THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT - Matthew 6:5-18

In this chapter, Jesus removes the mask of hypocrisy in our serving, in our praying and in our fasting. It is easy to stage piety through long or fancy prayers. The Pharisees were professional at praying. Their praying had been corrupted and perverted by rabbinic traditions. Prayer became ritualized, prescribed and lengthy. That is why His followers were confused about how to pray as God wanted. In our fast-paced world, we too can be caught up in tradition or just mechanical praying. The Lord's Prayer is in reality the Disciple's Prayer. In it Jesus gives seven important ingredients we would do well to rediscover and incorporate into our prayer life.

1. His Tenderness (v.9) "Our Father in heaven"
He is a caring Father. Over and over again we find Him calling us to "come" (Matt.11:18-29)
We are invited to come at any time; with any need;with every burden, under any circumstance
He is also compassionate. Psalm 103:13 reminds us that "as a father has compassion on his
children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him."
2. His Holiness (v.9) "hallowed be your name"
If we were invited to visit a king, we certainly would show the highest respect in his presence.
God is holy and He commands us to also be holy (I pet.1:16). He is of purer eyes than to
behold evil. Reflecting on all that His name implies should drive us to purity and repentance.
3. His Kingdom (v.10) "Your kingdom come"
Here is where the conflict begins! It is a battle between Satan's kingdom and God's
Kingdom. Too often we seem to pray: "my kingdom come!" But in 6:33 Jesus states, "but
seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you."
4. His Will (v.10) "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" Paul describes the battle of the wills in Gal.5:17, "the sinful nature desires what is contrary to
the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature." Prayer then becomes a
struggle between my will and His will. Even in the Garden as Jesus faced the cross, He prayed
"not my will but yours be done." Effective praying relinquishes self-will to God's will!
5. His Provision (v.11) "Give us today our daily bread"
While it is true that "God will supply all our needs" (Phil.4:19), too often we only focus on our
physical wants and needs. How about our emotional needs? Our intellectual needs? Our
spiritual needs? He wants to be involved is every aspect of our lives!
6. His Forgiveness (v.12) "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors"
Think of the debt charged against us because of sin and the awful price Jesus paid to release
us from sin's penalty, power and ultimate presence. Yet, we often receive His forgiveness
and hold an unforgiving spirit against others. Verse 14 and 15 certainly makes it clear that
an unforgiving spirit is hypocrisy in God's eyes. You are commanded to forgive! Read Eph.4:31-32 and rid yourself of an unforgiving spirit. This grieves the Holy Spirit.
7. His providence (v.13) "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one"
What an awesome promise! He will lead us through the path of temptation victoriously and
deliver us from the evil one presenting us "faultless before the presence of His glory."
Try using this pattern of praying and you will see how much more productive and effective your prayer life will become!

MY QUIET TIME

I'm overwhelmed this quiet time
I find it hard to comprehend
That He Who formed the universe
Should stoop to be my Special Friend.

The angels round His throne may sing
Proclaiming glory to the King
But when redemption's work was done
He claimed me as His special son.

The measure of His love proclaims
The door of Grace is open wide
All those who come in Jesus' name
Are subjects of His special Bride.

But why should He have chosen me
A hopeless slave of sin and shame
I cannot understand such grace
But praise His great and awesome name.

So while I'm sitting here alone
Before the presence of His throne
I bow in worship and in praise
Both now and through eternal days.
--B. Pent