When you are doing something you are not familiar with you will do one of 3 things:
- Read an instruction manual (Bible)
- Try to figure it out
- Watch or ask others
So many people try to do the same thing about spiritual things. They simply try to figure it out or just follow the crowd RATHER than reading the instruction manual.
Prayer is just talking to God
Practical exercise: Have a student come up and ask his name. Then talk to him like people try to talk to God
So the question is: “How do I pray?” and God answers this question by FIRST telling you “How NOT to pray”
Matthew 6:5 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.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Instructions for prayer:
Reverence (vs. 9)
9: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Psalm 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
Submission, anticipation of the Blessed Hope (2nd coming of Christ) (vs. 10)
10: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
[15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Thanksgiving and Supplication (entreat in favor of) (vs. 11)
11: Give us this day our daily bread.
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Confession of the sins of the flesh for the restoration of fellowship. Then to have the heart to forgive others. (vs.12)
12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Protection. From both what the world may do unto us and what we are liable to do to ourselves (vs. 13a)
13: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
Psalm 7:1 O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
Reverence (vs. 13b)
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
- Remember Prayer is just talking to God,
- We Should pray to God through of His Son Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.