It's WHEN We Pray, Not IF We Pray!

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Outline:

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  25 March 2018

Text: Matthew 6.5 - 13

Thesis:  Prayer is to the soul as breathing is to the body.  Breathing is not optional, and neither is prayer!

Introduction

          Sing: “How Long Has It Been?”

          Read the Words to the Song

          Luke 11 – “Teach us to pray”

          Matthew 6 – In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount

* Prayer is to be taught but more important, it is to be lived.

F. B. Meyer – “The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.”

Please stand:

Our Most Kind and Gracious Heavenly Father;

As we study the prayer that Jesus taught us, may we with broken and contrite hearts seek Your Presence in prayer with the breath of our lungs as we receive the Breath of Your Word from the Scriptures.  Forgive us not for what we say in prayer but, for not saying it more often.

In the Name of Jesus Christ;

And All the church said; AMEN

Please be seated:

William Law – “Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of Him that we are capable of in this life.”

          Jesus makes 3 points as He introduces the Disciples Prayer

1.   It’s WHEN not IF

2.   Don’t Pray like this

3.   Do Pray like this

I It’s WHEN not IF We Pray!

A.  That Christians not pray is not in the equation of Christ at all.

B.  The question before us today is NOT “when should we pray?” but rather, “when should we NOT be praying[RM1] ?!”

C.   The fact remains though, we are not typically praying people.  Why not?

D.  Why do Christians fail to pray?

1.   They don’t really believe.

a.   God and / or prayer

b.   We really don’t believe “that God is and He is the rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.”

2.   They neglect the assembly

a.   I Corinthians 11.30 – “That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.”

1)  Dead people don’t breathe, dead Christians don’t pray.

3.   They feel guilty about something.

4.   They are afraid God is angry with them.

5.   They feel awkward.

6.   They feel embarrassed

7.   They don’t know what to say or how to say it.

8.   They are afraid God won’t answer their prayers.

9.   They are afraid God WILL answer their prayers!

E.   George Herbert: “Prayer is the key to the day and the lock of the night.”

F.   BREATHING IS NOT OPTIONAL, AND NEITHER IS PRAYER

II Pray Not Like This – READ Matthew 6.5 - 8

A.  We automatically discount this portion for no one in our society is admired for public praying.

1.   BUT, should we ignore this?

B.  When praying publicly, we often word things in certain ways so we will meet 3^rd party expectations.

C.   When praying either publicly or privately, we often say things in such a way to make sure we “say it the right way” so God won’t “hang up the phone on us.”

D.  When praying publicly, we often word things in such a way so as not to offend someone in our hearing[RM2] , or to please someone in our hearing.

E.   We must pray always regardless of how we feel spiritually, physically, mentally, psychologically or any other way and NOT give in to changes based upon any other person’s expectations.

F.   Albert Mohler – “Authentic prayer is never about impressing anyone (for any reason.)”

G.  BREATHING IS NOT OPTIONAL, AND NEITHER IS PRAYER

III Pray Like This – READ Matthew 6.9

A.  Charles Sprugeon, the English Baptist preacher of the 19^th century once said; “I would just as soon pray with a machine as to sing with one.”  

1.   Rout praying, like an instrument, is mechanical.

2.   Mechanical prayers are liturgical.

a.   “The Book of Common Prayer”

3.   There is no kind of liturgical worship patterned for us in the New Testament.

4.   The Disciples Prayer is not liturgical and was never meant to be by Jesus.  It was instead, a guide for spontaneous, heartfelt, and sincere prayers for the saints of all time.

5.   How do we know this?

6.   We know this because of Jesus’ very precise use of the compound Greek word, houto, rendered “like this,” “in this manner,” or “after this manner.”

a.   Per Strong’s: “In this way, after this manner, like, on this fashion, in like manner, thus.”

b.   Christians are not robots and Jesus did not teach us to pray like robots.

B.  BREATHING IS NOT OPTIONAL, AND NEITHER IS PRAYER

Let us pray:

Our Most Divine and Majestic Heavenly Father;

May we this day and every day pray to You often as we should.  May we never seek the favor or permission of any human for what we say to You in private or in public.  May we pray as Jesus taught us to.  May our prayers never be mechanical or artificial.  May we approach You in prayer always even if we are fearful.  Even if we are feeling awkward.  Even if we feel guilt and remorse.  Even when the words won’t come.  Even when we are embarrassed.  Even when we are weakened by fear and doubt.  May we hurry to prayer especially when we are tempted by our weaknesses.  Forgive us Lord and draw us near to Your heart.

In the Name of Jesus, we pray;

And all the church said; AMEN

CONCLUSION:

The Word of God is our conclusion today: “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” – Proverbs 15.29

The Challenge of the Text for Christians Today – TO PRAY LIKE JESUS TAUGHT US AS BREATHING IS NOT OPTIONAL, and NEITHER IS PRAYING!

“The Gospel Call” – If you are not a Christian, you cannot pray “Our Father.”  Therefore: “Repent, everyone of you, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2.38

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.

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 [RM1]

 [RM2]

Believing Prayer

In the very biblical mode of prayer where we approach our Holy God, here is a prayer that emulates just how Christ taught us to pray.  It is thankful, hopeful, content, joyful, doctrinal and edifying to all!

http://believingprayer.com/you-are-god/

Prayer - Our Spiritual Reality Check

LISTEN! to this sermon on: SOUNDCLOUD!

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/prayer-our-reality-check-acoc-am-031818-russell-h-mccullough-voice-180318

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  18 March 2018

Text: Matthew 6.5 – 13; II Thessalonians 3.1 - 5

Thesis: “As we approach God in prayer both God and we know precisely where we are in our Walk”

Introduction

Roger Scruton, an Englishman, once observed; “God is defined in the act of worship (and prayer) far more precisely than He is defined in any theology.” (1)

·         What I believe about God is immediately known to both God and me.

·         This should terrify us.

·         This should bring us to elation!

·         Emulating biblical prayers will soon erase our terror and bring us to elation.

·         Today, we will take a “reality check” regarding our beliefs, our priorities, and our doctrine as they are revealed in prayer.  We will then make application by considering and emulating Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians in the text just read in your hearing.

·         PLEASE STAND

Our Most Kind and Gracious Heavenly Father;

May our ears, our hearts, and our minds now come open to the implanted Word that can save our souls.

In the Name of Christ, we pray; AMEN

·         PLEASE BE SEATED

·         WE WILL NOW HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD!

I Our Prayers Reveal Our True Beliefs (2) About God and His Holiness

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

a.   Reality Check One: “Just what do I think of God as I pray?”

1.   Am I fearful?

2.   Am I distracted?

3.   Am I bored?

4.   Is God Holy or is He not?

5.   OUR PRAYERS REVEAL OUR TRUE BELIEFS ABOUT GOD AND HIS HOLINESS

II Our Prayers Reveal Our True Priorities (3) for Both God and To Us

a.    Reality Check Two: “What are my priorities before God?”

1.   What do we pray for?

2.   Do we use formulaic words and phrases?

3.   Are we just trying to get through?

4.   Are our prayers intercessory or self-centered?

5.   Are we trying to convince God to do something our way?

6.   OUR PRAYERS REVEAL OUR TRUE PRIORITIES BEFORE GOD.

III Our Prayers Reveal Our Doctrine (4)

a.   Reality Check Three: “Do I truly seek to embrace the Apostles Doctrine in its entirety?”

1.   Who is God the Father?

2.   Who is God the Son?

3.   Who is God the Holy Spirit?

4.   Is the Word of God true and without error?

5.   Who is man?

6.   What is sin?

7.   Who will be saved?  Who will be lost?

8.   What must I do to be saved?

9.   The Power of the gospel

10.       The reality of death and judgement

11.       The hope of the resurrection!

12.       The POWER of prayer!

13.       “How shall I now live?”

14.       OUR PRAYERS REVEAL JUST WHAT OUR DOCTRINE TRULY IS AND ISN’T

IV Paul’s Beliefs, Priority’s, and Doctrine Are All Revealed to the Thessalonians in II Thessalonians 3.1 - 5

A.  Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

B.  Paul’s prayer is mutual

a.   He asks the church to first pray for him

b.   He then prays for the church

C.   Paul’s Prayer List:

a.   It’s profound to see just what is and is not on his list:

1.   He prays that the Word of God speeds ahead.

2.   He prays that the Word of God be honored

3.   He prays that they be delivered from evil and wicked men as not all have faith.

4.   He prays that they be established.

5.   He prays that they be guarded from the evil one.

6.   He prays that they be blessed with confidence

7.   He prays that they be directed to the Love of God and to the Steadfastness of Christ

8.   Paul’s prayer action words are: SPEED, HONOR, DELIVER, ESTABLISH, GUARD, CONFIDE, DIRECT.

-      7 Power words of prayer!

9.   Paul reveals his beliefs, his priorities, and his doctrine to God, to the church and to himself as do we as we pray.

V As We Have Learned from God’s Word Today, Let Us Pray:

        Our Most Kind and Gracious Heavenly Father;

       

We pray for all our brothers and sisters worldwide that labor in Your Vineyard that Your Word, O Lord, may speed ahead and be honored!  We pray that they may be delivered from evil and wicked men for not all have faith.

But we know that You are Faithful!  Lord, establish us and guard us against the evil one.  Bless us with confidence in You, O Lord, that we may do the things that You command.  Direct our hearts to Your love, O God.  Direct our hearts to the steadfastness of Christ in Whose Name we pray.

        Let All the Church Say; AMEN

CONCLUSION:  

The Meaning of the Text:

Our Bible’s teach us how to pray so that we will approach God with fear and reverence, so that we will give our own wills over to God, and so that we will know His Word more fully.

The Challenge of the Text: 

Is for us to prayerfully set aside our casual approach to our Holy God, to forge our wills into His, and to know His Word more fully. 

“Just how did your reality check come out as you prayed here today?”

“The Gospel Call”

Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

NOTES:

(1) As quoted by: Mohler, Jr., R. Albert (The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down), Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson, 2018, pg. 10.
(2) Point is from IBID, pg. 12 - 17 - Content is mine - RHM
(3) Point is from IBID, pg. 12 -17 - Content is mine - RHM
(4) Point is from IBID, pg. 12 - 17 - Content is mine - RHM

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.