This study was first taught on August 11, 2010

Topic: The Believer’s Responsibilities (2): Prayer (5)

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Background
Last week we saw that all prayer is rewarded, including the hypocritical prayer. The issue is, “What kind of reward?” In our scripture text last week, we noted that the word translated ‘reward’ in the fifth and sixth verses of Matthew chapter 6, have different meanings. In v.5, “reward” stands for wages or salary given here on earth by men; while in v.6, it connotes something given by God both here on earth, and in eternity. Thus, while the hypocrite gets his reward (the applause of men, honour from men, etc.) here on earth, the true prayer warrior is rewarded by God, both here on earth and in heaven (eternal life, among others). We noted further that while the hypocrite gets a physical and temporal reward, the man who prays honestly gets both physical and spiritual rewards, which are permanent and eternal.

We identified some of the rewards of honest praying as; divine presence and help; transformation in our lives; information and instruction that lead to true success and victory; revelation of deep secrets and of future events; confidence in the midst of uncertainty and difficulty; divine deliverance; help against temptation; receiving what is asked for; finding what is being sought after; and open doors, where there seems to be no way.

Tonight we press on to seeing the content of honest praying. May the Holy Spirit give us understanding, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 6:9- 13
The Lord Jesus gives us in our scripture text tonight, a pattern of prayer; not necessarily something that must be followed dogmatically. It is the intent and essence of the words that is important, not just saying the words!
The scriptures show that honest praying is personal to the individual; and is said to a Person who is able to answer the prayer in a just, fair, and equitable manner. Which is why we must acknowledge Him, even before we go on to ask for anything.
Psalm 23:1; 27:1; John 4:22-24; 2 Kings 4:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:14-16; 9:1-14; 10:19-22; John 16:23-24; 11:41-42; Acts 4:23-24; 2 Chronicles 20:5-7; 2 Kings 19:14-15; Revelation 4:10-11; Deuteronomy 32:3b-4; Daniel 9:1-17; Nehemiah 1:1-11; Psalm 8:1-9; 14:1-3.

Conclusion
Prayer is not just personal, but must involve a personal and experiential knowledge of the One we pray to. It is not enough to pray “Our Father ...” we must also be able to pray, “My Father, my King, my God, my Maker, my Provider, my Shepherd …”

Prayer is always to be directed to God, not to men, no matter what. The people of the Old Testament related with God through the priests and prophets, and so spoke to Him through them. Many of them had no direct relationship with God; but in our time we have direct access through the finished work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us therefore go to God having our hearts purged from all evil, and make known to Him our petitions. We have a guarantee in the word of God that He will answer us whatever we ask from Him.

Our worship and reverence for God must, however, always precede our petitions. No matter how crucial; no matter how precarious; no matter how pressing; no matter how perturbed; our worship must come before our asking. And as our knowledge and experience of God deepens, so will our worship of Him in spirit and in truth.

Our honest prayer must not only be in secret and sincerity, it must also be personal, experiential, relational, and reverential. Let us begin today, to make our worship a daily and central part of our lives, then asking God for anything will be a breeze.

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