LISTEN TO AUDIO SERMON                                                                  RETURN TO MAIN SERMON PAGE

The Church: Her Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15 

E.M. Bounds, the Confederate Chaplain and minister, began his great work on prayer with: “What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use -- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men -- men of prayer.”

Men of Prayer – Isn’t it interesting that Bounds found the need for the Church was more men of prayer? Couldn’t we echo the same sentiment in today’s world? Possibly, isn’t our greatest need to have more men and women of prayer? Or, in other words, don’t we need the Church to spend more time praying together? A prayerful Church is a Powerful Church.  

Acts 4:23-31

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

Our Lord’s Teaching on Prayer

 Matthew 6:5-13

 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

   "Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name.
  Your kingdom come,
   your will be done,
      on earth as it is in heaven.
 Give us this day our daily bread,
   and forgive us our debts,
      as we also have forgiven our debtors.
  And lead us not into temptation,
      but deliver us from evil.
 

1. The Posture or Attitude of Prayer (vs. 5-6)

 
1. Pride vs. Humility
    
2. This is possibly one of our biggest struggles.

                                                               i.      For the most part, we are either:

1.       Too proud in our own abilities

2.       Too concerned with our perceived inabilities 

2. The Manner of Prayer (vs. 7-8)

 
1. Prayer is to be direct, not full of babbling

                                                               i.      Example of Elijah and the priest of Baal

1.       1 Kings 18:26-29: Priest of Baal

2.       1 Kings 18:36-37: Elijah 

2. God already knows what we need before we ask (Rom. 8)
    

3. The Model (Priority) of Prayer
   
 
1. Three Petitions regarding God
    
2. Three Petitions regarding Man

                                                               i.      Much like the 10 Commandments (first tablet = God; second tablet = Man)

                                                             ii.      Acts 4:23-31 – the believers’ prayer 

3. How often do we switch the order around, beginning with ourselves and often not getting to God?

RETURN TO MAIN SERMON PAGE