Prayer

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Prayer (Basic Facts) Matthew 6:5-13

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer (Basic Facts)

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer (Basic Facts)

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But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer (Basic Facts)

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:1, 5-13)

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer (Basic Facts) Matthew 6:5-13

(Matthew 5-7)

About Prayer Prayer is a privilege : When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:15)

(Matthew 5-7)

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About Prayer

Prayer is for those who trust in Him: The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:18-19)

(Matthew 5-7)

About Prayer God answers all the prayers of His children: And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)

(Matthew 5-7)

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About Prayer

There are three answers to prayer: • “Yes;” • “No;”

(Matthew 5-7)

• “Wait.”

About Prayer

“No” is an answer: So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

(Matthew 5-7)

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About Prayer “No” is an answer: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

(Matthew 5-7)

About Prayer

“Wait” is an answer: In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks… And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you…"

(Matthew 5-7)

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About Prayer “Wait” is an answer: and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. (Daniel 10: 2-3; 11-12)

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer (Basic Facts) Matthew 6:5-13

(Matthew 5-7)

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More About Prayer Postures and Places: • • • • • • • •

Standing Kneeling Laying down Looking up Looking down Synagogue Temple Church

(Matthew 5-7)

More About Prayer Postures and Places: • • • • • • • •

Home Bedroom Prison By rivers By the sea At a tomb On the cross Belly of the fish (numerous positions)

(Matthew 5-7)

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More About Prayer Means and Methods: • Silently • Audibly (privately or publicly) • Whispered

(Matthew 5-7)

• Written

More About Prayer

Prayer Defined: Prayer is talking to God. (Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer is Talking to God

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Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13)

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer is Talking to God

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.“ (1 Corinthians 12:8-9)

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer is Talking to God

Prayer explained: Prayer is an expression of your sincere desire to build your intimate relationship with God.

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer is Talking to God

Prayer explained: The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:18-19)

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer Prayer explained: 16

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer (Basic Facts) Matthew 6: 5-13

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer (Basic Facts)

I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray.

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray.

1"Beware

of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward (Matthew 6:1, 5).

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray.

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6: 7, 8)

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray.

(Matthew 5-7) Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Wheel

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Prayer I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6: 6)

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray.

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if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray.

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray.

When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:15)

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer (Basic Facts)

I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray.

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer (Basic Facts)

II. Jesus should be our primary teacher.

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer II. Jesus should be our primary teacher.

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"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites… 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door… 7 "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do… 8 Do not be like them… 9 Pray then like this… (Matthew 6:5-9)

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer II. Jesus should be our primary teacher.

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Pray then like this… (Matthew 6:9).

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer II. Jesus should be our primary teacher.

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And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29)

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer II. Jesus should be our primary teacher. 24

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer (Basic Facts)

II. Jesus should be our primary teacher.

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer (Basic Facts)

III. Jesus should be our primary example.

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer III. Jesus should be our primary example.

• At His Baptism (Luke 3:21-22) • At the commencement of His earthly public ministry (Mark 1:35-36) • After healing people (Luke 5:16)

(Matthew 5-7)

• Praying all night before choosing the 12 (Luke 6:12-13)

Prayer III. Jesus should be our primary example.

• Giving thanks to the Father before feeding 5000 (John 6:11) and the 4,000 (Matthew 15:36) • Before raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41-42)

(Matthew 5-7)

• Asking the Father to glorify His name (John 12:27-28)

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Prayer III. Jesus should be our primary example.

• Prayed for Himself, His disciples, and all believers just before heading to Gethsemane (John 17:1-26) • In Gethsemane before His betrayal (Matthew 26:36-46)

(Matthew 5-7)

• After being nailed to the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)

Prayer III. Jesus should be our primary example.

• In His dying breath, Jesus prayed, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46) • Prayed a blessing on the bread before He ate with others after His resurrection (Luke 24:30)

(Matthew 5-7)

• He blessed the disciples before His Ascension (Luke 24:50-53)

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Prayer III. Jesus should be our primary example.

(Matthew 5-7)

It's time you learned from the legend of Honi the Circle Maker-a man bold enough to draw a circle in the sand and not budge from inside it until God answered his impossible prayer for his people.

Prayer (Basic Facts)

III. Jesus should be our primary example.

(Matthew 5-7)

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Prayer

(Review)

I. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray. II. Jesus should be our primary teacher.

(Matthew 5-7)

III. Jesus should be our primary example.

Prayer

Next Week: Principles of Prayer (Matthew 5-7)

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Application: (Starting Small or Starting Over) 1. Talk to God regularly (relationships take work) 2. Write to God (when necessary) 3. Make time / take time (relationships take time) 4. Practice (set a goal, make an appointment and keep it) 5. Start now (stop procrastinating)

(Matthew 5-7)

Prayer (Basic Facts) Matthew 6:5-13

(Matthew 5-7)

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