Bible Study - How to Pray (1) - The Object of Our Prayer - Matthew 6:9a and Psalm 103 - October 14, 2018

Bible Study – How to Pray – The Object of Our Prayers – October 14, 2018

This is lesson one in our series entitled “How to Pray.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 6:9a; Psalm 103:1-5, 11-13, 19-22.

A right view of GOD fuels how we pray.

What is your view of GOD? Do you know GOD or just know about GOD?

Where is GOD in relation to you? Is HE out there somewhere or within you as a Christian? Step one is to accept what JESUS has done for you by faith. 

What did HE do? JESUS willingly left HIS home in Heaven and came to earth to live as a human, to be subjected to the perils of human existence including the ability to sin, yet HE lived a sinless life. HE willingly gave HIS perfect human life to pay, in full, for the sin of mankind. HE died and was buried. GOD had a plan to reveal and prove what JESUS’ life and death accomplished. GOD raised the human body of JESUS from the physically dead to live eternally. Why? It was to prove and guarantee that JESUS life, death and resurrection had conquered both sin and its consequence eternal death. When a person places his or her faith in JESUS, his or her sins are placed upon JESUS and HIS righteousness is placed upon him or her. The person placing his or her faith in JESUS will receive this same eternal life and his or her Glorified body when JESUS comes to earth for the second time to redeem both the living and the dead in JESUS.

Does this mean Christians don’t immediately go to Heaven when they die physically? No! GOD has fashioned a special body for every Christian which they will occupy until they return with JESUS as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

The Comfort of Christ's Coming

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 

14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 

15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. 

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord. 

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Do you believe that JESUS gave HIS sinless life to pay, in full, for your sins by the shedding of HIS blood? If so, then you are a Christian. You are a child of GOD conceived by the Holy Spirit. Once a child of GOD, that fact is never changed. Remember what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:15: (A Christian’s foundation is in JESUS and each Christian builds upon that foundation using building materials.)

15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 

Paul was writing about obedience and rewards associated with obedience. 

Every Christian is building a personal relationship with GOD through his or her relationship with JESUS. Once a person is saved from sin and its consequence, eternal death, a person is GOD’S child through the miracle of rebirth in his or her spirit. The question is, “As Christians are we living in obedience to GOD’S desire for our lives?”

How do Christians do that? Remember, when a person accepts JESUS as his or her Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into his or her life to guarantee or to seal the new covenant made between GOD and that person. This new covenant was established by GOD with mankind when JESUS gave HIS life upon the cross by the shedding of HIS blood.

The miracle of rebirth in our spirit by the Spirit of GOD makes every person who places his or her faith in JESUS, GOD’S Son or Daughter. Thus GOD is every Christian’s Spiritual Father with all the rights and privileges of being a Child of GOD.

We are privileged to know this today. The disciples of JESUS thought JESUS would be an earthly king until after HIS resurrection.

JESUS was praying and a disciple asked HIM a question regarding how to pray as written in Luke 11:1-2:

1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." 

2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

In this scripture, we read that JESUS was praying and “one of JESUS’ disciple’s” asked HIM a very important question. “LORD, teach us how to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Notice, it was a question which likely came from more than one disciple, “us.”

In Matthew, JESUS was teaching and HE included the model prayer in HIS “Sermon on the Mount.” When Bible scholars ponder these two scriptures, some conclude that the Luke version either came before or after the “Sermon on the Mount.” The order is not as important as the content. There are slight differences between the two prayers.

We do not know if the disciple who asked the question in Luke’s account was one of the twelve or a follower of JESUS. The setting leads me to think it was one of the twelve. The point is that the question was asked and JESUS responded to teach those in that day how to pray and to teach us today.

JESUS, in HIS Sermon on the Mount, taught those listening how to pray.  This is our focus scripture which is recorded in Matthew 6:9.

What is prayer? It is talking to GOD. It is a two-way conversation. We talk to GOD and GOD talks to us. Some may say, “If GOD spoke to me, I would run.” That is why GOD does not speak to you. All can come to GOD and talk to HIM. That is every person. Yes, every person. Those interested in knowing GOD and seeking salvation should talk to GOD and tell HIM. Then open the “eyes of your heart” and allow HIM speak to you. But realize, when HE speaks, the next step for you is to take action. Would you do that? We must keep in mind that all people must take a step of faith. If you are looking for an uneventful life, forget it. It will be an exciting journey with a retirement plan that is out of this world.

We have scripture from both the New Testament and the Old Testament. In the New Testament JESUS had come in the flesh. In the Old Testament, JESUS, The Promised Messiah, was yet to come. Consider this dynamic as you study this lesson.

Let’s read Matthew 6:9; Psalm 103:1-5:

Matthew 6:9:

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

JESUS addressed GOD as “Father.” This to me makes it clear that GOD, 

our Father, is male. HE is Holy and HE is to be honored and respected. When we pray, we are praying to GOD, whose Spirit/“Divine Sperm” make our human spirit alive through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth (Spiritual conception), thus “our Father.” Is this strange? No! How was JESUS conceived?

Now, we switch to the Psalm written by David. When you read Psalm 103, what picture does David paint of GOD? How did David form his knowledge of GOD? David looked externally but he knew internally what he had experienced in his life as he looked to GOD for his care, protection and guidance. Let’s explore!         

Psalm 103:1-5:

1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 

2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 

3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 

4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 

5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

David was expressing his heart toward GOD which was coming from the very core of David’s being (the eyes of his heart). We express our love toward others in many different ways. But when it comes to GOD, how do we express our love and adoration when we know HIS majesty and the infinite love HE has.

We love our children, parents, spouse and friends. How do we show and express that love?

As we read this Psalm, we read some of attributes David expressed:

-         Praise HIS Holy Name

-         Remember all the good things GOD has done

-         Forgives our sins

-         Heals our diseases

-         Redeems our lives from the Pit/Hell

-       

  All of us are sinners and are condemned to Hell. Those HE has redeemed from Hell are never to continue life’s journey ashamed. When GOD redeems He also forgives, restores and forgets our past. To confirm redemption, GOD crowns those being redeemed from Hell with HIS marvelous light, HE shows Love and Compassion.

-        

When a person experiences the love and compassion of GOD, it inspires, renews and invigorates the person who experiences GOD’S best for HIS children. 

Let’s read Psalm 103:11-13:

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 

David was expressing the magnitude of GOD’S love for those who reverence, honor and respect HIM, which included him. When GOD forgives it is complete. David compared GOD’S forgiveness and compassion to an earthly father who shows compassion, out of love for his child.

Let’s read Psalm 103:19-22:

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. 

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, my soul.

David challenged the angels and all of HIS heavenly hosts to join in praising GOD. GOD is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscience. All are invited to join David in the praise of GOD. GOD is sovereign and over all in the heavens and universe.

As I began this lesson, the only way a person can experience GOD is to have an intimate, loving personal relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. The words of JESUS were recorded in John 14:6:

6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Even as Christians, our opinion and view of GOD determines the relationship we will have with HIM.

If we consider GOD is aloof and does not care how we live as Christians or non-Christians, we live accordingly. By the same measure, if we consider GOD as a strict tyrant eager to punish if we sin, we would live in fear, meaning to be afraid. As GOD’S children, through faith in JESUS, what kind of relationship does GOD desire for us to have with HIM?

He desires for HIS children to come boldly to HIM as written in Hebrews 4:16:

16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

Christians live life upon earth under GOD’S Grace. Christians are not to try to hide the things they know they do which do not please GOD but to confess it or them. GOD forgives, cleanses and restores as written in 1 John 1:5-10:

5 Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. 

6 If we say, "We have fellowship with Him," and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 

7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

8 If we say, "We have no sin," we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

10 If we say, "We have not sinned," we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

The scripture reveals GOD’S desire for a genuine relationship with HIM. HE already knows when we sin, so why try to hide it? The defeated enemy Satan desires for all Christians to live defeated lives and not to enjoy living in the light GOD and grace HE has given to us.

Living in the light of GOD’S Grace does not mean Christians will never sin or be tempted. The moment we try to hide it, then Satan pounces. Keep in mind who Satan is as recorded in 1 Peter 5:8:

8 Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

Live in the grace GOD provides and in victory by confessing your sin and accepting GOD’S forgiveness and obediently serving HIM because HE loves you.

GOD is love. How do we know that? John 3:16-17 gives us a very important clue:

16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

Blessings!!!