The King & His Kingdom
MATTHEW 6:5-18 nasb 1995
Prayer is communication and communion with God
THE MOST VALUABLE THING WE GET FROM PRAYER IS GOD HIMSELF
MATTHEW 6:5 nasb 1995
JESUS ASSUMES EVERY FOLLOWER WILL HAVE A PRAYER LIFE
YOU CAN PRAY VOLUNTARILY OR CIRCUMSTANCES WILL MAKE US PRAY
MATTHEW 6:6 nasb 1995
THE MAJORITY OF YOUR PRAYER LIFE SHOULD BE ALONE
THE SECRET OF PRAYER IS PRAYING IN SECRET
MATTHEW 6:7-8 nasb 1995
DON’T PRAY PRAYERS THAT ARE DISCONNECTED FROM YOUR HEART
MATTHEW 6:9-13 nasb 1995
A PROPER AND EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE SHOULD BE FILLED NOT JUST WITH THE WORDS OF THIS PRAYER BUT WITH THE ELEMENTS OF THIS PRAYER
5 ELEMENTS OF THE PRAYER
VS. 9
1. WHEN YOU GO TO PRAY…THINK ABOUT WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO FIRST!
VS. 10
2. YOUR PRAYER SHOULD BE FILLED WITH CARING FOR THE SPREAD AND THE REIGN OF GOD IN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE (the kingdom) (his will)
VS. 11
3. PRAY WITH A DEPENDENCE ON GOD.
VS. 12
4. CONSTANTLY BE CONFESSING SIN IN HIS PRESENCE. AND LETTING PEOPLE GO
Vs. 13
5. PRAY FOR STRENGTH TO GO THROUGH TRIALS
MATTHEW 6:14-15 nasb 1995
MATTHEW 6:16-18 nasb 1995
A. PLUMMER - "the light of a Christian character will shine before men and win glory for God without the artificial aid of public advertisement. ostentatious religion may have its reward down here, but it receives none from God.
Christians who judge successful ministries by external statistics such as attendance figures, membership, baptisms, and offerings should seriously rethink their criteria in light of Jesus’ words here.
God judges the greatness of his servants by searching their hearts, examining their inner attitudes, and seeing deeds done in secret. Doubtless, his evaluations of who most honors him will invert a substantial majority of his people’s evaluations"