Nov. 15, 2023
“THE PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER Part 1”
MATTHEW 6:5-15
Payer is not about your performance. Prayer is about God’s presence. Rest and enjoy being nurtured by Him.
The Bible tells us that the law is a school master to bring us to Christ.
Galatians 3:24 “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
Now let us look at our Lord's Model Prayer so we can see what prayer does in is.
- Humility is the First Principal of Prayer
Matthew 6:9 "Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
Let us look at these three statements and see how, in fact, they teach us to be like Christ.
- “Our Father" - A title of authority and respect. It is a title of position. He is our Father - God.
* “Our Father" - A title of respect that teaches us humility.
- "Our Father.”- A title of position in a family.
2. Sin Must be Dealt With is the Second Principal of Prayer
"Hallowed by Thy Name”
- He is called Holy because He is Holy.
Jesus, God in the flesh, humbled Himself before the Father, and we should do the same.
Prayer Lessons Applied
Prayer convicts us of sin.
Psalms 66:18 says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"
Caution: Do not try to justify your sin. Neither the devil nor anyone else made you do it. Admit it, you did it. Take the responsibility for it and get right with God.
Caution: If God says it is wrong then it is wrong.
Romans 14:23b: "… for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
Do you love God more than that sin?
Comprehend how the devil would like to use it to destroy you, your life, and your family.
3. Spiritual Before the Physical is the Third Principal of Prayer.
"Thy Kingdom Come”
- True prayer teaches us priorities.
Our relationship with God must always come first, then the rest in order. God's spiritual Kingdom before our physical wants and needs.
The "Heart Beat" of God is that the lost might be saved.
But what about us? Do we really want the lost saved?
Instruction:
- Get alone; find a quiet, secluded place.
- Confess your sin of not seeking God's Kingdom.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you remember times of selfishness and lack of concern for others.
- Confess them and ask God's forgiveness.
- Ask God to help you truly want His Kingdom first in your life.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas in your life where you need help.
- Number 7 is a big one, but it is a good one. Beg God for His help. Be honest.
8. Ask the Lord to help you to be heavenly-minded so that you might be some earthly good.
Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Here we have two statements in one:
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
Seek ye His righteousness
All our righteousness: are as filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6: "But we are all as an unclean things, and all our righteousness's are as filthy rags.”
Matthew 7:7-8 "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."
Instructions
Get you Bible and look up verses that teach about the
Righteousness of God.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and to teach you.
Remember that all things of the flesh are sin.
Remember God is, Just, Merciful, Loving, Holy, and Righteous, all at the same time.
As our hearts should always want to stay in contact with God, so our hearts should also always want God's will done in everything.
4. Submission Is The Fourth Principle Of Prayer.
In Matt. 6:10 Jesus said, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.”
The devil, the flesh, and this world all work against us in this area of submission.
Submitting to God's will takes you to a spiritual high you have never dreamed possible.
Matt. 14:22-29. Peter puts forth a prayer in verse 28 and Jesus answered in verse 29. Peter prayed, "Bid me come unto thee," and Jesus replied. "Come," Now you know that Jesus is God, and God has just said, "Come," so do you submit to God's will and get out of a perfectly good boat, or do you just sit there?
Action to Take
Ask God to show you any areas in your life where you are being selfish.
Ask God to show you any and all areas of your life in which you are not submissive to His will.
5. Dependence is the Fifth Principal of Prayer.
In Matthew 6:11 Jesus says, "Give us this day our daily bread."
The principal for us to learn is dependence upon God. We are dependent upon Him for everything; however, many Christians live like atheists.
Job blessed the name of the Lord the day he lost all of his worldly possessions, and I believe he blessed the name of the Lord the day God gave him back twice as much.
Action to Take
Every morning, first thing, before you get out of bed, take a moment to realize that God is in control of everything.
Recognizing your dependence on Him, trust Him for everything.
Ask God for wisdom.
To see things as God sees things.
To trust Him in all things.
To want His will in every area.
To recognize our dependence upon Him in all things.
To praise the Lord in, through, and for everything.
It really brings glory to God when we trust Him in all things and praise His name.
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