MATTHEW 6:5-18 nasb 1995

Prayer is communication and communion with God

THE MOST VALUABLE THING WE GET FROM PRAYER IS GOD HIMSELF

MATTHEW 6:5 nasb 1995

JESUS ASSUMES EVERY FOLLOWER WILL HAVE A PRAYER LIFE

YOU CAN PRAY VOLUNTARILY OR CIRCUMSTANCES WILL MAKE US PRAY

MATTHEW 6:6 nasb 1995

THE MAJORITY OF YOUR PRAYER LIFE SHOULD BE ALONE

THE SECRET OF PRAYER IS PRAYING IN SECRET

MATTHEW 6:7-8 nasb 1995

DON’T PRAY PRAYERS THAT ARE DISCONNECTED FROM YOUR HEART

MATTHEW 6:9-13 nasb 1995

A PROPER AND EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE SHOULD BE FILLED NOT JUST WITH THE WORDS OF THIS PRAYER BUT WITH THE ELEMENTS OF THIS PRAYER

5 ELEMENTS OF THE PRAYER

VS. 9

1. WHEN YOU GO TO PRAY…THINK ABOUT WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO FIRST!

VS. 10

2. YOUR PRAYER SHOULD BE FILLED WITH CARING FOR THE SPREAD AND THE REIGN OF GOD IN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE (the kingdom) (his will)

VS. 11

3. PRAY WITH A DEPENDENCE ON GOD.

VS. 12

4. CONSTANTLY BE CONFESSING SIN IN HIS PRESENCE. AND LETTING PEOPLE GO

Vs. 13

5. PRAY FOR STRENGTH TO GO THROUGH TRIALS

MATTHEW 6:14-15 nasb 1995

MATTHEW 6:16-18 nasb 1995

A. PLUMMER - "the light of a Christian character will shine before men and win glory for God without the artificial aid of public advertisement. ostentatious religion may have its reward down here, but it receives none from God.

Christians who judge successful ministries by external statistics such as attendance figures, membership, baptisms, and offerings should seriously rethink their criteria in light of Jesus’ words here.

God judges the greatness of his servants by searching their hearts, examining their inner attitudes, and seeing deeds done in secret. Doubtless, his evaluations of who most honors him will invert a substantial majority of his people’s evaluations"