Recently, in conjunction with our midweek service here at Anchor, I thought it profitable to study our Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6. I began my examination with the purpose to understand how I, as a Christian, ought to pray. I am of the persuasion that this prayer is to be the model for all of us who claim the name of Christ. It is vastly important that we understand the necessity of prayer in our lives.
I am persuaded to believe that prayer may be the most neglected aspect of the Christian's life.With that being said, I want the focus of our midweek Bible study to be on the subject of prayer so that when we spend time before the throne, we do so not haphazardly, but with a Christ-centered perspective and a sense of purpose. As I began to immerse myself in the rich truths of Christ's prayer, I noticed myself saying often, "Hm, I rarely say that; I rarely do that." I realized that my prayers had become self-absorbed and less about Him.
This kind of reminds me of what takes place when my son accompanies me to Walmart. I go to the store knowing exaclty what I need; and so does Landon. It is imperative that before we leave, we MUST browse the toy aisles in search of elusive superheros and other figurines that interest him. Having no comprehension of income to expenditure ratios, Landon will request that I buy him everything he wants. Let's be honest: Isn't that what our prayers sound like to God? Isn't it so easy for us to bow our heads, close our eyes, and unload a littany of requests upon God, never giving thought of spending time thanking Him for what He has ALREADY given us?
Spurgeon once said:
Some brethren pray by the yard; but true prayer is measured by weight, and not by length.
After contemplating how we should pray, I wanted to begin to understand better why we are to pray. To do so, I immediately went to the greatest prayer ever prayed: the intercessory prayer of Christ in John 17.
What about this prayer makes it great?
1. Comprehend the One who is praying
This is not the prayer of just some Godly saint or hero of the faith. This is Jesus, the Christ; the Son of God. Our Lord lived by faith and depended on prayer during His life and ministry on earth. The simple question that we must ask ourselves as disciples is this: “If the Son of God depended on the power of prayer in His life, shouldn’t we?”
2. Notice the occasion of the prayer
Jesus, knowing that His time on earth was drawing to a close, spent His remaining hours preparing the disciples for what was about to transpire. He gave them instruction; He gave them direction. Jesus taught His disciples and then prayed for them.
Many of our churches today are filled with believers who are unbalanced. They diligently study the Word of God yet rarely ever see the power behind it. They receive instruction but fail to ask for the wisdom to apply that instruction. God’s reality for our lives is that we live the truths of Scripture; however, for us to attempt to obey Scripture without relying on the power of God to accomplish His purposes for us is simply futile. A well known commentator said it best:
Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be a stronger person. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.
3. Consider the petitions of the prayer
Prayer that asks nothing accomplishes nothing. In his epistle to the Diaspora, James states that the reason why man receives nothing from the Lord is directly linked to the lack of dependency on Him to meet his needs. Man either doesn’t ask at all, or asks already expecting a negative response. James calls it being double-minded or double-souled. We must take God at His Word:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who , if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know ho w to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him. (Matt 6:7-11)
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8)
Notice the four main requests that Jesus makes in John 17:
Notice the four main requests that Jesus makes in John 17:
· That God the Father would receive glory in the Son v. 1-5
· That the disciples would be sustained in their faith v. 6-12
· That the disciples would be sanctified by the truth v. 13-19
· That God’s people would experience unity in Him v. 20-26
I will be spending a great deal of time in this chapter in the coming months. I hope that what God is teaching me about Himself will not only be an encouragement to you, but also an opportunity to examine your own motives of prayer. Who better to be our example of prayer than Jesus?
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