Head Dump: Prayer 2

Luke 11:1. NASB 95
1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”

Matthew 6:5-15. NASB 95
5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name. (Or “Let Your name be holy or venerated”)
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 (or “trial”), but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’
14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Parts of the Lord’s Prayer:

• Worship. Placing ourselves in a right position towards God: He is exalted, He is in heaven, He is Holy. (We are not).
• Supplication for:
• God’s will to be done (placed before my desires). God’s kingdom is where He is King. The first place that I need to be concerned about Him establishing His kingdom is in my life. Am I obeying the King?
• My needs (you cannot get any more basic than asking for today’s food)
• My forgiveness (confession of sin)
• Guard me from trial, temptation, and evil.
• Reminder to forgive others (see also verses 14,15)
• Worship (again). This last part is not in the earliest manuscripts of this passage. However, it would still indicate very old church tradition and/or practice.

The A.C.T.S. prayer is based on the Lord’s Prayer: Adoration (worship), Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (my needs as well as intercessory prayer).

Admonishments regarding prayer:

1. Do not prayer in order to be seen praying. Yes, we pray in public, for two reasons. First, we are to pray without ceasing, and second as part of normal interactions with other Christians: prayer meetings, church, worship (or mass), etc.
2. Private: Even still, most of our prayer is meant to be private or quietly, if has to be done in public.
3. Reward. God rewards our prayer. This is not the same thing as answering prayer The Pharisees prayed in public in order to be seen praying and the good opinions of others was their reward. God rewards those who pray and seek Him in private. The reward for praying is getting to know God better.
4. Avoid meaningless repetition. In other words, praying thoughtfully, pray with the mind engaged.
5. A necessary condition for being forgiven is to forgive.