When You Pray

1. When You Pray Matthew 6:5-8 Key Words: Pray, prayer October 12, 2014

2. Matthew 6:5-8 - "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.

3. A True Disciple Prays v. 5 – “When you pray…” • Three times in eight verses • A born again Christian prays • “If prayer-less, then grace-less” – Matthew Henry • Prayer is hard work

4. Don’t Pray Like This v. 5a – “you must not be like the hypocrites Jesus provides a contrast between a true disciple and a hypocrite. v. 5b – ““For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.” Motive – to be seen by others It is the inner disposition of the heart that counts

5. Do Pray Like This v. 6 - “But when you pray” V. 6 – “…go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.” The idea is not trying to make yourself conspicuous It’s not the place of prayer, but the attitude of the mind and heart Public prayer is not prohibited

6. The Reward for a Praying Disciple V. 6 – “And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Your Father sees, hears and rewards Reward: • Peace • Rest • God will give what is best

7. Don’t Pray Like This (2) • V. 7 – “…do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words.” • Quantity of prayer does not mean more spiritual • The heart motivation is what is in view • V. 8 – “do not be like them.” A command! We reduce, weaken and limit God

8. The Reward (part 2) v. 8 - “for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” God knows! God is not uninformed Why even pray if he knows? • He told us 3 x’s in this passage • Aligning my will with his • Dependence • Jesus prayed to the Father

9. Summary • A true disciple of Jesus Christ prays • Don’t pray like a hypocrite – wrong heart • Pray with a right heart • There is reward for a praying disciple Matthew 26:36-46 The most significant and important preparation Jesus could make before going to the cross was to pray to his Father.

10. Matthew 26:36-46 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

11. Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."