WHY DO WE
PRAY?
Matthew 6:5-8
Emphasis vv
5-6
Introduction: Why do we
pray? Is it to be seen praying by others? Is it to be heard of God?
E. M. Bounds in his
Book Purpose In Prayer states: “The more
praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the
forces against evil everywhere.
Prayer, in one phase of
its operation,
is a disinfectant and a preventive.
It purifies the
air; it destroys the contagion of evil.
Prayer is no fitful,
short-lived thing.
It is no voice
crying unheard and unheeded in the silence.
It is a voice which goes into God’s ear, and it lives as long as God’s ear is open to holy pleas, as long as God’s heart is alive to holy things.”
That is what I
want to discuss today is the purpose for prayer. Probably the single most important thing we can do daily, outside
of Glorifying God and leading a person to the Lord, is to pray. However, we need the proper motive for
prayer. We need to know some do's and
some don’ts of prayer.
You ask,
“There are don'ts?” Yes there
are.
I.
PRAYING TO BE HEARD OF
MEN. (v 5)
A.
This Verse Is Speaking To
Prayer Warriors.
1. About insincere prayer
B.
How Do We Pray?
1. To be seen of others
E. M. Bounds states in The Essentials of
Prayer: The entire man must pray. The whole man, life, heart,
temper, mind, are in it. Each and all join in the prayer exercise.
1.
Otherwise it can become
a.
Hypocritical (pretending)
b.
Habit forming (v 5)
1.) The model prayer
c.
Only at certain places (v 5)
1.)
Church
2.)
Prayer meetings
3.)
Only with a Preacher
d.
Vain repetition (v 7)
1.) worthless empty
e.
To long (v 7)
1.)
much speaking
f.
Self gratification (v 8)
1.) not like them
g.
Self deceptive (vv 7-8)
1.)
Can think he was heard
a.)
Believes much speaking
convinces God of need
II.
PRAYINGTO BE HEARD BY GOD (v 6)
A. We Each Must Have Willingness To Pray.
1. We each must take the time
E. M. Bounds states in The
Essentials of Prayer: God must have men in their entirety. No
double-minded man need apply. No vacillating man can be used. No man with a
divided allegiance to God, and the world and self, can do the praying that is
needed.
B. A Closet Is A Necessity. (v 6)
1.
A private place (inner room)
Be heard of by God (in secret)
2.
Get alone
a.
Be Unobserved
b.
Be Undisturbed
c.
Be Unheard
2 Kings 4:33 He
went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto
the LORD.
Isaiah 26:20 Come,
my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about
thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the
indignation be overpast.
1.
A Father-Son relationship
Psalm 91:1 He
that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under
the shadow of the Almighty.
A.
Rewarded Two Ways
1.
The Strength and presence of
God in your life.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you.
Seeking Constant Continual
When our priorities are spiritual ,
God will take care of the material
Where God guides
In this next verse we find Ezra in a pickle, he really wants armored guards, he and his people are carrying with themselves a vast amount of gold silver and jewels for the new temple, however, Ezra speaks..
Ezra 8:22 For I
was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us
against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying,
The hand of our God is upon all
them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
1 Peter 5:6 Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time:
2.
Prayers Answered
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever
ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive,
that your joy may be full.
1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence
that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he
heareth us: 15And if we
know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we desired of him.
a.
We find renewed strength
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to
do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the
power that worketh in us,
b.
Provision of necessity
Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me
vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food
convenient for me: 9Lest
I be full, and deny thee, and say,
Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor,
and steal, and take the name of my God in
vain.
Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
c.
conquest of trials
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken
you but such as is common to man: but God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able
to bear it.
d.
Peace that passes all
understanding
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known unto God. 7And the
peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
e.
Soundness of mind that is
incomprehensible
2 Timothy 1:7 For
God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind.
What Is Your
Prayer Life Like?
Is It Sincere?
Is It Without
Doubt?
Do You Pray To
Be Heard Of God?
Do You Pray
With All Your Mind, Heart and Soul?