There is a right way to pray and a wrong way to pray. For the follower of Jesus Christ it is vital to know the difference.

• TEXT: Matthew 6:9-10; 7:22-23; Acts 1:14
• SERIES: The Gospel of Matthew
• SPEAKER: Jason Dollar
• DATE: January 23, 2011

Subscribe to RMLBC Sermon Podcast

Acts 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.

INTRODUCTION

RMLBC NEEDS A REVIVAL OF PRAYER

• Why? Because prayer is a means of meeting with our God.
• Why? Because God works mightily through the prayers of His people.
• Why? Because God is glorified when His people depend upon Him, and prayer is one evidence of dependence.

BUT – It is possible to pray the wrong way:

Matthew 7:22-23 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

I do not want to live my life, or be a part of building a church, that gets prayer wrong. Many believe themselves to be right with God because they pray, and not interested in the possibility that our prayers can be very offensive to the Lord.

Unconverted people pray too. But why? A person who has experienced the new birth has certain desires when they pray that an unconverted person does not have. At the foundation of prayer, where it springs up, the converted person prays first that God might be glorified, and the unconverted person prays first in order to obtain things from God that meet personal desires.

1: PRAY REGULARLY

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

We do many things regularly: eat, sleep, work, watch TV, check email, and surf the net. Why do we not schedule time for prayer? Why do we not focus our attention on meeting with God the way we focus our attention on email, or dinner?

2: PRAY DEEPLY

Ephesians 6:18 …Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Praying in the Spirit is not something that happens when we devote 2 minutes to prayer before bed. Praying in the Spirit means taking the time to connect with the Spirit of God, diligently seeking Him out as we meditate on His Word, and praising God within that precious context. This kind of deep prayer, done within the Presence of the Spirit, opens springs of fantastic joy, and sanctifying cleansing within our dark and needy hearts.

3: PRAY EXPECTANTLY

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

If we truly expected God to work, we would pray in a more expectant manner.

If we truly wanted to “go and bear fruit” that abides and glorifies God, we would ask Him for those things that bring Him the most honor and glory, and expect Him to work for such things.

4: PRAY SINCERELY

Matthew 6:5-8 “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. 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. 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.”

This passage highlights two ways of praying falsely: 1) To be seen by others and 2) Mindlessly, repeating empty phrases that become empty of true content.

The problem with 1) is motive. The point of prayer for the Pharisees was to be “rewarded” by others as good, religious people. They were not sincerely believing God, but using prayer as a means of self-glorification.

The problem with 2) is it misunderstands the nature of God. He is not some kind of arbitrary being who can be persuaded by mindless barking. The purpose of prayer is to have true, sincere discussions with a living, rational Being who loves us. We need not chant vain phrases in His presence. We can speak to Him in normal language. We need not attempt to manipulate Him by saying all the “right” words.

5: PRAY GOD-CENTEREDLY

Matthew 6:9-10 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Converted people ask God for things, just like unconverted people do. But their motive in asking is to make much of God, honor God, praise God, and hope in God. The unconverted person just wants the stuff.

The unconverted person has the same desires he/she always had, but now, in prayer, are trying to obtain those things from Jesus. Wealth, health, friendships, and avoidance of hell are all desired, and Jesus seems to be a good way of getting those things.

The converted person has fundamentally different desires. (This is what is “converted” – the very heart of the person has been changed). The desire is “Hallowed be your name” and “Your Kingdom come,” and “You will be done.”

If God blesses with any good gift, the converted person praises Him for it. But if God does not bless with a good gift, the converted person is still filled with joy, for the BEST GIFT (God Himself – His glory, His will, His salvation) are all received and enjoyed by the converted person, and this is where his/her joy is found.

CONCLUSION

WILL YOU PERSONALIZE THIS MESSAGE?

• Dig deeply into your motives for prayer.
• If you find yourself to be unconverted, don’t hesitate, come quickly to Jesus Christ and find your salvation in Him.
• Pray rightly.