Sermon Our Father who art in Heaven Matthew 6:9

Transcription

1 Sermon Our Father who art in Heaven Matthew 6:9 Dear Prayer Warriors: Give me one hundred men and women who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven and earth. God does nothing but in answer to prayer. - Charles Wesley One of the most challenging parts of the Christian life is found in prayer. Most Christians agree that prayer is important Many Christians, however, say that prayer is difficult for them Why is this? Why is prayer so difficult for so many believers? Why do many of us feel guilty about the time we spend in prayer? Some have concluded that there are certain blocks that hinder prayer life? 1. Prayer is boring When we are bored with anything in life, we tend to avoid it. Prayer for some is as dry as chalk dust Prayer for some is like eating a slice of toast with nothing on it Prayer may seem like a trivial ritual with little meaning or sense to it 2. My mind wanders

2 Ever start to pray about something only to find your mind is hopelessly wandering in a million different directions? We become frustrated by prayer because we find it difficult at times to stay focused. 3. I feel awkward Some Christians have never prayed out loud before, especially using their own words. The idea of hearing themselves talk out loud to God may generate feelings of awkwardness We don t like to feel inadequate, so we play it safe and stay silent 4. Prayer doesn t make a difference We would never actually admit this or believe it...but at times we may behave like prayer doesn t make a difference. We may think to ourselves: Why bother doing something that is pointless? 5. I don t have the time We live in a rush-rush culture. Prayer sounds nice, but where would we find the time? I m racing from sun up to sun down and I have no margin in my life We are simply too busy to pray...we may think at times 6. I don t know how to pray We pray the Lord s Prayer or written out prayers in worship, but for many praying to God in our own words is a real challenge. What do I say? What words do I use?

3 What should I pray about? Looking at these 6 prayer blocks... Which prayer block do you wrestle with the most? You are not alone Frustration and disillusionment with prayer is shared by many For the next few weeks we will look at prayer using the Lord s Prayer as our focus. It is an invitation to overcome whatever may be hindering us in prayer God wants times of prayer to be rich for His children He wants to teach us how to pray In Luke 11:1 we read these words: One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray... Lord, help us pray...teach us to pray Who better to learn from regarding prayer than the Lord Himself? May we ask of the Lord as this disciple did: Lord, teach us to pray. How did Jesus begin His instruction on prayer? Jesus said: Our Father who art in Heaven When we start our prayers God wants us to think of Him as our dear Father. In the New Testament God is called Abba which is the Aramaic word for Daddy

4 Daddy is a word of emotion and endearment as a little child calls for his or her father. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. I John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! Prayer is simply connecting with our heavenly Father who loves us. Our Father in heaven wants us to approach Him He wants us to be honest with him He wants us to share with him He wants us to open up to him He wants us to relate to him He wants us to be close to him He wants us to understand how high and deep and wide His love is for us The Apostle Paul says: I pray that you...may...grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 Our Father who art in Heaven Martin Luther said: When any good Christian prays, Dear Father, thy will be done, God in heaven answers, Yes dear child, it will most certainly be done despite the devil and the whole world.

5 Why are we able to call the God of the universe Father? Because by faith in Jesus we are God s children Galatians 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus How may we pray to the God of the universe as our Father? With boldness and confidence because we are His children. Romans 8:15 You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, Abba, Father. Ephesians 3:12 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Jesus wants us to remember the relationship we have with God by faith. So that we feel free to pray to Our Heavenly Father with the same confidence that children ask their dear fathers on earth for help. Jesus said:...how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11 Heavenly Father, we are your dear children Why pray Our Father who art in Heaven? Because our times are in Our Father s Hands My times are in Your hands...save me in your unfailing love. Ps 31 Because our Father is in control of our lives You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. Ps 145 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. I Peter 5

6 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor Me. Ps 50 A.J. Gordon said: You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. We are able to come before the Lord in prayer because He has washed all our sins away! In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin... Eph 1:7 Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God... Romans 5:1 Some 300 years ago there was a monk who lived in Europe by the name of Brother Lawrence. He lived in a monastery and served as a cook. He wrote a book entitled: The Practice of the Presence of God... During your meals or during any daily duty, lift your heart up to Him, because even the least little remembrance will please Him. You don t have to pray out loud; He s nearer than you can imagine...we can make our heart a chapel where we can go anytime to talk to God privately...offer your heart to Him at every moment...go out in faith, with love and humility. Our Father who art in Heaven!