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…Often auto makers discover their products to be __defective__ and
issue recall notices. I was told this week that my car may be
defective. “ Please bring it into the shop to be checked and fixed.”
…It is
one thing to have a defective car, it is all together different to have
defective
__prayers__.
Yet, it is possible for us to practice a “theatrical righteousness.”
Our giving can be this way, and now Jesus tells of another…our prayers may
masquerade as the real deal, but
__fail__
altogether, being defective to the core.
TWO WAYS IN WHICH OUR PRAYERS MAY BE UTTERLY DEFECTIVE.
...Resulting in the total loss of God’s reward!
I.
If The
__Audience__
Of Your Prayer Is Wrong, Your Prayer Is Offensive to God.(vv5-6)
A. It
is entirely possible to pray to the wrong audience. (v.5)
…”Our __sin__ is so insidious, that it follows us all the way, even
into the __presence__ of God!”
…If you pray to __impress__ those who hear or see you, then you have
the wrong audience.
…One man tells of a number of faults that had crept
into Jewish prayer life:
1.
Prayer had been ritualized. Written and simply read. Given
without
__heart__ or attentiveness.
2.
The development of a prescribed prayer for every object and
__every__ occasion.
3.
The practice of
__limiting__ prayer to specific times and occasions. (9, noon, 3pm)
4.
Esteeming
__long__ prayers. “The longer the better.” Wear God
down…
5.
Meaningless
repetitions like the pagan prayers. (chanting)
6.
The worse: The desire to be seen and heard by others. “Evil to the core!!”
…when prayer focuses on
__self__,
it is always hypocritical. The desire to display
oneself…to be seen, is nothing but pride. “synagogues/streets”…could
__not__
be more
public.
…Yet, Jesus is not forbidding all __public__ prayer…His focus is not
the location, but the heart. Jesus and the disciples both prayed
in public.
B. Our
prayers must focus upon the
__right__ audience: our Father who is in heaven. (v.6)
1.
Again, Jesus
__assumes__ that we will pray. “when”…no prescribed time.
2.
Remember, prayer is
__God’s__ idea. It is sweet communion with the Father. If
it is anything else, it is pretense. It is a __fake__. In
true prayer God tells us that He loves to hear our voice! (imagine
that)
3.
Jesus tells of the “inner room,” which is a
__private__ area which helps us to have the right focus. This is
a private place.
4.
“Shut the door,” so that you can
__concentrate__ upon God your Father.
…the idea is to do __whatever__ you have to set your full attention
away from yourself and others, so as not to show off.
5.
“Secret”, means the content of your prayers is to be
__between__ you and the Lord…He rewards this kind of praying.
II.
If The
__Content__
Of Your Prayer Is Meaningless, Your Prayer Is Without Reward. (vv7-8)
A. Wrong
content in prayer involves
__meaningless__ repetition. (v.7)
1.
Such repetition meant, “thoughtless chatter”, to “babble.” No substance.
2.
Elijah’s confrontation with
__Baal__ prophets illustrate this. (1 Kings 18:26-29)
3.
Prayer that is thoughtless and indifferent is
__offensive__ to God and should be to us.
4.
Jesus, however, is
__not__ forbidding the repetition of genuine requests. (Luke
18:2-7)
B. God
blessed and answered prayer involves
__sincere__ requests. (v.8)
1.
One man writes, “The purpose of prayer is not to
__inform__ or to persuade God,
but to come before Him sincerely, purposely, consciously, and devotedly.”
(John Stott)
2.
Prayer is the sharing of our every need,
__burdens__, and hunger of our hearts to the Father. 1 John 3:22,
tells us if we keep His commandments, He __will__ answer our prayer.
LESSONS FOR OUR
LIVES:
1. When
you pray, come to God like a little child and pour out your heart to Him.
2. When
your audience and your content are right in prayer, Jesus says you will be
rewarded.
3.
Remember the danger here. It is dangerous for sinful men and women
practicing the spiritual life. The deceitfulness of sin can dilute us
even as believers.
4. When you
pray, get all alone.
5. If you
are not saved, cast yourself upon the Lord Jesus Christ. He is man and woman's
only hope.
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