Sermons

The last two Sundays, I have issued this challenge:

“Do you come to church as a worshipper or consumer?” 

• To take or give.
• As offering or critical shopper.

A consumer might ask: 

How is my Sunday morning going so far?  Did I get enough sleep last night?  Trouble finding parking?  Doors clearly marked?  Welcomed?  Friendly?  Trouble dropping my kids off?  Seating comfortable?  How about the announcements and bulletin?  Is everything clear?  What about people sitting around me?  Was the music too contemporary or too traditional? 

This applies whether attending 30 years or for the first time.  

• The question is your heart motivation.
• We gather to give.
• To offer ourselves as a living sacrifice (cf. Rom. 12:1). 

Chapter 6 opens up three practices within the realm of all religion:  Giving, Praying, and Fasting.  Jesus tests a person’s purity of motive.  What I have called, Undefiled Orthodoxy.     

 “Do you wish you had a stronger prayer life?” 

• Every believer does. 

• Most admit to dry seasons. 

• Mundane lives with mundane prayers. 

• Hard unexpected life make more praying, but this soon becomes unsustainable.

Some characterize recent troubles, financial, spiritual, or physical as very difficult.  There certainly have been adjustments.  For some even tragic loss. We may have prayed more but soon see these new patterns fade.    

Irrespective of our cultural climate and life circumstances:

“What does God’s Word say we need for a healthy prayer life?

Evaluating your prayer life always means two factors always at play. 

• Your vision of God.
• The content of your prayers.
  • Your vision of God is either Big or Small.
  • Your prayer content either is on or off track. 

 1. Your vision of God

“Is my vision of God small?”

It is easy to forget whom you are talking to. 

• The ceremonial system had any manner of requirements to heed when approaching God.
  • Right sacrifice, washings, priest, offering.
  • Where you can and cannot stand etc. etc. 

• The tabernacle and inner and outer areas were not proforma.
  • These were not tripwires, where a single misstep is God’s gotcha moment.
  • These reminders were meant to engage Israel’s heart while repenting. 

• Outward reminders are for New Testament believers inward reminders of the heart.
  • Seeing and seeking the same “Hallowed God” through the eyes of faith.
  • Approaching God as a King, with a sacrifice, bought by a sacrifice.
  • Coming to God through a high priest; Jesus our high priest.
  • Coming to God who is holy; holiness we share in through Christ.

Tying this back to our challenge, worshipper, or consumer? 

Let me ask a question:

• “What is the difference between praying as a worshipper or consumer?”
  • Answer the question with a question.
  • How would you approach a powerful king, where your approach meant life or death? 

• Esther, had her people, pray and fast three days nights before approaching her king to execute her salvation plan!

^ESV  Esther 5:1-3 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.² And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.³ And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 

• Bathsheba, David’s wife and mother of their son, Solomon, still approached, aged King David, paying homage:

^ESV  1 Kings 1:15-17 So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber (now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king). ¹⁶ Bathsheba bowed and paid homage to the king, and the king said, “What do you desire?”¹⁷ She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne. 

 “How does yielded submission, affect your prayer life?

• A yielded posture, attributes worth to a king.
• A casual posture, attributes indifference to a king.

The church has been drifting dumbing reverence down, “being real!” 

Language that is casual, vain, and vulgar, to “just let it out” as a catharsis.  

Christians are now ill-equipped for this new level of pressure within our culture.  

This is why I am taking a slower approach through Jesus’ teaching on prayer. 

• I need it, I assume you do too. 

• A lot of things are out of our control and influence; praying is not one of them! 

• Solutions for the state of the state appear empty, yet we have a single solution.
  • Not praying just to pray.
  • Praying Jesus’ petitions.
  • Praying Jesus’ priorities. 

Verse 8 gives brings us back to having a large vision of God in prayer.  

^ESV  Matthew 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

Jesus warns not to be “like them”; like religious “hypocrites;” like “gentiles” who were pagans.  

• When you pray, pray in the knowledge of who God really is.
  • Knowing God knows it all.
  • Knows everything about you and your needs.
  • Not one rogue molecule [Sproul]. 

• Praying to a Small god will suck your energy dry. 

• Praying to a Big (biblical) God will energize you.
  • God worthy of our secret time and secret prayers.
  • God worthy of worship. 

The second factor in prayer is content.  

 2. The content of my prayers

 “Are my requests on or off track?” 

Verse 7 pictures “heap[ing] up empty phrases as the Gentiles do” (v. 7).  The prayer content is off.  

• Babbling words for words sake. 

• Verses 9-13 is the basic template to fill prayers with content. 

• Not for mere recitation, though reciting and singing these phrases can be powerful.
  • Not limited as a liturgical formula.
  • Jesus deemphasizes this.
  • Never to be like saying, the pledge of allegiance. 

• Memorizing these verses is for spiritual access when you need them. 

These verses are a basic mold that you fill by pouring out and pour in your prayers. 

The overflow of life’s deepest destresses, agonies, and joys.  

The old hymn writer said, “Tell out my soul the greatness of our God!”  

Verse 9, Jesus says, “Pray then like this” (v. 9). 

 How your praying should go.

• The roadmap for spiritual vitality. 

All disciples then and now should want this prayer life.  

• Luke accounts when a disciple (representing the group) asked Jesus to tell them how to pray.
• Luke also refers to John the Baptist’s disciples making this same request of John. 

^ESV  Luke 11:1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 

What makes this request important? 

• Out of all the things they could ask Jesus, they chose praying.
  • Not how to perform miracles.
  • Not how to raise people from death.
  • Not on teaching better.
  • Or mysteries about God. 

• Why?
  • The answer is simple.
  • These disciples knew where Jesus (and John) drew their strength to do everything they did. 

• Jesus and John had a vital connection to God the Father through prayer. 

Jesus prayed before massive teaching, healing, and casting out demons, events. 

^ESV  Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 

Before choosing leaders, whom he would pour into, whom would carry out the mission, he prayed all night. 

^ESV  Luke 6:12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 

• Prayer made John a powerful prophet.
• Prayer made Jesus a powerful Savior.
• Communion with his heavenly Father.

 ^ESV  John 5:19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 

^ESV  John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 

• If we get this right, everything else falls into place.
• Our connection to our King cancels fear.
• Creates confidence to walk in this world.    

Jesus taught them with simplicity.  

^ESV  Luke 11:2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 

^ESV  Matthew 6:9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 

Jesus is both simple and clear on the content of prayer.  

• Still, Jesus allows for fluidity and depth in how this content fills out in and fills in when praying.
  • Not recitation from memory nor prayed verbatim. 

• The slight difference between Luke’s and Matthew’s account underscores this is not a mantra nor magical formula. 

Jesus is saying, “Pray these priorities.”  

• You might be surprised Jesus does point to the Psalms.
  • David’s prayers are the Bible’s prayer guide, right?
  • Find more passion and pathos anywhere other than in the Psalms? 

• I argue there is no contradiction between using David’s prayers and the Lord’s prayer.
  • Diving into each of Jesus’ phrases is praying like the Psalmist.
  • Similarly, Bible saints like Hannah, like Mary, like Paul whose prayers are recorded for us.
  • They model prayer paths and priorities to follow. 

• Still, each prayer has a time and space context with specific needs.
  • Personalities and styles that use of language varying person to person. 

So, back to the genius of Jesus.  He leaves us a template.  

• A mold for us to fill with our hearts!
• A mold for which all our prayers can be cast!
• A mold that ensures our cares are cast according to God’s will! 

Praying in this way ensures you are caring about who God is and caring about what God cares about.  

Prop:  Praying like Jesus means you pray these six priorities.

 Traversing six-mile markers into God’s presence to God’s will.   

 1. Pray to God who is both near and far (v. 9)

 “God’s nature that is both intimate and transcendent.”  

• First transcendent.
  • “Our Father” (v. 9) meaning your prayers are bigger than just you.
    • You never pray in isolation.
    • Though you pray in secret to your Father who sees in secret, he hears you in concert with all the saints. 

• According to God’s will. 

• We pray as a piece of the puzzle to a greater plan God is working out.
  • Yes, it is God’s will for you and me to be conformed to Jesus.
  • Yes, we are “priests.”
  • But we are also living stones, that make up the whole temple of God.

 Prayer plays a role in time and space in light of a larger role God is working out. 

Modern social media pictures this.  For the first time in history, we live in view of events happening all over the world, that we know about in real-time.  So our life circumstances are understood in view of everyone else in a way like never before.  

• So, we pray corporately in view of the Body of Christ. 

Prayer is both corporate and personal.  

“Our” being a personal pronoun also points to our relationship with God.  

• Our God is not generic to us.
  • The Father of Creation.
  • The Father has adopted believers. 

• Jesus spoke Aramaic so saying, “Our Father” conveyed, “Our Papa.” 

• Paul taught this: 

 ^ESV  Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 

^ESV  Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  

• Adoption means, we share the same relationship Jesus has with his Father. 

• Do you remember Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus when raised? 

^ESV  John 20:17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 

• This is some of the clearest words describing intimacy. 

• Experiencing our Father’s discipline.

 ^ESV  Proverbs 3:12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. 

^ESV  Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 

• God’s promises “complete our sanctification” (cf. Phil. 1:6) and this comes through discipline. 

• Life, with imperfections for now but heading for heaven.    

Our intimate Father has made heaven his abode.  

• “Heaven” (v. 9) which is outside of time and space.
  • God spoke heaven into creation.
  • Heaven speaks to God’s holiness.
  • Holiness means separation. 

Now to the first petition. 

 “…hallowed be your name” (v. 9) as an imperative or command.  

• This reads like a declaration but is a request.
  • “Hallowed” declares God’s holy nature.
  • Taken as an aorist passive imperative, the request is for God’s holiness to spread. 

“What does this practically look like?”  

• I think it is simply spreading the Gospel.
  • The point is world evangelization?
  • For God’s name to spread. 

• God’s “name” is synonymous with all of who God is. 

^ESV  Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 

When people pray in Jesus’ name, they are saying their requests are in view of Jesus being Savior; and Intercessor. 

• Yielding yourself to his intercessory work in conjunction with the Holy Spirit.
• God who synchronizes our words with his will.
• Anything that is God’s will, will be done! 

^ESV  John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 

^ESV  1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 

“With things seeming to be getting worse in our world, how is this first petition being answered in our world today?”  

“How is God’s name being hallowed, in a world denying God’s name?”  

“Is God losing right now, in terms of what he wants?”  

The second petition answers these questions and solves these dilemmas. 

2. Pray in view of God’s kingdom that is now and not yet (v. 10)

 The second petition carries out the first.  

Praying for God’s kingdom is functionally praying for God’s name to spread.  

• You have to understand what God’s kingdom is for this to gel. 

• God’s kingdom is not a governance structure. 

We are not Israel nor should want to return to a bygone era that points to a better era.  

Israel was a civil governance under God’s Law.  Theonomic.  

• Governance to display God’s glory through a nation and system never to be replicated.
  • Desiring this makes you believe our nation has fallen outside of God’s will. 

• Pilgrims and Colonists left England to establish a New World using the language of the Promised Land. 

• As our country’s morality slips, we can be tempted to despair.
  • Laws affirming debauchery, circulating in the House and Senate.
  • Tempted to change their theology to accommodate this.
  • Christians turning post-millennial as a statement against “not losing to Satan!”
  • Crusading socialism to right societal ills. 

• But Christ never intended to save our physical world! 

God’s kingdom more than this; God is not failing our country now.  

• Nothing could be further from the truth.
• Moral decline is no sign God is up against the ropes trying to survive the round.
• God’s kingdom is not being threatened or not as it otherwise should be. 

A correct view of God’s kingdom is the only way to pray in a world filled with anti-Christs. 

• Praying with confidence that God’s kingdom that is advancing according to plan. 

• Understand God’s kingdom is synonymous with God’s reign. 

Jesus, made this point to Pilate, during his trial to be crucified.  

• Pilate with passive ambivalence inquired to the Jews, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” (cf. Jn. 18:29). 

• Finding nothing on Jesus under Roman Law, Pilate defaults saying, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law” (cf. Jn. 18:31). 

• Pilate’s curiosity is peaked.
  • “Why, with no capital offense, so offensive to the Jews?”
  • “What triggered the crowd to want Jesus’ blood?” 

 ^ESV  John 18:33-38 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”³⁸ Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 

Jesus’ kingdom comes down to one thing.  He is king.  

The offense was not political; whether he would govern.  

• The Jews were desperate for overthrow.
• The Jews were offended by Jesus advancing truth.
• Literally “bearing witness to the truth” (cf. Jn. 18:37). 

Christians who pray to advance moral reform at the expense of the truth are not advancing the kingdom, and burn up in despair. 

• Someone confessed temptations to pray for America to return to apple-pie, truth, justice, and baseball!
  • He confessed this desire was bringing him down.
  • We all get this, but the solution is to onboard for God’s kingdom. 

• American Theonomy is a temptation toward disappointment and a distraction. 

Praying for God’s kingdom to come means you want God’s truth to advance.  

• For God’s Word to be brought to bear on the minds and hearts of our world. 

• This can be done under any governing structure! 

• Often, the more hostile the environment, the more potent the message becomes. 

 “In what sense is the Kingdom now?”  

• Simply put, Jesus is reigning now. 

• The clearest expression of Jesus’ reign is to see that when he came to earth his kingdom came with him. 

Christ’s forerunner, John cried out: 

^ESV  Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

• When a scribe asked Jesus to rank God’s Laws in order of importance; he began to come clear spiritually. 

Jesus said of him: 

^ESV  Mark 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. 

• This man was not far from embracing Jesus’ message! 

• Jesus reigns now because Jesus’ message is advancing. 

• Measure God’s kingdom in terms of Christ’s message being accepted and rejected. 

Not only is God’s kingdom present in terms of truth advancing; the kingdom is present in the hearts of all believers. 

^ESV  Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

Every believer has “set Christ apart in their hearts” (cf. 1 Peter 3:14-17).  

God’s holy name is spreading through conversions! 

• The expression of God’s holiness is manifest when believers suffer for Gospel truth.
• In their hearts they “honor Christ.”    

^ESV  1 Peter 3:14-17 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.  

Peter’s point is when Christians suffer well, they stand out. 

• True conversions that stand the test of persecution, mark the clearest physical representation of God’s kingdom advancing on earth.
  • When people were coming to Christ in the story of Acts, they also suffered.

Calvin’s seminary was called “The school of Death” because when you graduated you were sure to be martyred. 

He had five students, they graduated and were martyred.

• Whether the Ethiopian eunuch or 3,000 at Pentecost or Lydia’s heart being opened by riverside at Lystra; converts knew the stakes were high. 

• On the outside, conversions never appear as demonstrative as political laws being changed. 

• Moral reform pales in comparison to what Jesus really cares about. 

Ask yourself, “What does Jesus really want you to pray for?”

Years ago I reconnected with my old college classmate.  He is a preaching pastor in Pennsylvania who came up here and preached in our church (years ago) and another one.  When we were freshmen, he used to come pull me out of bed at 5 am every morning to pray for people to be saved.  I remember working through his list of names especially of his family members.  I was almost perfunctory about the whole thing.  However, over the next two years, when we had class together, he would report on uncles, aunts, and cousins all coming to faith in Christ. 

This is fulfilling Christ’s request for God’s kingdom to come. 

Verse 10 frames this request in light of two places, “on earth…in heaven” (v. 10). 

• The question is where is God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven?
  • The simple answer is the church.
  • Jesus mission was one thing: advancing truth; now in heaven, the church multiplies this same mission; advancing truth. 

• We are winning people to Christ; calling them to believe truth. 

• The church is a truth house – God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven!

In what sense is God’s mission on earth, God’s will in heaven? 

• The one place – though flawed – that should reflect heaven on earth is where?
  • The church.
  • Believers gather together as kingdom citizens; in an embassy; planted within a hostile/foreign land to represent their true King and kingdom. 

• Praying with this mindset, confirms with confidence that Christ’s mission is not failing. 

• Prayers in view of Christ’s promise to Peter.

^ESV  Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

I will make one final point. 

When Jesus’ came, he brought the kingdom. 

Advancing the truth was and is building Christ’s kingdom. 

When people are saved, they advance God’s holiness in our world. 

As the church is being built, the kingdom of heaven is demonstrated counter-culturally on earth. 

• Finally, when Jesus returns; his kingdom will be established not only in heaven but also here on earth.
  • Sin will finally be destroyed. 

• When we pray for God’s kingdom to come, we remember Jesus already came, we recognized Jesus has come in our hearts, we confirm Jesus’ mission is advancing within his church, but finally we hope for one final measure. 

• Jesus’ return.

Remember the heart cry of John at the end of Revelation.

^ESV  Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 

“What does praying these kind of petitions actually look like?”

• It is a proven fact that there is no better way to learn then by observation. 

• Seeing someone actually do it. 

• Following patterns we see by example.

^ESV  Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 

^ESV  1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 

“How about observing someone pray through the meaning of these first petitions with perfection?”

• Jesus did so in John 17.
  • Jesus’ high-priestly prayer marks his transition from his earthly ministry to his intercessory ministry.
  • What Jesus prays immediately before going to the Cross. 

• As I read this prayer, listen for these specific petitions as Jesus pours out his heart.
  • Jesus prays in view of God’s holiness and intimacy.
  • Jesus prays for Father’s glory and “name” to advance.
  • Jesus prays for his Father’s kingdom to advance, “on earth as it is in heaven.” 

^ESV  John 17:1-26 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,² since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.³ And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.⁴ I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.⁶ “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.⁷ Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.⁸ For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.⁹ I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.¹¹ And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.²⁰ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.²² The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.²⁵ O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.²⁶ I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

 This is how we pray Jesus’ priorities. 

• Jesus was no consumer. 

• Jesus paid homage to his Father. 

• Praying like Jesus, does the same. 

• We are not part of a losing battle but a conquering mission and kingdom.