WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.720 Well, good morning. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:06.020 I do have one other quick announcement 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:08.540 that I heard from Chris Hill this morning. 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:12.400 Next Saturday is our Rake and Run event, 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:16.559 which is youth group and others are helping to rake people's lawns. 00:00:17.140 --> 00:00:19.059 Now, you may have noticed in the last week, 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:22.320 all the leaves from all the trees fell onto the ground, 00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:24.280 except for the oak tree in my backyard, 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:27.980 which is still holding back half of it for November or December. 00:00:28.260 --> 00:00:29.679 So it's holding back. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:35.399 But if you have a lawn and would like help getting it raked, 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:40.100 or if you have a neighbor who has a lawn 00:00:40.100 --> 00:00:43.740 and they would use help being raked, 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.100 if you could please contact Chris Hill. 00:00:46.620 --> 00:00:49.399 His contact information, this announcement's been in the weekly email. 00:00:49.519 --> 00:00:50.539 It's on the website as well. 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:52.379 I just wanted to mention that 00:00:52.379 --> 00:00:57.340 because he still has space in his slots for more people. 00:00:57.340 --> 00:01:01.760 So contact him to see whether that will work into the plans, 00:01:01.860 --> 00:01:07.820 but they would love to serve more than what they have signed up for right now. 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:10.340 All right. 00:01:10.340 --> 00:01:13.960 Well, this morning, I have a desire, 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:19.719 and that is to renew your and my prayer lives. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:25.579 Whenever we talk about prayer, it's easy to just feel guilty, right? 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:27.060 It's kind of like, how's your diet going? 00:01:27.240 --> 00:01:28.439 How's your prayer life going? 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:32.120 It's always going to be guilt-inducing whenever we talk about it. 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:40.379 And it's easy for us to fall into seeing prayer as a duty and not a delight. 00:01:41.259 --> 00:01:43.179 But in fact, prayer is a gift, 00:01:44.039 --> 00:01:51.120 and I hope to renew that joy that God intends for us to have in prayer this morning. 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:53.180 Why am I talking about this? 00:01:53.320 --> 00:01:57.439 Well, because this is what Jesus is talking about this morning in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:01:57.800 --> 00:02:03.140 We're in a series going through Matthew chapters 5 through 7, 00:02:03.660 --> 00:02:08.140 and Jesus is proclaiming the kingdom that he is bringing, 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:15.140 the distinctive nature of the kingdom that he will bring as he is coming into the world. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:17.860 And as we've seen over and over again, 00:02:17.860 --> 00:02:22.520 one of the major things is that it is marked not by external conformity, 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:24.920 but by heart transformation. 00:02:26.660 --> 00:02:32.700 And what we see in chapter 6 of Matthew is one of three… 00:02:32.700 --> 00:02:35.180 we see three spiritual disciplines, 00:02:35.780 --> 00:02:38.460 and if you want to hear more about that, 00:02:38.580 --> 00:02:42.560 Pastor Nick preached a great sermon that was a bit of an overview of this whole section 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:46.140 about the way that spiritual disciplines are God's gifts 00:02:46.139 --> 00:02:53.599 to train our hearts to be active in pursuing his kingdom in the right ways. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:59.559 And Jesus assumes that when we pray, when we give, when we fast, 00:02:59.739 --> 00:03:01.319 that we're doing these things, 00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:04.500 and he wants to instruct us on how to do it. 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:08.219 Not like the first century Jews, 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:12.039 not like the non-Jewish people of the first century, 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:17.120 but distinctively praying as followers of Jesus. 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:21.759 So that's what we're going to look at this morning. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:23.419 If you want to turn in your pew Bible, 00:03:23.539 --> 00:03:26.299 we're going to be on page 761. 00:03:26.859 --> 00:03:30.479 We're going to be looking at Matthew 6, verses 5 through 15, 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:32.899 and we're going to be looking at the question, 00:03:33.019 --> 00:03:37.259 what does Jesus have to say to us about prayer this morning? 00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:40.379 Let's go ahead and read the passage, 00:03:40.799 --> 00:03:44.579 and then we'll pray and ask God for his help in understanding it. 00:03:45.819 --> 00:03:48.919 Matthew chapter 6, starting in verse 5. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.780 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:59.739 for they love to stand and pray in the synagogue and at the street corners, 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:02.639 that they may be seen by others. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:06.139 Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:10.339 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door 00:04:10.339 --> 00:04:12.659 and pray to your Father who is in secret, 00:04:13.279 --> 00:04:18.120 and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:23.919 And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:27.459 for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 00:04:28.599 --> 00:04:29.839 Do not be like them, 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:33.859 for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:36.719 Pray then like this. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:38.919 Our Father in heaven, 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:40.879 hallowed be your name. 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:42.500 Your kingdom come, 00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:44.060 your will be done, 00:04:44.719 --> 00:04:46.539 on earth as it is in heaven. 00:04:47.359 --> 00:04:49.379 Give us this day our daily bread, 00:04:49.799 --> 00:04:51.500 and forgive us our debts, 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:54.659 as we also have forgiven our debtors. 00:04:54.660 --> 00:04:57.240 And lead us not into temptation, 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:59.939 but deliver us from evil. 00:05:01.380 --> 00:05:03.540 For if you forgive others their trespasses, 00:05:03.660 --> 00:05:06.340 your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 00:05:06.520 --> 00:05:09.560 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, 00:05:09.700 --> 00:05:14.000 neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.160 This is God's Word. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.640 Will you pray with me? 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:21.519 Lord, thank you for this word. 00:05:22.219 --> 00:05:26.439 We thank you that in your, Lord, infinite wisdom, 00:05:26.719 --> 00:05:32.319 you have given us instruction on how it is that we might pray to you. 00:05:33.419 --> 00:05:34.860 And Lord, we need this. 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:37.439 I need this this morning. 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:39.899 Lord, by your Holy Spirit, 00:05:40.599 --> 00:05:43.879 teach our hearts to delight in your ways. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:47.939 Teach our minds to think after your thoughts. 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:53.659 Teach our will and our hands to do what you have called us to do. 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:59.500 Lord, we pray that we might know you more 00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:05.600 in the grace that you've shown us in the gospel this morning. 00:06:06.339 --> 00:06:09.300 May we sit under your word this morning, we pray. 00:06:10.019 --> 00:06:11.860 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:12.000 Amen. 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:14.480 Amen. 00:06:16.019 --> 00:06:21.300 Kingdom prayer frees us from our self-centered hearts 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:24.300 to live a God-centered life. 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:28.779 So we're going to look at this in two sections. 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:31.180 They're not balanced in length. 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:33.319 The first section is verses 5 and 6 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:37.500 about how kingdom prayer frees us from self-centered religion 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:40.259 to communion with God. 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:43.120 And verses 7 through 15, 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:46.819 kingdom prayer frees us from self-reliant religion 00:06:46.819 --> 00:06:49.680 to trusting God. 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:53.019 So let's see how this plays out 00:06:53.019 --> 00:06:57.199 and what it is that Jesus has to tell us this morning about prayer. 00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:00.159 Starting then in verses 5 and 6, 00:07:01.219 --> 00:07:05.899 how kingdom prayer frees us from self-centered religion. 00:07:05.899 --> 00:07:09.179 Jesus starts by saying in verse 5, 00:07:09.539 --> 00:07:10.939 when you pray, you must not be. 00:07:11.019 --> 00:07:12.839 So he's starting with a negative example. 00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:15.739 He says you must not be like the hypocrites. 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:18.780 And if you remember from last week, 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:21.680 Pastor Nick talked about how hypocrites in Greek culture 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:24.460 were those who were actors who wore a mask. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:26.960 And so they put on an external thing 00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:30.579 to play a role that didn't match the internal reality 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:32.180 of their being in their heart. 00:07:32.259 --> 00:07:34.400 And this created a dissonance. 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:38.100 And Jesus says don't be like these people 00:07:38.100 --> 00:07:42.660 who are disintegrated between their outside and their inside. 00:07:42.660 --> 00:07:46.100 He goes on to explain what does this look like for them. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:48.880 For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues 00:07:48.880 --> 00:07:53.840 and at the street corners that they may be seen by others. 00:07:54.080 --> 00:07:59.340 And here Jesus hones in and focuses on the heart issue 00:07:59.340 --> 00:08:03.340 that he really wants to get at in this first point about prayer, 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:07.700 that they may be seen by others. 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:08.879 Right? 00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:11.980 Jesus isn't saying they shouldn't be praying in the synagogues. 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:14.840 He isn't saying that they shouldn't be praying on the street corners. 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:17.860 He isn't saying that you shouldn't be standing while you pray. 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:24.560 What he is saying is if you are praying to be seen by others, 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:26.980 this is the problem. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:31.640 This is not a benign visibility where I want to live my life before others 00:08:31.640 --> 00:08:34.920 so they can see God's gracious work in me. 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:40.539 This is a thirst and a hunger for the praise and acclaim of others. 00:08:42.179 --> 00:08:45.199 This is a desire for us to improve our reputation 00:08:45.199 --> 00:08:46.939 so that people will think, 00:08:47.319 --> 00:08:50.799 oh, he's a great spiritual man or woman. 00:08:51.199 --> 00:08:53.159 Look at the way he prays. 00:08:53.159 --> 00:09:01.199 It's possible that some in the first century in the Jewish community 00:09:01.199 --> 00:09:05.839 would time their day and their travels 00:09:05.839 --> 00:09:09.019 so that they might find themselves on the right street corner 00:09:09.019 --> 00:09:11.399 to be seen by the maximum number of people 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:14.600 when their time for prayer would come about during the day, 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.059 calculating so that they might be seen by the most number of people 00:09:20.059 --> 00:09:26.859 as they pray or to make sure they get the right seat in the synagogue 00:09:26.859 --> 00:09:28.779 so when they stand up, everyone says, 00:09:28.979 --> 00:09:32.939 oh, yes, brother so-and-so is praying again today. 00:09:33.419 --> 00:09:35.179 What a great prayer he is. 00:09:37.339 --> 00:09:40.039 Friends, there can be such a danger, isn't it, 00:09:40.959 --> 00:09:44.000 in us just wanting to look spiritual 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.899 rather than being spiritual 00:09:46.899 --> 00:09:50.939 because when we look spiritual, 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:54.419 when we think other people think of us as spiritual people, 00:09:54.500 --> 00:09:55.220 it helps us. 00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:56.980 We feel secure. 00:09:57.199 --> 00:09:58.379 We feel important. 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:03.139 We feel worthwhile in the religious community around us. 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:06.600 But in doing so, 00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:11.120 we take something that God intended for us to be towards him 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:14.220 and we turn it towards others. 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:20.080 And we do it for our own selfish ego boost. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:23.440 And Jesus does warn us. 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:24.019 He says, 00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:25.860 if you do that, 00:10:25.940 --> 00:10:27.100 you will have your reward. 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:30.080 Because we all know this is true, right? 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:31.820 We all know it's easy, 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:32.879 even in a church, 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.279 even in a good church, 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:35.440 even in a Bible church, 00:10:35.560 --> 00:10:36.600 even in a humble church, 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:41.879 it's so easy for us to fall into this looking good before others 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:44.159 and other people are going to give us praise for it, 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:45.879 for our performance. 00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:52.360 But Jesus says we are not to pray like this. 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:56.680 This is a misguided application 00:10:56.680 --> 00:10:59.740 of the principle and the practice of prayer. 00:11:00.680 --> 00:11:01.240 He says, 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:01.799 instead, 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:03.740 we should be seeking communion 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:05.240 with our Father 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:06.320 who sees 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.659 not in this assembly, 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.620 but who sees in secret. 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:11.740 He says, 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:12.519 go to your room. 00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:14.519 And it's fun. 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:17.100 Do a little word nerdery into this. 00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:19.019 Your room is probably 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:20.360 a storehouse 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:22.340 in the middle of a first century home 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:23.740 that had no windows 00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:25.580 so that no one could see in 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:27.139 and was often the place 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:28.840 where the treasures of the household 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:29.659 would be kept 00:11:29.659 --> 00:11:31.339 because they'd be most protected 00:11:31.339 --> 00:11:32.480 and you couldn't break the window 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.000 to reach in and steal them. 00:11:36.419 --> 00:11:37.319 I think there's richness 00:11:37.319 --> 00:11:38.360 in that imagery of 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:40.319 this is the room to go in 00:11:40.319 --> 00:11:42.679 where no one can see you 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:44.059 but God Himself. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.919 Just a side note. 00:11:49.719 --> 00:11:51.799 Jesus is not precluding public prayer. 00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:53.240 Obviously, we just did it. 00:11:53.319 --> 00:11:54.120 We'll do it again. 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:54.839 Right? 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:56.620 He's not saying that we shouldn't do this. 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:58.419 Jesus Himself prayed in public 00:11:58.419 --> 00:11:59.819 when He fed the 5,000 00:11:59.819 --> 00:12:02.319 before He raised Lazarus from the dead. 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:04.219 And the epistles seem to indicate 00:12:04.219 --> 00:12:05.519 in 1 Timothy 2 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:07.519 and in 1 Corinthians 11 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.979 that in the assembly 00:12:08.979 --> 00:12:11.019 people are praying before others. 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:15.959 So it's not a complete condemnation 00:12:15.959 --> 00:12:17.219 of public prayer. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.059 But again, it's the heart attitude. 00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:22.399 When you pray, 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:26.559 and the instruction here is to say, 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:30.100 do the practice of closet prayer 00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:32.319 so that you learn 00:12:32.319 --> 00:12:34.699 that prayer is about communion with God. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:36.819 So that even when you're praying 00:12:36.819 --> 00:12:38.039 with others around, 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:40.579 you're not looking at them, 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:43.740 but you are looking at God. 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:47.220 He is to be our focus. 00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:49.940 And friends, 00:12:50.060 --> 00:12:52.120 what a great and wonderful 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:54.399 and beautiful invitation this is. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:56.740 That God invites us 00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:58.399 to actually talk to Him. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:01.300 Think about how distinctive that is 00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:02.720 from religions of the world. 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:05.240 How many people feel 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.240 are invited by their God 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:10.060 to come and have communion with Him 00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:11.600 in a secret room. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:13.340 And friends, 00:13:13.420 --> 00:13:14.800 we need to be careful too 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:16.120 that this communion 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:20.379 isn't a baptized version 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:21.939 of what's running around 00:13:21.939 --> 00:13:22.899 in our world today 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:24.519 of simply mindfulness. 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:26.500 Now I want to be careful here. 00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:28.639 Mindfulness done properly 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.279 can be a helpful technique. 00:13:30.819 --> 00:13:31.899 It helps us recognize 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:34.139 how our bodily positioning 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:37.000 and rhythms can affect 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.939 how we are in the world. 00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:40.319 It can help us grow 00:13:40.319 --> 00:13:41.620 in self-awareness 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:43.819 of the things it causes. 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:45.500 But so often, 00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:47.080 mindfulness in our world 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:49.900 has replaced communion with God. 00:13:50.760 --> 00:13:51.600 And mindfulness 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:54.580 can so easily be 00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:57.240 emptying ourselves, 00:13:57.900 --> 00:13:58.940 but ultimately, 00:13:59.220 --> 00:14:01.360 it's actually still focused on us. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:03.200 I want to be at peace. 00:14:03.260 --> 00:14:04.600 I want to feel peace. 00:14:04.900 --> 00:14:07.620 I want to lay aside my anxieties. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:09.820 And ultimately, 00:14:10.060 --> 00:14:11.000 it's about us. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:14.419 But when God invites us to prayer, 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.039 He says, 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.860 we are to go into prayer 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:20.000 so that we can look to Him 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:22.399 and have communion with Him. 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:24.580 And if some of the techniques 00:14:24.580 --> 00:14:25.840 of bodily position 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:27.740 or quieting your mind, 00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:28.480 if that's helpful 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.259 in getting you there, 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:29.759 that's great. 00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:31.019 But make sure that God 00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:33.000 is the end of it 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.580 and the goal of it 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:35.960 and the center of it, 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:37.580 that you might have fellowship 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:39.379 with Him. 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:42.620 And recognize that 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:45.780 in all of this passage, 00:14:46.660 --> 00:14:47.879 have you noticed 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.900 how many times 00:14:48.900 --> 00:14:50.800 Jesus reminds us 00:14:50.800 --> 00:14:52.200 that it's not just to God, 00:14:52.280 --> 00:14:53.220 the transcendent God 00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:53.900 who is the creator 00:14:53.900 --> 00:14:54.620 of all the world, 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:56.580 but God, our Father, 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.360 who sees in secret. 00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:03.540 Ten times in 18 verses, 00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:04.860 Jesus calls God, 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:06.060 our Father. 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:09.080 He is a Father 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:10.120 who delights 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:12.180 when we turn to Him, 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.639 when we run to Him 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:16.779 to tell Him about our day, 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.720 when we call on Him 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:20.620 in an emergency, 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:22.919 because we need to hear His voice 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:25.519 and we need to hear His instruction 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:28.039 and we need to know His embrace 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:28.819 and His comfort. 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:33.319 He delights when we come to Him 00:15:33.319 --> 00:15:35.319 with a single-minded devotion, 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.299 love, and dependence. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.799 He delights when we know 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:44.199 that He is always there, 00:15:45.199 --> 00:15:46.500 that He always loves, 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.980 that He always hears, 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:51.879 that He always sees. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:54.399 this is the Heavenly Father 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.100 that Jesus knows 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:57.019 and calls us 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.759 to be in prayer with. 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:03.100 Some of us haven't had 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:04.500 human fathers like that, 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:06.600 and it's hard to imagine God 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:08.120 being like that. 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.899 But let the Scriptures 00:16:09.899 --> 00:16:13.100 transform not only your thoughts, 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.980 but your emotional pathways 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:17.600 to see that God is a God 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.040 who loves you 00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:20.420 and delights for you 00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:22.139 to come to Him 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:22.879 in communion. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.139 So do you see then 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:29.060 this pattern, 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.800 how it frees us 00:16:30.800 --> 00:16:32.080 from the performing, 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.540 self-centered, 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.720 religious prayer 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.879 that so often 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.399 we fall into? 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.259 Right? 00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:41.159 At a church like Trinity, 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.820 we might fall into 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:44.200 a danger of preaching 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:45.379 rather than praying. 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:47.820 Have you ever noticed that? 00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:49.080 Sometimes we want to say 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:50.679 so much about God 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:51.559 that we're not talking 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:52.960 to Him in our prayers. 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.799 Something for us 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.580 to grow in. 00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.740 Sometimes, 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:01.340 here at Trinity, 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.799 we're too self-conscious 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.480 about being theologically 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.299 correct and precise, 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.660 and some of us feel like, 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.940 oh, I can't pray at all 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.660 in this church. 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.779 Oh my gosh, no. 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:14.319 I might say something wrong. 00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:17.880 Do you see how both of those 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:20.440 are still very self-centered prayer? 00:17:21.260 --> 00:17:23.260 They're not looking to God 00:17:23.260 --> 00:17:24.600 who is our Heavenly Father 00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:25.820 who invites us. 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.840 And if we stumble, 00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:28.420 and if our theology 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.420 isn't always right, 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.900 we can gently encourage 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:32.360 one another towards the truth, 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:34.260 but let us have freedom 00:17:34.260 --> 00:17:36.420 in prayer in this. 00:17:39.340 --> 00:17:40.640 What does it look like 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:42.120 to go into your closet? 00:17:42.820 --> 00:17:44.640 Some of you are really busy people. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:46.800 You never get five minutes 00:17:46.800 --> 00:17:47.480 to yourself, 00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:48.240 it feels like, 00:17:48.300 --> 00:17:48.980 during your day. 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.520 What does it look like? 00:17:52.780 --> 00:17:54.860 Maybe it's prayer along the way. 00:17:55.340 --> 00:17:57.080 Maybe it's praying in the car 00:17:57.080 --> 00:17:58.520 as you're running errands. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:01.280 Maybe it's prayer before bed 00:18:01.280 --> 00:18:02.140 or when you wake up 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:02.840 in the morning. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.400 And look, there's no form. 00:18:05.560 --> 00:18:06.220 You can walk. 00:18:06.300 --> 00:18:06.900 You can kneel. 00:18:07.020 --> 00:18:07.780 You can sit. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.680 You can stand. 00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:11.640 You can do it anywhere. 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.160 You can do it anywhere. 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:12.800 And you know what? 00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:13.720 If you need to, 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:14.740 the church is open 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:16.080 from nine to four every day. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.840 Come here if you want to come 00:18:17.840 --> 00:18:19.820 and just sit in the quiet 00:18:19.820 --> 00:18:21.400 and pray if you have 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:22.580 that freedom of time. 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:26.020 You can speak your prayers. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.180 You can think your prayers. 00:18:27.340 --> 00:18:28.380 You can write your prayers. 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:29.840 You can sing your prayers. 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:30.860 You can turn them 00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:32.200 into spoken word poems. 00:18:32.540 --> 00:18:34.440 Do whatever you want to to pray. 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:36.920 God gives us great freedom 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:38.220 and form and place 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:40.799 because He wants us to come 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:43.880 into communion with Him. 00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:46.519 So this is the first thing 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.680 Jesus teaches us. 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:50.700 Don't fall into self-centered 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:52.299 religious prayer, 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:55.900 but let it be a pursuing 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:57.600 of communion with God 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:59.080 as we pray. 00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:02.420 Jesus then goes on, 00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:04.100 and if you're noticing, 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.100 Pastor Nick mentioned 00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:05.840 this last week, 00:19:06.060 --> 00:19:06.900 there's this pattern 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:10.039 verses three and four is one 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:12.019 and then verses five and six is one 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.660 and then we'll see 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.800 verses 16 and 18. 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:16.640 It's almost a formulaic pattern. 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.840 Verse seven, 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.920 Jesus breaks out of it completely. 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:21.259 He's like, 00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:23.279 oh, I have more to say to you 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.080 about prayer than just this pattern. 00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:25.800 So here we go. 00:19:26.080 --> 00:19:26.560 He says, 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:28.860 kingdom prayer frees us 00:19:28.860 --> 00:19:30.920 from self-reliant religion. 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:34.320 To trust God. 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:37.860 So, 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:39.680 he's already said, 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:41.220 don't be like the Jewish people 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.860 who do it to be seen by others. 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.100 That's their fault. 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.220 That's their heart condition. 00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:47.820 It's not just because they're Jewish. 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:49.680 It's because their heart is wrong, 00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:50.100 right? 00:19:50.560 --> 00:19:52.200 And now he goes after the Gentiles. 00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:53.900 And the Gentiles here 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:55.660 don't mean their ethnic identity. 00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:57.180 It means people who don't know God. 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.759 People who worship other gods 00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.500 who are atheists. 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.539 People who just don't know God at all. 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.279 And he says, 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.359 what do they do? 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.700 Look with me in verse seven. 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:05.779 When you pray, 00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:08.059 do not heap up empty phrases 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:09.859 as the Gentiles do, 00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:12.139 for they think that they will be heard 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.519 for their many words. 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:15.879 Empty phrases is a fascinating word. 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.980 It's only used once, 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.559 not only here in the Bible, 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:20.639 but throughout all of antiquity. 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.819 This is the only time 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:23.079 this word has ever been used. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.740 So we have lots of translations. 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:26.319 Some say babbling. 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:29.180 Some say vain repetition. 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:30.000 Some say, 00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:31.100 as the ESV, 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.460 heap up empty phrases. 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:35.440 Another says thoughtless repetition. 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:38.140 At the core of it, 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.080 what's the problem? 00:20:39.320 --> 00:20:39.720 Again, 00:20:40.100 --> 00:20:42.180 the form is not the key, 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.620 but it's the heart 00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.519 that's the key. 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:48.299 That they will be heard 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:50.259 for their many words. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.880 Artie France just mentions 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:55.860 that prayer in the non-Jewish world 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:56.619 in the first century 00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.879 was often characterized 00:20:57.879 --> 00:21:01.059 particularly by formal invocations 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:03.199 and magical incantations 00:21:03.199 --> 00:21:05.599 in which the correct repetition 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:08.759 counts rather than the worshiper's 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:10.699 attitude or intention. 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:14.319 This seems to be at the heart 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:17.039 of what Jesus is warning us against. 00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:20.179 And we might talk about other religions 00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:21.719 and how other religions pray, 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.120 but I want to focus in 00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:24.880 on how we as the church, 00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:26.200 broadly speaking, 00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:28.259 has fallen into some 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.819 of these patterns ourselves. 00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:31.380 Right? 00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.900 And I want to be careful 00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:36.600 because there is a joy in learning. 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:38.319 I have experienced great joy 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:40.279 in learning from brothers and sisters 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:42.120 from different theological traditions, 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.960 from different parts of the world, 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:44.779 different cultures. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.779 So I want to be careful to say 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:48.500 there's lots for us to learn 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:50.360 from one another about how to pray. 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:52.439 But here are two strands 00:21:52.439 --> 00:21:53.479 that I could see 00:21:53.479 --> 00:21:55.319 that maybe we would fall into 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:57.399 around here that might be dangerous. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:00.719 One is because we live 00:22:00.719 --> 00:22:01.879 in a predominantly Catholic, 00:22:03.459 --> 00:22:05.199 I don't typically pick this out, 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:07.059 but the praying of the rosary 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:07.959 is problematic 00:22:07.959 --> 00:22:11.699 in light of Jesus' teachings here. 00:22:12.459 --> 00:22:12.740 Okay? 00:22:13.179 --> 00:22:14.179 If you don't know, 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.879 the rosary is a necklace 00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:17.199 and there's a process 00:22:17.199 --> 00:22:18.199 that you go through 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:20.440 and you pray through things. 00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:22.640 And there are ways in which 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:25.380 it could be a helpful tool. 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:28.200 But in the midst of it, 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.220 there's a repetition 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:30.660 three times 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.960 and then ten times, 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.200 multiple times, 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.480 of Hail Mary, 00:22:34.600 --> 00:22:35.299 full of grace. 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:36.120 Right? 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.980 And apart from the theological 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.620 misdirection of prayer 00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:41.740 that is a serious problem 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:43.880 because we're not called ever 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:44.900 to pray to Mary, 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:48.540 there's also this pattern 00:22:48.540 --> 00:22:49.600 of repetition 00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:51.740 that seems to be 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:54.240 a heaping up 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.540 of saying the same thing 00:22:55.540 --> 00:22:57.660 over and over and over again. 00:22:58.660 --> 00:23:00.660 The official Catholic website says, 00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:02.540 repetition is to help us 00:23:02.540 --> 00:23:03.620 to calm your head. 00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:05.540 But when I look at this pattern, 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:06.000 I think, 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:06.500 really? 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.700 Three times? 00:23:07.820 --> 00:23:08.420 Ten times? 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.560 Over and over again? 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:11.000 This is how everyone 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.059 ought to pray 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.119 all the time? 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:16.119 How easy is this 00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:17.579 to start to feel like 00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.440 it's mechanical 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.819 or magical 00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:21.679 and formulaic? 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:26.019 So that's on one end 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.559 of the spectrum. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.679 There's another kind 00:23:27.679 --> 00:23:29.379 of problem with prayer. 00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.659 This comes more 00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:31.759 from the Pentecostal 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.799 charismatic end 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.480 of the church 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:35.299 where there's a deep rejection 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.599 of all liturgy, 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.559 of all formal... 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:40.480 But there is, 00:23:40.679 --> 00:23:41.399 at times, 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.720 what creeps in 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.299 is this kind 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:44.419 of magical thinking. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.419 If we pray 00:23:45.419 --> 00:23:46.299 the name of Jesus 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.460 in just the right way, 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.559 there is power 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.779 and we're going to repeat it 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.879 over and over again. 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.639 And in that, 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.460 we're going to see 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.440 God moved 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.659 and the world changed. 00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:59.039 And friends, 00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:00.099 I have to tell you, 00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:01.539 the kind of repetition 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.480 that I hear 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.019 sounds a lot like 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.639 what Jesus 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:06.279 is concerned about here. 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.680 because remember, 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.819 what is He concerned 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.680 about the most? 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.720 That God will hear us 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.920 because of our many words. 00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.279 Friends, 00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:17.440 is this the God 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.079 of the Bible? 00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.579 Right? 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.000 This is a fundamental 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:24.160 misunderstanding of prayer 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:25.359 because it's a misunderstanding 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:27.019 of who God is. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.819 God doesn't need us 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.460 to come to Him 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.639 in a particular form 00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.799 or a particular way. 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:33.539 He is not impressed 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:35.579 or moved by the volume 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.399 or the repetition 00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:37.659 of how many times 00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.920 we pray for something. 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:41.599 Verse 8 is so central here. 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:44.700 God knows what you need. 00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:48.279 Is God going to be moved 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.079 because you say, 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.519 hey God, 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.519 I have this need 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.700 that you don't know about. 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.940 What does He not know about? 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.399 God, 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.200 I have this thing 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.420 that I deeply care about. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:59.240 Can you please do something? 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:01.120 As if He didn't already 00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:02.359 care about you 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.799 and the situation 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.940 you're praying about. 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:07.680 God knows these things. 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:08.980 Don't believe 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.700 that you're going to move God 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.559 to do something 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.740 He doesn't want to do 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:14.620 because of how you pray. 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:21.099 We're not informing God 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:22.980 or convincing Him 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:25.259 by how we pray. 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:27.740 God is a good 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.640 and a loving 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:30.400 and a heavenly Father 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:33.019 and He delights in us 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.900 as we come to Him. 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:37.180 Every parent knows this. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.019 We know the needs 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.700 of our kids 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.660 and sometimes 00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:41.160 when they come 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.940 and ask for it, 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.420 it gives us great joy 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.079 to respond 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.160 in a particular way 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:45.859 in that moment. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.960 But our provision 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:49.119 is not contingent 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:50.099 upon them asking 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:52.079 and our love for them 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.319 is not contingent 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.799 on how they ask. 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:59.559 God is a good Father. 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:04.240 And because this is true, 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:05.599 it means 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:07.160 some liturgical prayer 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:07.900 can be great. 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.200 It can be really useful. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.879 I've been really helped 00:26:10.879 --> 00:26:11.619 by reading 00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:12.519 and sometimes 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.420 even actually 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:14.900 just praying the words 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:17.700 of historical prayers. 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:19.279 The Valley of Vision 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.359 is a great book 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:21.720 that's a book 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.799 of Puritan prayers 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.319 or Every Moment Holy 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.279 that you may have seen 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.079 that's prayer 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.939 in everyday life. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:28.779 These are helpful tools 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:30.480 when we use them 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.679 to tune our heart 00:26:31.679 --> 00:26:32.939 and to go to God, 00:26:33.939 --> 00:26:34.960 not because we think 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.919 He's going to hear us 00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:36.919 by how we do it, 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:38.639 but because these help us 00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:40.960 in our prayer to God. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.939 And it's okay for us 00:26:44.939 --> 00:26:46.259 to pray for a long time. 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.679 Martin Luther used to get up 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.680 and pray for three hours. 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.680 Now, he was a monk, 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.640 so maybe he had a little 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.920 latent Catholicism in that. 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.440 But even so, 00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:54.500 he, you know, 00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:55.460 it's okay for us 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:56.560 to pray for a long time 00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.880 as long as we don't think, 00:26:58.340 --> 00:26:59.340 well, I'm going to be 00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:00.259 more spiritual 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.220 and people are going to think 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.340 I'm a greater person 00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:03.400 because I pray longer 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:05.900 or God's going to hear me more 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:07.019 because I pray longer. 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:08.620 Those are the things 00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:09.539 that Jesus is saying. 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:11.899 Don't fall into these traps 00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:13.700 because when we do that, 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:15.220 prayer gets misguided, 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.720 misdirected. 00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:19.240 Rather than having communion 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:21.279 with God, our Father, 00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:24.359 it becomes something else. 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:27.019 And so having warned us 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.539 about all these things, 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:30.139 Jesus gives us a form. 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:32.420 He gives us a model prayer 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:34.480 that we can repeat verbatim 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:36.819 or we can use it as a model 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:38.639 to think about how we pray. 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:41.420 It's called the Lord's Prayer. 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.379 You heard me 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:44.039 when I read it earlier 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:45.720 and it seems that it was 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:48.159 picked up early in the church 00:27:48.159 --> 00:27:51.180 and used repetitively 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:53.180 or regularly in gatherings 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.819 of corporate worship. 00:27:55.659 --> 00:27:56.899 Some of you may wonder, 00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.920 what about the ending? 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.839 For thine is the kingdom 00:27:58.839 --> 00:27:59.379 and the glory 00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:01.139 and the power forever and ever. 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.480 Amen. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:03.220 That I grew up learning 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.159 when I was a kid 00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:06.240 in the church that I grew up in. 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:09.099 Well, the church added that 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:11.259 maybe from a verse in, 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:13.639 sorry, I didn't put it in my notes. 00:28:13.719 --> 00:28:14.099 I can't remember. 00:28:14.219 --> 00:28:14.919 Second Chronicles, 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.480 First Chronicles, 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.079 something or other. 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.519 They pulled this phrase 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.339 from somewhere else 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:20.319 and added it on to the end 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:23.119 in the form that the church used 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:24.339 outside of the Scriptures. 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:26.379 It's okay that we did that. 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:28.539 It makes it a rich prayer, right? 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.699 It's scriptural. 00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:30.959 But it's not here. 00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:32.159 It's not what Jesus taught 00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.959 in Matthew 6. 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:36.880 He gives us this form to pray. 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:39.480 Now, you're all looking 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.559 at your clocks and thinking, 00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.299 oh my gosh, 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:42.200 is He going to preach 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.460 through all of this now? 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:45.000 It's already 1115. 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:46.840 So, here's the good news. 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.579 We're going to come back to this. 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:51.059 We're going to preach this week. 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.539 We're going to have 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.700 a Thanksgiving service, 00:28:52.840 --> 00:28:54.059 testimony service next week. 00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.680 We're going to preach 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:57.059 one more time on fasting. 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.420 Then we're going to go into Advent. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.960 And on January 5th, 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.880 we're going to come back 00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:02.820 to the Lord's Prayer. 00:29:03.080 --> 00:29:04.400 And we're going to preach through it 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:06.519 line by line 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:08.180 through January and February. 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:11.980 So, we're going to do this deep dive. 00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:13.279 So, I'm going to do it 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:16.480 at a really high level 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.840 for the next few minutes. 00:29:18.840 --> 00:29:20.220 What does Jesus teach us 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:21.220 in this model of prayer? 00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:22.480 The first thing is 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:24.779 He starts with a God-centered focus. 00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:27.420 Our Father who is in heaven, 00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.420 hallowed, 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:28.779 that is, 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.900 make holy 00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:31.180 or set apart 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.900 your name 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:32.660 is great 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.759 and beautiful. 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.620 Jesus says, 00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:36.340 when we pray, 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:38.519 let's start by looking at God, 00:29:38.600 --> 00:29:39.300 the personal 00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:40.700 and transcendent God 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:42.039 who invites us 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.140 as a heavenly Father 00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:45.380 to come to Him 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:47.039 because He is benevolent 00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.820 and gracious. 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:50.420 And then, 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:52.140 Thy kingdom come, 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.019 Thy will be done 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.519 on earth 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:55.160 as it is in heaven. 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:57.040 Our focus is not, 00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.440 God, this is what I need 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.360 and this is what I want 00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.380 and this is how I want you 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:01.140 to act in the world. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.480 But God, 00:30:01.540 --> 00:30:03.040 what do you want in this world? 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.300 What do you, 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:05.800 what is your plan? 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:07.440 What is your will? 00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:08.720 How is your kingdom 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:10.580 going to come to this earth? 00:30:10.800 --> 00:30:12.920 Not my kingdom coming to heaven, 00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:15.420 but your kingdom coming to earth. 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:22.039 We start with a God-centered expression 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:24.180 because we want to orient our hearts 00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:25.060 towards Him. 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.840 And then from that, 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.460 Jesus says, 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:30.480 and then having fixed our eyes on Him, 00:30:30.620 --> 00:30:31.519 then we can say, 00:30:32.060 --> 00:30:33.000 give us this day 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.279 our daily bread. 00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:38.560 God, provide for our everyday needs. 00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:40.080 You know them all. 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:41.259 You are the one who provides 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.259 all that we have. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:44.299 Lord, we are reminding ourselves 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.279 and reminding you, 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:47.140 God, you will provide. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.200 Give us this day 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:49.140 our daily bread. 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:51.099 But recognize that 00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:52.599 as He talks about His needs, 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:54.279 He doesn't go on about 00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:57.140 my car that needs repaired 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:58.619 and Aunt Josie's, 00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.240 you know, 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.740 corns on her toe. 00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:02.879 Look, it's fine to pray 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:04.240 for all of those things. 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:06.200 But recognize that for Jesus, 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:07.359 in this prayer, 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:08.660 there's one line about 00:31:08.660 --> 00:31:09.440 give us this day 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.039 our daily bread. 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.940 And then He goes on. 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.259 And the other needs 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.559 that He asks for 00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:15.019 are actually more 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:16.339 spiritually oriented. 00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:21.000 Forgive us our sins 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.639 as we forgive others. 00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:27.559 And deliver us from temptation. 00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:29.200 Right? 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.599 Lead us not in temptation, 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:32.460 but deliver us from evil. 00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:34.680 Keep our spiritual lives 00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:36.059 from being destroyed 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:38.519 by sin, 00:31:38.679 --> 00:31:39.339 by Satan. 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.659 Lord, help us 00:31:42.659 --> 00:31:43.819 to remember 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:45.419 and to live in 00:31:45.419 --> 00:31:46.859 the grace in which 00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:48.119 we now stand in Jesus 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:49.539 that is the grace 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.480 of Your forgiveness 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.679 of our sin. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.379 I want to say something 00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:55.019 really briefly 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:57.679 about verses 14 and 15. 00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:58.639 And again, 00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.819 we'll come back to this 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:01.299 probably much more in depth. 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:04.720 But I don't believe 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.680 Jesus is making 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.700 our forgiveness 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.919 from God 00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:08.960 conditional. 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.480 That would seem 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.419 to be contrary 00:32:11.419 --> 00:32:13.700 to say Ephesians 1.7 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.419 where it says 00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:16.720 the forgiveness of sins 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:18.119 is a gift of grace, 00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:19.339 not because we have 00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:19.919 deserved it 00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:20.579 or done anything 00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.399 to earn it. 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:24.000 But I think instead, 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.899 maybe Ephesians 4.32 00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:26.480 is a key, 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.500 that we are to forgive 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.599 as the Lord 00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.819 has forgiven us. 00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:32.439 Jesus is calling us 00:32:32.439 --> 00:32:33.359 to remember 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.299 our salvation 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:36.019 and the forgiveness 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:37.179 that God has given us 00:32:37.179 --> 00:32:38.679 and then to be forgiving 00:32:38.679 --> 00:32:39.419 towards others 00:32:39.419 --> 00:32:40.960 because that is true. 00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:42.159 And there is a warning 00:32:42.159 --> 00:32:42.700 in there, 00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:43.439 which is, 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.859 if we aren't forgiving 00:32:44.859 --> 00:32:45.859 of other people, 00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:47.720 do we really know 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.679 God's forgiveness? 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:51.240 But it's not a condition. 00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:53.139 God only forgives me 00:32:53.139 --> 00:32:54.279 as much as 00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:57.399 I forgive others. 00:32:57.400 --> 00:33:01.380 Jesus ends His teaching here 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:03.540 saying, 00:33:04.060 --> 00:33:07.019 this is the most important thing. 00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:08.480 This is the central. 00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:10.560 This is the core, right? 00:33:10.780 --> 00:33:12.259 It's bringing us back 00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:14.400 to the gospel again. 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:23.700 Do you see how 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:25.120 prayer flows 00:33:25.120 --> 00:33:25.920 from the gospel? 00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:28.440 Because in the gospel, 00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:29.560 what do we confess? 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:32.160 That a grace-filled God 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:34.680 in love 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.540 has initiated 00:33:35.540 --> 00:33:36.400 towards us 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:38.460 with a plan 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.160 of salvation. 00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:40.140 He sent 00:33:40.140 --> 00:33:41.460 Jesus His Son 00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:42.519 to rescue us 00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.819 when we were lost 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.539 in sin, 00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:46.059 far from Him, 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:47.539 enemies of Him, 00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:49.259 rejecting Him 00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:50.559 in our foolish pride 00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.279 that thinks 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.799 we can control God, 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:54.759 in our foolish plans 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.740 of self-delivering 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.839 that by success 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:58.039 or by doing 00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.779 the right things 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.819 we might actually 00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:01.599 be acceptable to Him. 00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.960 We had rejected God 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:06.019 in all of these things, 00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:07.299 but God initiated 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.259 towards us 00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:09.000 to say, 00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:09.420 no, 00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:11.119 that is not the way, 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.159 but I am sending 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:12.900 you the way. 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.719 Jesus has come 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:17.480 to save us 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:18.440 from our sin 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.579 in grace, 00:34:19.759 --> 00:34:20.199 giving us 00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:21.480 what we don't deserve, 00:34:21.859 --> 00:34:22.599 the forgiveness 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:23.639 of our sin 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.920 through Jesus' death 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.400 for us, 00:34:25.719 --> 00:34:26.559 the renewal 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.859 of our personal 00:34:27.859 --> 00:34:28.539 relationship 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:29.599 with God our Father 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:30.699 so that we can 00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.619 enter into Him, 00:34:31.859 --> 00:34:32.779 a high priest, 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.299 Jesus, 00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.119 who now sits 00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.960 in the heavenly realms 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.960 so that when we 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.960 approach a God 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:38.139 of all glory 00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:38.639 and honor 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:39.199 and holiness, 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:41.599 He doesn't cast us 00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.299 away because of 00:34:42.299 --> 00:34:42.879 our sinfulness, 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.759 but covers us 00:34:43.759 --> 00:34:44.819 with the righteousness 00:34:44.819 --> 00:34:45.439 of Christ 00:34:45.439 --> 00:34:46.099 so that we can 00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:47.379 actually approach 00:34:47.379 --> 00:34:49.439 God the Father 00:34:49.439 --> 00:34:50.759 through Jesus 00:34:50.759 --> 00:34:53.779 and be received 00:34:53.779 --> 00:34:54.480 and accepted 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.359 and heard. 00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.699 The gospel tells us 00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:01.179 that we have 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:02.559 a new spiritual life 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.359 where the Spirit 00:35:03.359 --> 00:35:04.179 of God dwells 00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:04.779 within us, 00:35:04.919 --> 00:35:05.859 and this Spirit 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:07.300 will help us pray 00:35:07.300 --> 00:35:10.079 heart-oriented prayers 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:11.220 to God 00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:12.099 that are right. 00:35:14.740 --> 00:35:15.900 This is the kingdom 00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:17.660 that Jesus 00:35:17.660 --> 00:35:18.640 is bringing, 00:35:19.140 --> 00:35:20.260 a kingdom of those 00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:21.000 who pray 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.480 to God their Father 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.840 because they know 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:24.320 that He 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:25.720 is a good 00:35:25.720 --> 00:35:26.960 and loving Father 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:28.320 who delights 00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:29.180 when they come 00:35:29.180 --> 00:35:29.620 to Him 00:35:29.620 --> 00:35:30.640 in need. 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.860 Let's pray. 00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:36.460 Lord Jesus, 00:35:36.640 --> 00:35:37.320 we thank You. 00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.420 We thank You 00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:40.200 for all that You 00:35:40.200 --> 00:35:41.220 have done for us 00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:42.160 so that we can even 00:35:42.160 --> 00:35:43.820 do what we're doing 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:44.440 right now, 00:35:44.680 --> 00:35:45.559 coming to You 00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:46.180 in prayer. 00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:48.579 Lord, 00:35:48.660 --> 00:35:49.240 we pray, 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:51.760 we pray that 00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:53.360 as we meditate 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.360 on this passage 00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.099 that You would 00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:55.960 renew us, 00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:57.539 renew us 00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:59.420 in our understanding 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.260 of what a good 00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:01.000 Father You, 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:02.800 we have 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:04.420 in our God. 00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:06.619 Renew us 00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:07.559 in our desire 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:09.320 to come 00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:09.960 to Him. 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:11.179 Renew us, 00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.099 Lord, 00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:14.480 in our sense 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.659 of utter dependence 00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:18.159 and in our delight 00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:19.320 in bringing our needs. 00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:21.320 Lord, 00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:21.940 renew us 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:22.920 in our worship 00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:24.659 of our God, 00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.179 our Father, 00:36:25.179 --> 00:36:26.199 through Jesus. 00:36:27.639 --> 00:36:28.440 Oh, Lord, 00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.519 we pray these things 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:30.539 in Jesus' name. 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.420 Amen.