THE SPIRITUAL GATE OF PRAYER

1
THE GATE OF PRAYER
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
2
THE SPIRITUAL GATE OF PRAYER

• THE MODEL PRAYER

3
OUR PRAYING

• Jesus gave four instructions to guide us
• in our praying.
• Verse 6 We must pray in secret before
  we pray in public.
• It is not wrong to pray in public in the assembly
  or even when blessing food or seeking Gods help.
• But it is wrong to pray in public if we are not
  in the habit of praying in private.
• The word translated closet means a private
  chamber.

4

• Our Lord prayed privately Mark 135
  So did Elisha and Daniel.

• Verses 7-8 We must pray sincerely.
• The fact that a request is repeated does
• not make it a vain repetition.
• Both Jesus and Paul repeated their
• petitions. Matthew 263646
• 2 Corinthians 127-8
• A request becomes a vain repetition
• if it is only a babbling of words without
  a
• sincere heart desire to seek and do Gods
• will.

5

• The mere reciting of memorized prayers
• can be vain repetition.

• The Gentiles had such prayers in their
  pagan ceremonies. 1 Kings
  1826

• All of us have one routine prayer in our
• system and once we get rid of it, then
• we can really start to PRAY!

3. Verses 9-13 We must pray in Gods will

• This prayer is known familiarly as The
• Lords Prayer.

6

• The Disciples Prayer Would be a
• more accurate title.

• Jesus did not give this prayer to us to be
• memorized and recited a given number of
• times.

• He gave this prayer to keep us from using
• vain repetitions.

• Jesus did not say, Pray in these words.
  He said, Pray after
  this manner.

• That is, use this prayer as a pattern, not as
• a substitute.

7
The purpose of prayer is to glorify Gods Name,
and to ASK for HELP to accomplish HIS Will ON
earth.
This prayer begins with Gods interests, not ours
1. GODS NAME
2. GODS KINGDOM
3. GODS WILL
Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting
mans will done in Heaven, but for getting Gods
will done in earth.
8
We have no right to ask God for anything that
will dishonor His Name, delay His Kingdom, or
disturb His Will on earth.
GO BACK TO PURPOSE OF PRAYER

• It is worth noting that there are no singular
• pronouns in this prayer they are all plural.

1. It begins with OUR FATHER

• When we pray, we must remember that we
  art part of Gods worldwide family of believers.

9
Matthew 69-13
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done
in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give
us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive
us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil
10

• We have no right to ask for ourselves
• anything that would harm another member
• of the family.

• If we are praying in the will of God, the
• answer will be a blessing to all of Gods
• people in one way or another.

• If we put Gods concerns first, then we
• can bring our own need.

• God is concerned about our needs and
• knows them even before we mention
• Matthew 68

11
It is right to pray for daily physical needs, for
forgiveness, and for guidance and protection
from evil.
Lead us not into temptation

• Does not mean that God tempts His children.
• James 113-17

• In this petition we are asking God to guide us
• so that we will not get out of His will and
  get
• involved in a situation of temptation.
• 1 John 518

• Or a situation of tempting God so that He must
• miraculously rescue us. Matthew 45-7

12
4. Verses 14 15 We must pray, having
forgiving spirit toward others.

• This an appendix to verse 12 As we forgive
  
• our debtors

• If we have truly experienced Gods forgiveness,
• then we will have a readiness to forgive
  others.
• Ephesians 432 Colossians 313

• Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.
• Matthew 1821-35

• Forgiveness belongs to the matter of
  fellowship.

13

• If we are not in fellowship with God, we
  cannot pray effectively.

• Fellowship with our brothers helps to
  determine our fellowship with God. Thats why
  forgiveness is important to prayer.

• If God answered the prayers of a believer who
  had an unforgiving spirit, He would dishonor
  His own name.

• Think about this How could God work through
  such a person to get His will done on earth?

• God would be encouraging sin! That is not what
  God is about.

14
Summary

• The important thing about prayer is not simply
  getting an answer, but being the kind of person
  whom God can trust with an answer.