difficult don't way to have a consistent volley total prayer like we don't want just to be like that because we don't just want to play with others around when I want to be like that we going to pray mindlessly we wanted to be vital.

We wanted to bring up meaningful Jesus no is telling us.

Yes, we are in a spiritual battle and Paul in Ephesians 6 when he describes the automotive God that we must put on. He says this pray at all times in the spirit that is this obviously is a spiritual madeleines or when you're praying. Don't pray mechanically done. Pray in an ostentatious way. Be authentic, and you have your follower of Jesus Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. So it all times in the spirit of an enemy hates it when you pray when you get down on your knees humbly and pray to your father in heaven. Satan hates it, but the Lord is commanding us to pray you will be spiritually strengthened that I got into the when you're weak when you're discouraged when you're confused when you don't know what to do. Dying on your knees and pray God will answer your prayers. You will be strengthened. You will mind up with wings like eagles as you wait on the Lord, on the one little thing is, your prayers will bless others. Have you ever received an answer to prayer. Some of you may hesitate. And the reason you're hesitating is because you've never asked God put anything if you want. Ask God for something.

How can God answer you the English Archbishop William Temple once said, people tell me that answers to prayer are merely coincidences. I can only reply that when I pray coincidences happen and when I start praying they saw apartment because there is a mystery.

In prayer, some of you know exactly what I mean. We pray, we sometimes don't understand why God answers this printer. Not that one. But with the commanders to pray not says Jesus pray then like this are father in heaven.

This is how the prayer begins and I'm going to mention four things about praying to your father in heaven. So if you're taking notes gives the first one when we pray to our heavenly father we have a privilege I'm praying to God.

Yes, but I'm praying to my father in heaven says Jesus through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ wonder of the Christian life is that I am adopted into the family of God.

John and his prologue in John's gospel says that some of the people then receive Jesus by this many as received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right wasn't of this to become children of God think of that through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am now a child of God who are born, not of blood nor of the will of the man nor of the will of the flesh, but of God. This is a spiritual new birth. We are born again and when were born again will become part of the family of God. And so when I come to pray. I'm praying to my father in heaven, I noticed Jesus didn't say pray to me, he says, pray to our father in heaven.

He's talking to his disciples to those who are following him, pray our father in heaven. Think of this. Think of the credible privilege you have pray, think of the power of God. Think of is the terminology that he always exists that he speaks and it's Don is a God who can do all things is the God of Abram of Isaac of Jacob and think of all of his relationships with man and woman recorded in Scripture and now a little boy saved by the grace of God, perhaps a little girl that no one knows perhaps a window that is almost neglected by everyone when they pray the praying to God. Yes, but says Jesus will need to pay this way our father in heaven describes under pharmacies didn't know God is our father in heaven, but those who are part of the kingdom of heaven. This is what Jesus is teaching those who are part of the kingdom of heaven.

Of this incredible privilege want you to grasp it.

You are a child of God and therefore when you come to Jesus I want you to pray our father in heaven. First is a privilege. Secondly, when we pray to our heavenly father we have love, because the very concept of praying to our father implies an intimate and loving relationship with God. Think of this. We we began our worship by singing of God's amazing grace and God's grace is amazing. It's infinite. We can really get our arms around it is so big. But when God in his grace saved you. He didn't need to adopt you into his family could've forgiven your sins need to adopt you and to your family as you listen I know many of you part of this congregation.

I love you but I'm not gonna take you to live with me in my home. I really don't love you that much I love you because but you're not part of my family. Think of this, that God not only has forgiven your sins. Not only is granted you eternal life, but there's adopted you into his own family so John can say in the first John three.

What is he talks about the love of God is this kind of love is this what manner of love is that is that the father has given to us that we are called children of God. Think of the extent of the love of God for you to say he could have saved you and said not you stay over here but you are in garden and you can be part of my family know you a perhaps this individual, but not you know he adopts us into his family. So when I'm preaching to my father in heaven and praying to one who loves me with an ever lasting life just as a child comes to his father to his dad who loves him of these well cones you parents when your children come to hear your you welcome them with open hands and so are father and sister come in � Jesus is going to say in the next chapter. When you come to your father ask's economic and he says if you being able know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good things to those who ask him ask signal chloride because not only do we have a tremendous privilege here. This is a relationship of love understand that whenever you want to pray more. Someone loves you want to be with them to ensure there's 1/3 one when we pray to our heavenly father we have confidence.

It's a privilege is a loving relationship, but we also have confidence why does this confidence flows from a loving relationship with God as my father know as a boy I was never afraid of my father and I would go to my father with some request if other children came to my father with the same request that the being presumptuous, perhaps even the entire department, but I could always go to my dad. He welcomed me why you love me.

I was a son is unthinkable that if I went to my dad with a good request to signal Galway John, I don't have time for you. I did have a dad like that know I can with confidence. Many of you know this I can with confidence to my father why because he was a good father and I give me confidence to to come to him yesterday good and I spent some time with her grandchildren and when we go into their house and virtually knocked over by the they come Monday run Monday propel themselves at me and put around is running me.

They confident if you went there in the you didn't know them, they would do it to you why I'm in the grandfather they have that relationship with me and that gives them tremendous confidence that they're going to come in.

So Jesus is not going to be only to pray like this of father who is in heaven.

What a privilege while love what confidence there's 1/4 one. When we pray to heavenly father we have security we live and we see it all around us. We live in a very insecure society. People are insecure in their employment insecure by the future, insecure, and then relationships in their marriage and their relationship with their parents or their siblings where riddled with insecurity, we come to our father in heaven is with security. Though I realize some of you come from insecure families. When your father was distant from some of you listening come from families or perhaps to live in families where you are where you never knew your father. He was absent.

You have a new perhaps he dissected you.

Perhaps it was an abuse of mine. Perhaps it was a alcoholic and and beat you in slaughtering you use a jar when you're talking about God.

They have father that that's all very good for me as it is. Jesus had said in chapter 5, verse 48 your heavenly father is perfect. Not one of us has a perfect father. My father was a good man but he wasn't perfect. You may have a very imperfect father, humanly speaking, but I want to assure you that irrespective of the kind of family you came from or the kind of family unit in you have a secure relationship with God. He is a perfect father and when you come in prayer to your heavenly father. This, I guarantee you never need to wonder if he is listening to you never need to think my getting through to him from the my wife would spill say to be done to get really listening. And sometimes I'm not really that never happens with Claude. He's a perfect whisper. He never sends your way, you never put Sean on the voicemail is a word and says well I'll get back to you sometime. And then you wonder, is it really going to get back to me, is never cruel is never harsh in all of these dealings with you his child. He deals with loan fund and grace. Yes, sometimes discipline, but always always for your good. My father security.

I think of it, the Almighty God, the God and father of my Lord Jesus Christ. This God in heaven. This eternal God is my father and says Paul in Ephesians 1, you are accepted in Christ I'm accepted by God the father.

Why, because I am accepted in his well beloved son, your Father in Heaven loves you.

He's a good father. Your relationship with him is absolutely secure as we think of the particulars of the prayer.

I want to say first of all, the plan is not all about you as a problem today is the prayer is God centered. It doesn't begin with our needs. The first three there are six request the first three are that God's name.

The hollowed that God's kingdom come that God's will be done. Notice how God centered. It is, but think first of all them of their's ninth is the first request. Pray then like this.

Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name as a first request, but God's name be holy. It is true I have a loving and secure relationship with God.

My father who is in heaven. That is true, but he's in heaven and that relationship should never ever lead to over familiarity, but rather should result in humility and reverence. I don't know how you spoke to your father at my father was called Thomas or Tom.

I think about my dad and say well how you doing man you today Tom. No, I wasn't. This is my father that was lobster security. They are, but there's respect and told him Scripture to honor my father and mother. Children are told to obey their parents know I come with respect certainly when they come to my father in heaven.

Yes, I marvel at his grace and adopting me into his family, but that does not leads to over familiarity. He is God and his name is to be reverenced no don't take God's name in vain. I said that the other Sunday don't say oh my God, please do not say that God's name is holy to be hollow, then, is to be holy is to be set apart as the sanctified God's name is to be held in reverence, he's God. These are unique God would when you hear someone's name you think everything about him or her. Been reading at this time about Winston Churchill. So if you said to me the name Churchill I think not just of these physical features which were not particularly impressive was it was a rather small man, he would never have got an award for good looks, but I think just of his physical appearance. No, I think of them as a great world leader. I think of his inspiring auditory think of these leadership at the time of chaos in the nation. So what you think when you say someone's name. It is a summation of everything about that person. God's name his appoint, hallowed be your name is what you mean by name. While name is the sum of all of the nature and attributes of God is the sovereign eternal gracious God and he's our father. So that means I come when I'm praying to God with joy with with confidence with security.

That's true, but I will succumb with reference because he's in heaven. He's God's. His name is is holy and and and in the song with her students sign was I really didn't know. But it had a beautiful lying about God's holiness in the holiness of fire Member exactly what it was but it was that God is holy and his holiness is symbolized sometimes in Scripture with five that's truly totally present when I come to him. I must remember this, God is holy. Incidentally, one of the reasons was were sometimes asked about why we don't allow coffee in the popcorn and bagels covered with peanut butter into her century is is peanut is totally banned by the way, but I like bagels I like coffee popcorn. I can do without. We don't allow it. These people supine on my windowsill bundle branches hang loose. No no no no you come with reference.

You realize that you've come to worship God's yes with joy where just with celebration, but also with focus our father in heaven. How I fear her brothers and sisters that would largely lost that the fear of the Lord says Proverbs is the beginning of wisdom. Hebrews 1228 let's offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and all our father in heaven, hallowed be your name was next verse 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We are to pray for God's kingdom and for God's will to be done.

This is a prayer, your kingdom, is not magnificent you pray for God's kingdom to come.

This is a prayer for God's kingdom to come to for the glory and majesty of the kingdom of God to be manifested. We learned that with the coming of Jesus the King. The kingdom of heaven.

In one sense is already come, but it's for my return glory and power is not manifested. People look at Jesus and many of them reject them. Yes, but one great day.

I trust very, very soon, our Savior will return and we pray we pray for that day when Jesus shall reign throughout all of the world's will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Habakkuk says of the earth as he thinks of that great day for the arts will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea. People are asking today and in a sense, rightly so, that asking for justice and peace will the one that will in all one legal system. All of our systems to be just, and yet we realize of you that nothing to do with the legal system. It is always just justice in the world. Yes, we strive for that.

But there's a tremendous amount of injustice under always will be wine because were sinful men and women, we tend to put ourselves in their own interests above other people's peace so wonderful people want peace in our society. That's great. I see that the cars peace and justice.

You have peace in your heart is, or is there peace in your home you have peaceful relationships with others relationship with your boss. What about you and your family is there is there peace there is a well it's not perfect, exactly, exactly.

We all want peace. Of course we do but we are fallen creatures and yet Jesus is saying is you pray. I want you to look above is aware your circumstances. After all, they are under the heel of Rome. They are not getting justice by wrong, although Rome is on wonderful laws, but they are occupied by one chooses Jesus to think beyond that and pray your kingdom come.

By the way is God, not us, who brings in the kingdom. Praying for a time when there will be perfect peace and justice accorded in the welcome Psalm 46 Psalm 46 Thompson that terrible troubled world that there is everything seems to be going wrong is aware, the writer talks about the days when wars but is coming a day when wars will cease this coming a day when there will be perfect justice, perfect peace throughout all the world as the Prince of peace, our Lord Jesus Christ comes these coming down and there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and therefore Jesus is going to say the end of chapter 6 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

Yes, we want peace now in our society. And certainly we should do all we can to promote that. But we know our first priority. As followers of Jesus is to seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness. That's the on unshakable kingdom and then says Jesus, there's 1/3 request. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven do pray that God's will is done perfectly in heaven. You pray that your will be done. I listen to the graduates and offer my congratulations to the class of 2020.

Some of them III know personally I listen to what they said about the future than the plans the stroller going to go to our weather going to work. Cats is on. This was to be a race driver. That's my one that's great. It's formulae was a Formula One but I don't know perhaps is NASCAR, but whatever it is that's is a great ambition you others talking about engineering, nursing, all of these things I say to the students. It's wonderful to have a mission.

It's wonderful to say this is what I believe I should do but make sure you're always saying in your decision-making.

You will be done. Prayer this is so important is not trying to get God to join your team is not making your plans and think this is what I want to do and then God you help me to achieve my live plants. I have my dreams and in the Jesus is going to help me achieve my dreams.

Overall, right upside that that's not the. Here, the plan is this your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God is not a genie in a bottle whose they are to bless your plans to grant your requests. Putting it bluntly is not your kingdom is God's kingdom and then grace. If you're Savior. Part of that kingdom and God has plans and purposes for you and surely you believe that God's plans and God's purposes are wiser and better and totally suited to who you are as an individual because God knows the past, the present or future, he knows your personality does her capability nose was going to happen 50 years from now, and therefore in your prayer say yes Lord sense. This is what I want to do. But your will.

Don't you rejoice that God is in control, not you.

Your will be done. That was the prayer of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane was in the not my will but yours is a wise prayers and say yes, I love to be a Formula One driver. I'd love to help the world with the sonar energy. I'd love to be a midwife love to do that the Lord, not my will but use you this amazing thing is that when we humble ourselves before he caught his will becomes our will and God blesses us because your father seeks the best for you is not some kind of killjoy saying all you want to do that know you can't hardly make it difficult for you know is going to guide you the parts of righteousness. One of the themes for 2020. Calvary here is surrender to God's will need to do that in your prayer you are surrendering to God's will. So these first requests are for the glory of God. Your name be hollowed for the reign of God. Your kingdom come, and for the will of God, not my will but yours be done by the three requests for the needs that are three specific requests here for Brad to put our debts and put our temptation first of all, that's 11. Give us this day our daily read a prayer for material provision, God wants you to express needs to even according to verse eight to your father knows what you need before you ask.

Of course he does is wiser than you, but he still wanted to ask a chosen submission shows a surrender to his will and your parents as you love what your children, and ask you for good things until after grand that request and this request is for our daily bread the bread for months before today member when the children of Israel were going through the wilderness, God gave them bread from heaven every day twice one day so that enough to get on the Sabbath every day it was. That's it. Lord this day. Give me my daily bread of the time of Jesus workers were as a warrant would be paid at the end of the lake the day so this made sense to them. Most of us are paid. Maybe every month or every two weeks with people that were prayed every day you think of it in the world today there are people who are living hand to mouth lately feel of other good day.

If unable to eat or never got a shelter over the head or forefathers. Think of your grandparents or great-grandparents or your great-great-grandparents pops company to this country.

Give us this day our daily we we take it all for granted the sum of Jesus. Once one sociability he wants you to live a life is a point he wants you to live a life daily. Depending on him a day when you're not to worry about tomorrow or mosey that next week just for today. Today I have food today. I have a house to live by today that are people around me who love me and to acknowledge this is difficult for us in this very materialistic society to acknowledge we do that is that everything you have. Yes, of any bread that you eat the brick daybed that you sleep on the roof over your heads, everything you have comes from God and we are to live a life this is difficult for us. This is what Jesus wants of daily depending on the Lord is not the case, but even in the materialistic world there are things every day that we need God to help for give me this day my daily is God able to do yes use the ravens to feed Elijah member, the widow, and the first transit in first Kings 17 is on a path the window to the little crews of all oil and the floating. It never ran out. God fed her supernaturally. You may be a widow with very very little and you and your worrying about tomorrow. Don't do that. Give me this day my daily Fred Spurgeon describes a contrast between the man who comes home from his work.

Since starting of the table. Give thanks for his food and then looks off and says do we have to eat this old thing again he's English right thinking of you with this yesterday and the day before I got to eat as old stale shape once again. Spurgeon contrast that with a man who comes home and finds a couple of herring. That's fish beautiful fish and two or three potatoes on the table. He bows his head and says I love this all God I crazy, that thou has a ransacked sea and land to find this beautiful new everything when it comes from is providing you little children never worry about the breakfast baby number one is about what college is going to know your request for you, material provision, yes. What should I do today bring that to the Lord.

He provides strength for today as we sometimes sing bright bright hope for tomorrow. Lamentations 3. His compassions, his mercies are new.

What every morning provision for you if you woke up this morning or beautiful day God's compassion God's mercy are new every morning. Give me this day Lord my daily bread.

And be thankful for Hope you give thanks to God for your is the request verse 12.

A prayer for forgiveness and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. We have to say first of all, we don't need God's forgiveness by forgiving others.

Forgiveness is not an award. We don't get into heaven because I forgiven you, and you forgiven me. That's not the point is what he says forgive us our debt was also in the word and the song.

The students say about debts because here and elsewhere in Scripture.

Our sins are sometimes pictured as a debts we know what it is to be in that killer all the bills and their piled up one on top of another in the top of another persons or pictures it as that swiftly broken God's law and there's this tremendous tremendous pile of that and as we look at it, we realize we could never ever ever pay this ourselves. We could never atone for thisJesus you can't your sinful man, innocent, sinful young woman but I'm going to take all of your dates and I went to put myself the cross of Calvary's we heard that song. He stood in our state.

He stood in our place, that the death of sin that John Monroe had accumulated this is place on the blessed Savior, my Lord Jesus Christ. He has died for me and I have trusted him on my sin is gone, then the debt has been repainted 100% totally God and no says Jesus you understand forgiveness.

I forgiven your sins. No, I want you to forgive others their beds forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Yes my sins are gone, but every day of your life you send and so you need cleansing you need three clients from the defilement of of sin in your thoughts and your words and your deeds every day. So pray for forgiveness in the blood of Jesus is on cleanses us from all of our sin. And now you're in the family business forgiveness within the family not to get into the family. Forgiveness is at the very heart of the gospel. Who here doesn't like to be forgiven versus Jesus in verses 14 and 15 knife if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. See if your unforgiving now that you lose your salvation. Jesus is talking to those who are in the family of God. But if I don't forgive others I heavenly father's going to discipline this going to impact my fellowship with him months. The blessings that he has for me and therefore when people offend me to be kind and forgiving, tenderhearted Justin God in Christ has forgiven letters or less one verse 13 and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil people struggle with this two or three years ago the Pope struggled with her than is that it really should be translated or not let us fall into temptation. Well, that's not what the text says the text says lead us not into temptation.

It's true God never tempts us. Satan tempts us.

And certainly we don't want to fall into temptation. We want to be kept as far away from sin as we can.

So how do we understand this, I think Matthew four verse one will help in Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness wasn't God attempted them there. It was the devil leading into temptation is not the same as tempting as it we have a very cunning enemy only wants to stop us from following Jesus is that wonderful prayer for students leaving time. So wonderful prayer for those of you who travel get away from the normal restraints of home situation where no one knows your make sure you pray this day Lord lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil, probably from the evil one that a filing to the devil to live humbly and ask each day for God's protection today.

You may face them are very very fierce temptation part when I'm tempted to go down the wrong path. This prayer of protection should be on by lips, and my new year of college and someone invites you to one of these crazy parties you know people are going to get drunk. You know there's going to be immorality and buds with silver something within you that is drawn to that. Pray this prayer lead me not into temptation but deliver me from the Lord will answer that prayer a Puritans that even praying will make you leave offsetting or sinning, will make you leave off prayer. There's a manuscript conclude with a great doxology of praise and glory and blessing to God.

For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever. Amen is probably not find in the best manuscripts were suddenly presents biblical truth because God has all power and glory.

You praying this way, we pray the Lord's prayer with me. We have it here your home if he allowed with your family or your loan at home. Just pray this with me. Pray then like this. 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 bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, estimated, pray over time to pray out of place to pray and if you don't know God is your father believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. One who took your sin on the cross is risen. Ask them to come into your heart. Call out to him to Savior and each day at least once a day. Pray on this is really the same words, no. But this is a model. This will help us and remember this is so important that when you pray to God you praying to your father's heaven help us. Father, we do pray resumes that you would accept us into your family.

The eternal family of God that pray for the students is Eric is already prayed that you will not lead them into temptation, but that your will be done in the life I hear many of them in these videos saying that that they're seeking God's best, and I know you will honor that prayer father as they and all of us each day. Say your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And we pray for that great day when Christ shall come how we long for it say. Even so, Lord Jesus helpless and I was we pray in Christ