Skip to main content

Lord, Teach us to Pray - lesson 2


This is the second lesson of the series of messages on prayer. Again, the main theme is “Lord, teach us to pray…” which is taken from Luke chapter 11 and verse 1.
THE SECRET LIFE OF PRAYER

Richard Baxter “Prayer is the breath of the new creature.”
Matthew 6:1  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Jesus was teaching of the call of Solitary Supplication rather than Public Presentation
In this passage, He revealed that it is not that you are to keep your faith a private matter, only that you are to guard your faith from prideful motives
As we study on personal prayer, we must not forget the call to always have a spirit of prayer and not limit our heart-to-heaven talks to just a certain time of the day. No, indeed we are commanded to “pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).” No matter the time of day we need to be available “to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).” However, in the same way, we must realize that DEEP, PERSONAL PRAYER IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR SPIRITUAL WALK. IT IS….
AN AID TO
DECREASE DISTRACTIONS – INCREASE INTERCESSION
DECREASE ANXIETIES– INCREASE ASSURANCE
DECREASE VANITY – INCREASE VISION
IT IS…
A PLACE WHERE
FAITH IS FORTIFIED
POWER & PEACE IS PROCURRED
Matthew 14:23  And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (This was just before a storm came and discouraged the disciples, yet in the midst of it all, Christ calms the winds and the seas, declaring, "Peace be still!")
Mark 6:46  And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 
GUIDANCE IS GIVEN
Luke 6:12  And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (The next verses reveal that Jesus then chose His disciples.)
SELF IS SACRIFICED
Mat 26:36  Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. (JUST BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION.)
SINCERE QUESTIONS YOU MUST ANSWER
1. WHAT ARE THE “MULTITUDES” IN YOUR LIFE?
IS THERE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE HINDERING YOUR DAILY FOCUS ON DEEP, PRIVATE PRAYER?
Hobbies?
Entertainment?
Company?
JESUS SENT THE MULTITUDES AWAY. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED TO “SEND AWAY”?
2. WHAT IS YOUR GARDEN OF GESTHMANE?

IS THERE A PLACE WHERE YOU COMMONLY GO TO PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR BROKENESS AND SUBMISSIVENESS TO THE SPIRIT’S LIFE IN YOU?

Labels

Labels:

Comments

  1. jshortonNovember 3, 2012 at 3:44 AM

    I have enjoyed your Sunday night series on prayer. The Lord is doing a work through you!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Refreshing Witness

Proverbs 25:25 states,  “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”  Most Americans do not realize the privilege in simply having clean, cold water accessible in their home. When I fill a glass of water, to my shame, I hardly ever think about the millions of people who have died because they have no reliable source of water. Of course, in verse 25, Solomon was illustrating a bigger point than just quenching someone’s physical thirst. He revealed that “good news” can be refreshing and reviving to one’s soul. Do you remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman by the well? He declared, “ But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life  (John 4:14).” There are millions of lives spiritually thirsty. They are destitute of  the water of everlasting life.  They need the love and lig...
1 comment
Read more

Wanderers

One night I dreamed of a massive crowd aimlessly wandering through an empty town I tried to stop several people as they passed by But they paid me no heed, as If deaf and blind Finally I happened upon a somber, yet curious lad He asked me, “What brings you to the Town of Misled?” I said, “I'm not sure how I got here, nor for what reason.” “Well then” The boy smirked without hesitation “You're in good company alright, for we are all met with the same plight. Our vision is impaired, our understanding is empty. Indeed we are stuck in endless mediocrity.” Once more I looked around at all the hollow expressions Then stared back at the tattered boy with deep compassion “What can I do to help you and all of these poor souls? Perhaps some money for food, a strong education, and fine clothes?” The boy began to cry, while shaking his head “You don't get it sir, we already have plenty we possess. Our needs lie not in material wealth and f...
1 comment
Read more

The Sound of Hope, while the rest of the world is Silent

Throughout my life, I have experienced times of seeming hopelessness. When I was 11, I experienced the pain of losing my granddad. He died of a heart attack. In that same year, I watched in despair as my father drove away from our home in North Carolina and back to Pennsylvania. Both my mother and father had large disagreements, but in a way, both were also in pain. At 11 years old, I felt the piercing of real heartache. Before, hardships were simple, ever quickly coming and going without really doing much damage to my fun childhood. I will never forget the one statement my mom told to me, after such tragedies happened, "You will always have a Heavenly Father to care for you." I was not saved, but I kept these words dear to my heart.  Just before the discouraging year ended, my brother and I were invited to ride the church bus. For years, we had not been to church, but this time we went. Only a few months after riding, I received Jesus into my broken heart. I do ...
1 comment
Read more