Matthew 6:5-15 And 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 will reward you. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them.

Matthew 6:5-15 For your Father knows the things you need

of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:5-15 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 your trespasses.

Matthew 6:5-15

Importance of Prayer Jesus prayed all night for the 12 Apostles (Luke

6:12) Jesus woke up early to pray (Mark 1:35) Jesus prayed in the garden during His darkest

and most vulnerable hour (Matthew 26:36-46)

Prayer chains Individual prayers

Matthew 6:5-15 And 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 will reward you. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you need of before you ask Him.

Don’t Pray like the Hypocrites

Do not stand on street corners or in synagogues

Prayer times: 9:00am 12:00noon and 3:00pm

Don’t Pray like the Hypocrites

Jesus says they have their reward

What is the reward? The applause and recognition they desired

Don’t Pray like the Hypocrites

Jesus is not saying that public prayer is wrong, but that making a spectacle out of public prayer is wrong

Jesus prayed in public and in private

Most common example today is praying in a restaurant

Long prayers with Vain repetition

Do not pray to be seen AND do not pray to be heard

Jesus is not saying long prayers are wrong. Repetition is not wrong. Jesus prayed in the

garden the same prayer 3 times When we are burdened we cannot help, but

just repeat our needs to God

Jesus is attacking the culture

They are living in a pagan culture with their own pagan ways of praying

“if one syllable or one ritual gesture was performed incorrectly, the prayer might well be invalid.”

Get it right or don’t bother

Pagan Prayer Beliefs Prayer was viewed as manipulating the gods Prayers would be long and drawn out

because they believed they needed to wake up the sleeping god

This is seen in 2 Bible passages

1 Kings 18:26 “So they took the bull which was given them, and

they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us! But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made…Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”

Acts 19:34 “…all with one voice cried out for about two

hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

Jesus is attacking the culture

The true God does not want us using any of these pagan prayer techniques on Him.

God wont be awakened by repetition or mindless chants

So Jesus says when you get reading to pray do this…

Proper Prayer Techniques Go into your room and shut the door

Don’t need to use vain repetitions because God knows what you need before you ask Him

Then why ask Him? To show/recognize our dependence on Him

The Model PrayerOur Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name

Address who you are talking to Call Him Father, that’s the relationship He

wants with you Recognize the holiness of God, specifically

His name

The Model PrayerYour Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on earth

as it is in heaven

When Jesus spoke the Kingdom was just breaking in, in Acts 2 Christ’s Church was born and Christ was ruling His Kingdom

Colossians 1:13 – Christ ruling His Kingdom 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 – Christ giving Kingdom

to the Father at the end of the age

The Model PrayerYour Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on

earth as it is in heaven

Your Will be done is an amazingly hard prayer to pray

Don’t give me what I want, but what I need We think too often about temporary needs,

God thinks about eternal needs

The Model PrayerGive us this our daily bread

Give me the necessities to live today 3rd world countries only have food for today Israelites in the wilderness were told to

collect just enough manna for the current day

The Model PrayerAnd do not lead us into tempation

God does not tempt anyone, but He does allow us to be tempted. Often called a “test” (Abraham and Isaac)

God puts a limit on the devil’s temptation and always provides a way of escape

The Model PrayerAnd forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…

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 your trespasses.

God connects His forgiving you with you forgiving others

This will hinder your prayers This will also send you to hell

This is a Prayer Template Our father in heaven, holy and worthy is your name, thank

you for your plan of salvation and for your son dying to save us from our sins. Thank you for the church and I pray that you will let your will be done in my life so that I may become more like you. Don’t give me what I want, but give me what I need. Help me to forgive my enemies and my close friend who has wronged me because I know I have to be like you, forgiving and loving. When the devil comes after me, give me the strength to stand my ground and lean on you. All glory and honor be given to you, in your son’s name I pray Amen.