A Pattern of Prayer (part 1)

 

A Pattern of Prayer 

(part 1)

Jesus is our example

Matthew 6:5-8: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

 

1.      Not like the Hypocrite

a.      And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

b.     Hypocrite (meaning)

                                                                                      i.      An Actor

                                                                                    ii.      As assumed character (stage player)

                                                                                  iii.      Fake, putting on false appearance

                                                                                  iv.      To pretend

c.      The Hypocrite prays to be seen by others and to appear spiritual or religious.

2.      Find a Private place

a.      But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

b.     Jesus is not against corporate and public prayer, but is speaking of the importance of finding a quiet and private place to focus on Him.

3.      Shut the doors

a.      Door

                                                                                      i.      A portal or entrance

                                                                                    ii.      An opening

                                                                                  iii.      Door or gate

1.      We have 3 gates- ways that things enter

a.      The eye gates

b.     The Ear gates

c.      The mind gates

b.     Avoiding distractions

                                                                                      i.      Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

1.      cumbered about much serving = distracted with much serving.

4.      The secret place

a.      God is not playing hide and seek, but desires for us to come into the secret place of His presence.

                                                                                      i.      Psalms 31:20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

                                                                                    ii.      Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

5.      Vain Repetitions

a.      But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

                                                                                      i.      Prayer is not about a pattern or recital of words but is to be from a genuine and sincere heart.

6.      Asking the Father

a.      Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

b.     Why ask if He already knows?

                                                                                      i.      Asking deals with

1.      Confessing and speaking

2.      The power of agreement

3.      Alignment with the authority of the Word

4.      Aligning our will with the will of the Father

c.      Matthew 7:7-12 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

d.     James 4:2-3 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.