Practice of Prayer

Matthew 6:5–18
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There are no shortcuts when it comes to revival. The church desperately needs revival, but it is not going to come by quick and easy methods. Evan Roberts prayed for eleven years before the Welsh Revival broke out, and his ministry during that remarkable time broke him physically … More

Prayer

Don’t be a show-off when you pray (v. 5) by being loud and in a special kind of voice to be recognized or look good to others. Jesus speaks here about the practice of prayer, which the Pharisees loved to perform publicly. It is better to go into a room alone and pray than to be a show-off in public (v. 6). Their prayers were not directed to God but to other men, and consisted of long repetitive phrases (v. 7). It is still very easy for professing Christians to pray to be heard of men. The principal here is that a believer should not make a show of prayer or pray in such a way that it draws unnecessary attention to himself. God is not impressed with words but with the genuine outcry of a needy heart (v. 5-7). Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him (v. 8). Then Jesus presented a model prayer which is commonly called “the Lord’s prayer” that includes some important elements for us to include in our praying which are as follows (vv. 9-15).

Worship - “Our Father in Heaven”
Reverence - “Hallowed be thy name”
His will to be done - “Thy will be done”
Daily provision - “daily bread”
Forgiveness - “forgive us - as we forgive”
Deliverance - from “temptation” to evil

The Pharisees also loved to fast so that others would see them and think that they were spiritual. Fasting should emphasize the denial of the flesh and not drawing attention to themselves (vv. 16-18). Mark it down that fasting that requires spectators is mere acting.

Application

We have just looked in the last two days at three examples of Pharisaic “righteousness” - giving - praying - fasting . I need to consider what the Lord is trying to teach me in these three areas.

Matthew 6:5-18 (English Standard Version)

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