Life Training

LESSON 3:

PRAYING THROUGH

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

20. Humility (Matthew 6:1)

This verse is a bit of a puzzle: how can you live a good, righteous Christian life in order that people might “see your good works and give glory to God” but at the same time not be proud? It all depends on our heart attitude, our motives and how we demonstrate how a Christian should live. The motive for leading a Godly life is to be obedient to God and bring glory to Him. It is not to elevate ourselves, or become proud, or to live “before men to be noticed by them” and hence bring glory to ourselves, but to honour God and humbly show the Christian life in practice.

Pray that:

Christians will live Godly, righteous lives.
We will remain humble.
Those people who are not Christians will see how we live and what it means to be a Christian.
Our lives will attract other people to Christ.

21. Giving (Matthew 6:2-4)

In the previous verse, Jesus said we need to beware that we do not practice (or parade) our righteousness in front of other people in order to be seen and admired by them – we are to be righteous, but humble and sincere too. Likewise, when we give, it is not to impress other people – in fact we should give in such a way that no-one else knows what we have given; that is “in secret”, as far as that is possible. Proud giving has its reward – a proud, self-righteous heart! Giving in secret has its reward – God’s blessing and reward!

Pray that:

Christians will always be generous givers.
Christians will not parade their giving or become proud of what they give.
Christians will trust God for all their needs and look to Him, not to their wealth.
Giving will be a real blessing to the recipient – a gift of love.
Christians will be wise in their giving and led by God as they give.

22. Prayer (Matthew 6:5-6)

It is so easy to say and do things which are either hypocritical or are motivated by pride. Hypocrisy and pride are two of the things Jesus warns us about in these verses (v. 1-18). Just as we can be proud about our giving, so also we can be proud when we pray; or hypocritical in what we pray. Jesus says “Don’t!” When we pray, it is not so that people can see us, hear us and know how long we pray for. When we pray we need to pray humbly and sincerely, and live according to the way we pray. So Jesus says to “pray in secret” – where God sees and knows our hearts and our heart’s desires. This does not mean we cannot meet with other Christians to pray, for He also commends that – as long as our prayers are from a humble and sincere spirit.

Pray that:

Christians will not be motivated by pride, when they pray, especially when they pray in front of other people.
Christians will not be hypocritical when they pray – praying for one thing but leading inconsistent lives.
Christians will spend time in prayer, in secret, where only God sees and knows our hearts.
We will see God’s rewards – as we pray, and God answers.

23. Vain repetition (Matthew 6:7-8)

Jesus tells us that when we pray we should not use “vain repetitions” (empty, meaningless phrases) as some religions do. It is easy to repeat something over and over again so that it becomes a meaningless ritual we go through, whereas prayer is talking to our Heavenly Father! Prayers are not answered just because they are long and repetitive – they are answered because God loves us, sees our hearts, knows our needs and desires to do what is best for us. God looks into our hearts; He knows our motives – and our needs! God doesn’t hear and answer us just because of our “many words”. Seven words can save a soul – “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” In fact, God knows all our needs even before we ask; sometimes even before we are aware of them!

Pray that we will:

Realise that we are not heard just because we pray long, repetitious prayers.
Pray words that come from our hearts.
Pray in faith and sincerity.
Recognise that God loves us and wants what is best for us.

24. Prayer to our Father (Matthew 6:9)

In what has become known as “The Lord’s Prayer”, Jesus begins by saying: “Pray then like this …” The opening address is to “Our Father”. Tragically today so many people do not have a wonderful, loving, supportive relationship with their father and this has coloured people’s thinking and – in some cases – people have found it very hard to relate to God as a Father. Nevertheless we need to look, not at our own personal experience, if that has not been good, but to what a father can and should be. God is our loving Heavenly Father. He created us, loves us, provides for us, leads and cares for us. Underneath us are His everlasting arms, protecting us and keeping us from evil. He is also the one who is over us, as our Lord and Master – the one to whom we are subject and who we must obey. But even this obedience should not be seen as a negative thing – we obey God because He loves us and He knows what is best for us all!

Pray that:

Christians who have not had a good relationship with their natural father, will nevertheless come to know the true meaning of, and relationship with, God as their loving Heavenly Father.
Christians will not resist being obedient to their Heavenly Father but rejoice in doing what He knows is right and best for us.
We will be able to show other people what God the Father is really like – not a remote, unfeeling, uncaring God, but a personal Friend.
We will obey our Heavenly Father and reap the good fruit of obedience.

25. Our Father in Heaven (Matthew 6:9)

One of the seemingly contradictory things about God is that He is both our loving, caring Father, our Friend, the One Who wants us to know Him intimately, but He is also the great, omnipotent, Creator, King and Lord of all. This opening phrase of the Lord’s Prayer shows this contrast – “Our Father” and “Who is in Heaven” (ruling and reigning from on High). Some Christians have a tendency to trivialise God and treat Him as a buddy who is at their beck and call, to do what they want, when they want it. These people become “too familiar” with God. On the other hand some Christians feel God is so awesome, high and lifted up that He is remote, almost unknown and unknowable. Jesus begins the Lord’s Prayer with showing us that God is, indeed, our loving Father, who longs to know us and share Himself with us, and He is also the Almighty God Who rules in the heavens and over the earth and all that He has made.

Pray that:

Christians will know God intimately – knowing Him as a loving, caring, faithful Friend.
Christians will also have a high regard for Who God is – His omnipotence, power, wisdom and authority.
We will have an awesome respect for God.
We will also know that He is always ready to help and encourage us – willing to hear our prayers and minister to our genuine needs.

26. May God’s Name be kept holy (Matthew 6:9)

God is holy. His Name is also to be kept holy (hallowed). It is not to be used lightly, flippantly or blasphemously (hence the Third Commandment). While God is our Father, He is also our Heavenly Father or Father Who is in Heaven. He is to be reverenced, worshipped, respected, honoured and treated as the only truly Holy One. Ancient Hebrew and Greek did not use vowels, only consonants, so the Hebrew Name revealed by God (“I AM”) was written YHWH – in a sense unpronounceable without the vowels. Even today many Jews write G-D (or the equivalent) rather than GOD because they do not even want to say His Name – it is so holy. How respect for God has gone in today’s world!

Pray:

That Christians, while relating to God as their loving Father, will also honour, respect and keep His Name holy.
That Christians will not use the Name of God lightly or jokingly – let alone as blasphemy.
That we will encourage other people not to blaspheme either, but respect God and His Name.

27. May God’s Kingdom come (Matthew 6:10)

There are two different ways in which we need to pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom: first, here on earth, and second, His eternal Kingdom to come. We need to pray for the expansion of Christ’s Kingdom in the world, here and now; that He will rule and reign in the lives of millions more people as they come to know Him as Lord and Saviour, and begin to live for Him. Then, we also need to pray for Christ’s return and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom, of which every true believer will be a part – for all eternity!

Pray that:

All Christians will live as sons and daughters of the King ought to live.
We will do all we can to help extend God’s Kingdom on earth – here and now.
We will prepare ourselves for His coming Kingdom.
We will pray “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” May that desire and expectancy fill our hearts!
Millions more people will come into the Kingdom of God in these last days.

28. May God’s will be done (Matthew 6:10)

May God’s will be done on earth, even as it is in Heaven! God’s will is done perfectly in Heaven; we need to pray that His will shall be done here on earth too. This means God’s will for our own lives, and for the Church as a whole, ultimately spreading throughout the earth as more and more people become followers of Jesus Christ. Because God knows best, doing what God wants is the most sensible thing that any person can do! Why resist what is best for us?

Pray that:
God’s will shall be done in your life.
God’s will shall be done in the Church and churches.
God’s will shall be spread throughout our land and throughout the world, by spreading the Gospel and the salvation of many people in these days.

29. Our daily bread (Matthew 6:11)

“Give us this day our daily bread (or, bread for today)”. This is a very simple request that God will meet all our needs, each day. We are not asking for bread for tomorrow – just for today. Tomorrow’s needs will be taken care of tomorrow! As Paul reminded the Philippian Christians: “My God will fully satisfy every need of yours, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Note that it is not every “desire” but every “need”. Often, of course, He supplies more than the bare essentials – praise God! – but He will supply all our needs.

Pray that:

We will have a simple faith that the Lord will supply all our needs.
We won’t become greedy but will be content with what He gives us.
We will be grateful for what He gives us.
We will be generous with what He gives us.
He will also meet the needs of (or use us to meet the needs of) other people who are less fortunate than us – both here in our own country, as well as in other countries.

30. Forgive us our debts (Matthew 6:12)

A debt is something we owe someone. We may owe them an apology because we have done something wrong to them. We may owe them something because we have not done what we should have done. We may have wronged them, ignored them, slandered them, failed to love them, taken something from them, and so on. In our relationship with God, we need to ask His forgiveness of our debts because we have wronged Him, ignored Him, said wrong things about Him, failed to love and worship Him, taken His glory and praise for ourselves, and so on. We need God’s forgiveness. We need our debts to be cancelled.

Pray:

That God will forgive us, as Christians, for all our debts to Him; for all we have done wrong; and for failing to do what we should have done.
That God will forgive us as a nation for ignoring Him, blaspheming His Name and breaking His laws.
That all our debts will be cancelled and we will be free!

31. Forgive us, as we forgive others (Matthew 6:12)

It is relatively easy to ask God to forgive us – we all recognise there are things we have done wrong, for which we want God’s forgiveness, but the Lord’s Prayer doesn’t just say “Forgive us our trespasses”. It says, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others who have sinned against us” – and that’s often an awful lot harder! We are asking God to forgive us in the same way that we forgive others. Presumably we want God to forgive us totally, unconditionally, not remembering our sin again or reminding us of it; not holding it against us anymore; not resentful; etc. Then that’s the way we need to forgive others!

Pray that God will help us to:

Forgive other people unconditionally.
Receive and know His forgiveness in this same unconditional way.
Forgive and forget” just as He forgives and forgets our sins.
Show our genuine repentance by a change in the way we live (i.e., not continually repeat the same sin!)

32. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13)

This is a prayer that God will keep us from falling into sin as a result of being tempted, and that God will deliver us from evil (or the evil one). Everyone is tempted, but God can keep us from falling for the deception of temptation and the sin of doing what is wrong. The evil one (Satan and other evil spirits) will tempt us and test us; our own sinful nature will lead us into sin if we allow it. How we all need God’s help to be overcomers – overcoming sin and Satan.

Pray that:

God will help us to discern when we are being tempted.
God will keep us from deception.
God will help us to overcome all the attacks and temptations of the evil one.
We will live lives that please God.

33. “Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory” (Matthew 6:13)

In the midst of all our troubles and woes; in the midst of all our prayers, intercessions and requests from God, let us never forget that the Lord our God, our Heavenly Father, is the King of the one and only eternal Kingdom, and to Him belong the supreme power and glory over all things! He is the one and only Lord God! He is eternal! He is King of kings and Lord of lords! This should encourage our faith to be strong, for “Our Father” rules over all, and all things are in His hands.

Let us pray:

For the faith to believe and live out these truths in our lives.
For the Kingdom, the power and the glory to be seen to be His.
That we will give Him the glory which is due to Him.
God’s power will rule in our lives and through our prayers.
We will always remain humble, realizing that without Him we can do nothing.

34. “… for ever and ever, Amen!” (Matthew 6:13)

This final phrase from the Lord’s Prayer puts everything into the eternal perspective! Often we only see things that happen at the moment and wonder what on earth is happening to us. Why does God delay? Why does it take so long? Doesn’t God know or care? Why doesn’t He answer me now? But God sees and knows everything – He has a plan and purpose which stretches through time to eternity. He is eternal. His Kingdom is eternal. His Kingdom is worldwide. And we are part of that Kingdom if we are His disciples.

Pray that God will:

Give us patience when we need patience.
Give us faith when we need faith.
Show us the bigger picture when all we can see is our own needs.
Give us a glimpse of the eternal Kingdom, of which He is King!

QUESTIONS

1. Why should we not show off how good we are, to other people?

2. When we give financially to help other people, what shouldn't we do?

3. How should we not pray?

4. How should we pray?

5. If God knows what we need before we ask, then why pray?

6. What does "hallowed be Your name" mean?

7. How is God's will done in Heaven?

8. What is one condition for having our sins forgiven?

9. Does God lead us into temptation? (Explain "lead us not into temptation")

10. How does God "deliver us from evil" (or the evil one)?