Daily Devotional For Thursday, October 10, 2024

Good morning Southside. It’s Terrific Thursday. We are making our way through Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount. You can read this in Matthew chapters 5, 6, & 7. We have finished looking at Matthew 5 and now we are in Matthew 6, specifically Matthew 6:9-15. We come to the most famous prayer ever – The Lord’s Prayer. Though Jesus’ ministry was only for 3 years, I believe like those 3 years, all the years prior, Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer. What blood and oxygen is to our body, so is prayer to us spiritually. 

Many people treat prayer as a last ditch when they have tried everything else. I’ve heard people say, “Well, I guess all we can do now is pray.” In all likelihood they should have been praying all alone. Some people see prayer like sailors on a boat see the pumps – you only need to use the pumps when the boat has a leak or is taking on water. Prayer is probably the most unused gift from God we have. We all know we should pray. We all know we need to pray, but nearly all of us do not pray consistently and faithfully. 

I agree with author and New Testament scholar Martyn Lloyd-Jones in what he wrote: “Man is at his greatest and highest when upon his knees he comes face to face to God” (Source: Martyn-Lloyd Jones, Studies In the Sermon On The Mount, Vol. 2., p. 45). Most disciples of Jesus Christ would acknowledge they understand the importance of prayer. Look at James 5:16b, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (NASB).

The Bible records effective prayers of God’s saints. When Abraham’s servant prayed, Rebekah showed up (see Genesis 24:3-4, 12-14). When Jacob prayed, Esau’s heart of revenge to kill his brother, Esau was turned into forgiveness and reconciliation with Jacob (See Genesis 33) When Moses prayed, Amalek was struck (See Exodus 17:8-16). When Hannah prayed, Samuel was born (see 1 Samuel 1). When both Isaiah and Hezekiah prayed, in one 12 hour period, 185,000 Assyrians were slain (See 2 Kings 18-19; Isaiah 37:36). When Elijah prayed, there was a 3-year drought brought by God (see 1 Kings 17). 

Prayer is the life-link to every ministry in the church. Any church leader who serves and views prayer as an item on the agenda rather than the agenda, will not have much success with their ministry. It will struggle. It will wane. It will not grow as they like. So, what is the main purpose of prayer? Is it to get things we want from God that we otherwise would never have? Is it to test God to see if He will keep His word? What is the main purpose of prayer? It’s simple – to bring glory to Jesus Christ. Prayer first of all is for the sake of God, no self. 

I read and have heard this quote about prayer: “True prayer brings the mind to the immediate contemplation of God’s character and holds it there until the believer’s soul is properly impressed.” Prayer is to bring God glory. That is what Jesus said in John 14:13, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (NASB).

I like how pastor and author John MacArthur puts it: “Contrary to much emphasis in the evangelical church today, true prayer, like true worship, centers on God’s glory, not on man’s needs. It is not simply to lay claim on God’s promises, much less make demands of Him, but to acknowledge His sovereignty, to see the display of His glory, and to obey His will” (Source: John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, “Matthew,” p. 372).

There are times you may not even know how to pray or for what to pray. We do not need to worry about this either. God, as He always does, has that base covered also. Look at Romans 8:26-27, “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (27) and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (NASB). This is why the Apostle Paul commands us to do this in Ephesians 6:18b, “. . . pray at all times in the Spirit . . .” (NASB).

As we begin to look at what is called The Lord’s Prayer, we must remember several important points here:

1. First, Jesus did not give us this prayer as some ritual or incantation to say over and over. To do so would make it ineffective and a “babbling” prayer as Jesus condemned in Matthew 6:7. This means each line should not be stated without some thought and consideration. 
2. Second, probably a better title for this would be The Disciples’ Prayer since Jesus gave this to His disciples as a model on how to pray effectively. Jesus is not against us memorizing this prayer because it is the holy inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. This is why some call this The Model Prayer, because Jesus gave it to us a model to follow in how we pray and for what we pray.
3. Third, this prayer by Jesus to us reminds us that all prayer must and should focus on God’s kingdom and God’s will above our own. As pastor and author Chuck Swindoll writes: “If our prayers focus only on ourselves, our problems, our needs, our desires, and our hopes and dreams, something’s wrong. Our prayers should center on God the Father and His character, kingdom, and purposes” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Bible Commentary, “Matthew 1-15,” Vol. 1A, p. 113).
4. Fourth, when Jesus said in Matthew 6:9, “Pray then in this way” or “Pray then in this manner,” Jesus was saying, “This is how I want you to pray.” 
5. Fifth, New Testament scholar Bruce B. Barton writes this: “The first person plural pronouns indicate that the believers could pray it corporately. The pattern of praise, intercession, and request helps believers understand the nature and purpose of their personal prayers in their relationship with their Father” (Source: Bruce B. Barton, The Life Application Study Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” p. 114). Notice he says that this prayer helps the disciples of Jesus understand the nature and purpose of their personal prayers in their relationship with the Father. What does that mean? Do our prayers reflect God’s character? God’s nature? God’s holiness? God’s righteousness?”

So why pray since God already knows what we want, need and are going to request? Again, listen to the words of Bruce B. Barton:

“If God knows what we need, why bother praying? Because prayer is not like sending an order form to a supplier. Prayer develops an intimate personal relationship with an abundantly loving God, who also happens to know us deeply. His knowledge of us should encourage us toward confident and focused prayer. A child may feel an immediate need for candy; a parent considers the child’s long-term needs. Stretch that parent’s concern and perspective to an infinite dimension, and there you find God’s loving care. Prayer does not beg favors from a reluctant shopkeeper. Prayer develops the trust that says, “Father, you know best.” Bring your requests confidently to God” (Source: Bruce B. Barton, The Life Application Study Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” p.114).

We will tomorrow start looking at each line in The Lord’s Prayer, but for now, I want all of us to take to heart the words of New Testament scholar William Barclay. He writes this:

“The Lord’s Prayer is not a child’s prayer, as it is so often regarded; it is, in fact, not meaningful for a child. The Lord’s Prayer is not the Family Prayer as it is sometimes called, unless by the word family we mean the family of the Church. The Lord’s Prayer is specifically and definitely stated to be the disciple’s prayer; and only on the lips of a disciple has the prayer its full meaning. To put it in another way, the Lord’s Prayer can only really be prayed when those who pray it know what they are saying, and they cannot know that until they have entered into discipleship” (William Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible Series, “Matthew,” pp. 228-229).

Questions To Consider

1. When you pray, do you consistently and thoughtfully reflect upon God’s character, God’s nature, God’s righteousness, God’s holiness and God’s godliness? Or do you throw out requests to God much like you do ordering a meal from a menu to your server? When you pray, are you impressed with God’s character as you pray? Why or why not?
2. When you pray, do you acknowledge God’s sovereignty, God’s kingdom and God’s will or are most of your prayers about what you want from God? Explain.
3. Prayer is about us developing trust with our heavenly Father. Would you say your prayers reflect that you have absolute truth in God no matter how He answers your prayers? Why or why not?
4. Jesus is not against us memorizing this prayer nor reciting this prayer, but what would you say He is concerned about if we do and why?
5. Has God ever not answered your prayer the way you requested? If so, what did you ask and how did God answer? What was your response to this and why?

Scripture To Meditate On: Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers” (TLB).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I have to be honest. This is an area of my life that is lax and weak. There are times I pray, but I do not always use prayer to see Your character, will and purpose. I can at times “cut to the chase” and throw out to You what I want hoping some of it will stick and get answered. Please forgive me for this. You have given me a model on how to pray which includes the order of how you want me to pray. Please help me do this. I love You Jesus! In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside–Pastor Kelly