Fundamentals of Prayer

Matthew 6:5-8 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. ⁷ And when you pray, do not use vain [ veyn ] repetitions as the heathen[ hee-thuhn ] do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

 

• When you pray in secret, you received courage, confidence, security, power, and authority
• The reason we ask is to depend on God
• Everything that God does, He does in a principle and a pattern
  [ pat-ern)
• The Abba Father prayer is based on a relationship with God
• The Abba Father prayer is based on how the invisible becomes visible

What is prayer?

• It’s a communication, it’s a conversation with God
• A sign that you have a broken relationship with God is that you no longer pray.

 The Abba Father Prayer

Matthew 6:9-14

⁹ In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come. Your will be done on 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. [ det-er ]  ¹³ And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. ¹⁴ “For if you forgive men their trespasses, [ tres-puhs) your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

• Jesus taught us to pray in the right direction, trust, obedience, dependence, submission, and security.
• Whenever you do God's will, you will have heaven on earth
• In prayer there must be forgiveness and reconciliation

 

1. Every prayer should begin with worship and thanksgiving
2. Repentance for all sin

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden [ hid-n ] His face from you, so that He will not hear.

John 16:23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

Ask: put or make demand on something that is already done

In my name means in the place of Jesus

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

James 4:3  Yet even when you do pray, your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons.

• Speaks about selfish prayers
• As sons and daughters of God we have inheritance, privileges and rights

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

• Prayer brings heaven to earth
• Cry “Abba Father”

John 11:40-42 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

• Honor is very important for prayers to be answered

• Honor comes with obedience

• We honor Him financially