Sermon Tone Analysis

Matthew 6:9-15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2005

Introduction

 

Today, there are a lot of different ideas on how believers should pray.

Some say, */Name it and claim it./*

Some encourage very formal prayers.

*/How should Christians pray?/*

The disciples asked Jesus the same question.

In response He taught them the Lord’s prayer.

*/The things revealed here are the essentials of prayer./*

Jesus didn’t say, pray these words.

He said, */pray after/* /this/ */manner./*

Follow these principles not these words.

Dr.

Robert A. Cook often said, */All of us have one routine prayer in our system; and once we get rid of it, then we can really start to pray!/*

I have noticed this, not only in my own praying, but often when I have conducted prayer meetings.

With some people, praying is like putting the needle on a phonograph record /and then forgetting about it./

But God doesn’t answer insincere prayers.

He wants us to pray from the heart, not just our heads.

He wants us to mean what we say, not just say the words we think He would approve of.

Today we will see 5 points from the Lord’s prayer; */Relationship, Reverence, Reliance, Remission, Rescue.

/*

 

1.

Relationship

 

/a.

New Father/

 

*Matthew 6:9:* /In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven./

*/Firstly,/* /prayer is based on our *relationship* with God./ /Jesus taught the disciples to address God as their *Father*./

In fact the word */Father/* is used */10 times/* in the first 18 verses of *Matthew 6*.

/How did we obtain the privilege of being God’s children?/ Through the new birth.

*John 1:12-13:* /But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

/When we believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him into our lives we are born again.

The Spirit of God gives us new life; spiritual life.

The new birth marks the beginning of a new relationship with God.

He is now our Heavenly Father.

*Romans 8:14-15:* /For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, *Abba, Father.*

/Jesus tells to address God as our Father.

This is a very intimate relationship.

In fact the word used in *Romans 8:15* is *ἀββᾶ**, *meaning */Daddy./*

Parents love their children and take care of them.

They take care of us for 18 or 20 years or for some lucky parents 30 years.

However, God loves us like this but in an even greater way.

God loves us and cares for us.

Because God is our heavenly Father; His love and care for us are eternal.

His family will never be separated from His love, not even by death.

/Jesus told the disciples to call no one Father but God./ /When you pray do you call Him *Father?*/

You Should! */Jesus says that because of our relationship with God we should call Him our Father.

/*

 

/b.

New Family/

 

*/Secondly,/* /Jesus taught the disciples to be mindful of God’s family/.

We are not alone in God’s family.

The pronouns Christ used are plural, /ie/ */us/* and */our/*.

Jesus said /Our Father/, /our daily bread/, /our sins, and our deliverance from evil/.

We mustn’t just pray for ourselves.

Christ wants us to be mindful of others when we pray.

*James 5:16:* /Confess your trespasses to one another, and *pray for one another*, that you may be healed.

/Paul’s letters contain many prayers he offered up for the saints.

He prayed for their needs; primarily their spiritual needs.

When we pray, let us be mindful of the needs of our brethren, not just our own.

2.

Reverence

 

/a.

Sanctify God’s Name/

 

*Mat 6:9:* /In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

/

 

*/Secondly,/*/ we must *reverence* God.

/We should */fear the Lord/* and respect Him./ *Why?*/

Because God our Father is holy.

*/Some people rush into God’s presence with a long list of wants.

Their attitude is a lot like a selfish child giving their gift list to Santa Claus./*

/It is worth noting, that the Lord’s prayer begins and ends with God’s glory./

*/The kingdom, the power and the glory belong to our God.

And rightly so!/* God wants us to be committed to /His name, kingdom and will./

Not our own name, kingdom and wills.

The word */hallowed,/* *ἁγιάζω**, **/means to set apart, sanctify or make holy./**

*

* *

God’s name must be held in reverence.

His name is holy because He is holy.

The */3rd Commandment/* tells us /not to take God’s name in vain/.

The Jews respected God’s name so much that they wouldn’t even say it.

The word Jehovah or Yahweh was never uttered by the Jews.

When the Scribes copied God’s Word they would take a bath before writing His name.

Today there is little respect for the Lord’s name.

So many use God’s name as a swear word.

*/Do you pray that His name will be hallowed, held in reverence and awe?/*/ /

 

/b.

Seek God’s Kingdom / 

 

*Matthew 6:10a:* /Your kingdom come./

Christians should also pray that */God’s Kingdom/* /will come to earth./

When the kingdom of God comes the Lord will be worshipped by all men.

God will rule over the world and abolish all evil.

God has planned the kingdom from the beginning.

*Revelation 11:15:* /Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!/  God has prepared the Kingdom for all those who love Him.

*Luke 12:32:* /Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

*When we pray for the kingdom of God to come we are praying according to God’s will.

*/

We can also work for the kingdom by preaching the Good News.

/John the Baptist, Jesus and the disciples preached that the kingdom of God was at hand/.

When we pray that God will save sinners we help bring the kingdom in.

*2 Peter 3:11-13:* /Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, *looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God*, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

*Are you praying for God’s kingdom to come or praying for your own kingdom?*/

Three Questions In Prayer

 

We must consider times and seasons.

*/George Mueller/* used to say that he first asked and settled this question concerning any proposed measure: /Is this the Lord’s work?/