The Life of Christ (23)

1. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • This is often called the Lord’s prayer, but it should actually be called the model prayer. • It is an overview of the content that should be found in prayer and should not just be repeated word for word. • Jesus taught His disciples that they should always pray and not give up. • Luke 18:1 (NASB95) • 1Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, The Life of Christ (23)

2. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Even though God knows our needs, He teaches us to bring our requests or prayers to Him in faith. • Hebrews 4:16 (NASB95) • 16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. • Believers have a personal Father who knows our needs even before they ask. The Life of Christ (23)

3. The Life of Christ (23) The Sermon on the Mount Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) The Model Prayer Matthew 6:9–13 (NASB95) 9“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil (the evil one). [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’ The Life of Christ (23)

4. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • How to Address or Speak to God in Prayer • Jesus starts by addressing God as Father in Verse 9, which stresses the family relationship. Our Father Who is in Heaven. • The Jews addressed God with a multitude of titles like Hashem (the Name) the Almighty, Lord, God, God of Israel, Master, and Mighty one but did not typically address God as Father. • Jesus teaches that believers should address Him more personally, as a Father. The Life of Christ (23)

5. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • How to Address (Speak to) God in Prayer • Many modern Christians find it difficult to delight in the privilege of addressing the Sovereign of the universe as Father because they have lost sight of doctrine. • This can be observed as we hear the manner in which God is addressed in public prayers. • The use of multiple divine titles in an attempt to impress men or to follow some religious custom is to deviate from the teaching of Christ. The Life of Christ (23)

6. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Praise of God and petition (request) for Righteousness • Hallowed = Holy. Hallowed be Your name. Verse 9 • God is holy; this is an imperative (command) of request that asks that the believer and others recognize that God is absolutely righteous and just. • Verse 10 is a request for the return of Christ to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Your kingdom come The Life of Christ (23)

7. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Praise of God and petition (request) for Righteousness • God’s kingdom already exists, as it always has, but at a future date it will enter into the flow of human history and it will no longer be only an unseen force behind the affairs of men. • Your will be done in verse 10, emphasizes that God’s will is righteous and perfect and that it is the best thing for everyone. • We are to pray for God’s will in our lives now with a view to that will being done on a worldwide basis in the coming Kingdom. The Life of Christ (23)

8. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Provision For Living Grace • Verse 11 is a prayer for God to provide living grace (Give us this day our daily bread, what believers need to live in this world; this does not include everything a believer wants but what he actually needs. • This includes prayer for all of our personal needs, not simply money or food. • Although not specifically mentioned, thanksgiving for the provisions (living grace) we have received is to be included in prayer. • Philippians 4:6 (NASB95) • 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. The Life of Christ (23)

9. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Rebound And Forgiveness of Others • Verse 12 deals with confession of our personal sins and forgiveness of others’ sins against us. • ‘And forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors. • If believers do not forgive the sins of others, the Bible teaches that God will not answer their prayer in rebound. • Matthew 6:15 (NASB95) • 15“But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions (sins). • Verse 13 recognizes the weakness of believers and the fact that circumstances in life may lead the believer down the wrong path. • ‘And do not lead us into temptation The Life of Christ (23)

10. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • ‘And do not lead us into temptation’ • Believers should pray that God will keep and protect them from outward circumstances that tempts the believer to sin by placing pressure on his sin nature. • The second half of the petition or request means therefore to deliver us from the Evil One, which is a reference to Satan; it would also include protecting the believer from the cosmic system that the Devil has established and is run by evil men. • If God does not protect the believer, Satan, the demons, and the world system would destroy him. The Life of Christ (23)

11. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • ‘And do not lead us into temptation’ • However, the believer should not ask for God to protect him and then put himself in dangerous situations by associating with God’s enemies or engaging in foolhardy behavior. • Matthew 4:6 (NASB95) • 6and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” • Evil refers to all that is outside the will and righteousness of God. • In Matt. 6:14-15, Jesus stresses the importance of forgiving others in order to assure that God will cleanse believers when they sin. IJn. 1:9 The Life of Christ (23)

12. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Rebound And Forgiveness of Others • David recognized that if he did not rebound and deal with his own sins that God would not listen to his prayer. PS. 66:18 • Psalm 66:18 (NASB95) • 18If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; • When believers refuse to forgive others, they act as if they are better than God, who is always ready to forgive us our sins. The Life of Christ (23)

13. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Rebound And Forgiveness of Others • See Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matt. 18:23-25 for an example of the importance of forgiveness. That parable stresses that the number and type of sins we commit against God is far greater than the limited ways others might sin against us. The Life of Christ (23)

14. Matthew 18:23–35 (NASB95) 23“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24“When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25“But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26“So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27“And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29“So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30“But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31“So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32“Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34“And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35“My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” The Life of Christ (23)

15. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Questions For Discussion • If God already knows what we need and what we want – why should we pray for these things anyway? • First, believers are commanded to pray. • Matthew 5:44 (NASB95) • 44“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, • Matthew 6:9 (NASB95) • 9“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. • 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NASB95) • 17pray without ceasing; • James 5:13 (NASB95) • 13Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. • Pray for the Pastor-teacher and the successful teaching of the truth; • 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NASB95) • 1Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; The Life of Christ (23)

16. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Questions For Discussion • If God already knows what we need and what we want – why should we pray for these things anyway? • When we pray, we are acknowledging our lack of understanding and recognizing God’s greater knowledge about what his best for us. Prayer is a way of inviting God to act on our behalf, demonstrating real humility. • When believers talk (pray) to God they are engaging in a real conversation, real fellowship with God. • Prayer is not always answered immediately so it is also a way in which believers learn patience. • God does not always give believers what they want, which teaches us that we do not always know what is best, but when we pray we acknowledge that God does know what is best for us. The Life of Christ (23)

17. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Questions For Discussion • What is the first step to take for an effective prayer? • First,one should be in fellowship and not attempting to hide his sins from God. Ps. 66:18 • Second, one should consider what he knows about the Bible and the types of prayers that are found there since this provides the believer the type of content in which God is interested. • Believers should know that prayer is supposed to be offered in line with God’s will, so prayer helps us to think in terms of God’s will and not our own will. • 1 John 5:14–15 (NASB95) • 14This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. • 15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. The Life of Christ (23)

18. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Questions For Discussion • What is the first step to take for an effective prayer? • A good way to pray is found in the acronym (abbreviation) ACTS. • Adoration (High Regard, Respect), acknowledging who God is, His greatness, His power, His love, His mercy. • Confession, dealing with our sins through rebound. IJn. 1:9 • Thanksgiving, expressing gratitude for God, for the life He has given us, for what He has done, for His care. • Supplication (request), asking God for our needs, sharing our burdens and cares with Him. IPet. 5:7 When we pray we should not try to hide the truth, we should be totally honest with God; if we are afraid say so, if we are mad, admit it, if we are frustrated, tell God, etc. The Life of Christ (23)

19. The Life of Christ (23) • The Sermon on the Mount • Scripture (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4) • The Model Prayer • Questions For Discussion • Can we pray anywhere and at any time? • Yes, certainly silently, and public prayer has some limitations. • How do we know that God hears and answers prayers? • The Bible tells us He does if we will seek His will and not our own. The Life of Christ (23)