The Prayer of Connection

Lord, Teach Us To Pray 
The Prayer of Connection
Matthew 6:9-13

“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.'” (Luke 11:1, ESV)

The Model Prayer

1. The Community Aspect – “Our”
2. Two Sections of Three Petitions Each

• God’s Name, Kingdom and Will
• Our Provision, Forgiveness and Holiness

Our Father in Heaven

We can connect with God because God is a Father not a Force

God is both Infinite and Personal

“The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1, ESV)

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15, ESV)

We can come before God in prayer with boldness, but never with Arrogance or presumption

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,” (Hebrews 10:19, ESV)

What Kind Of Father Is God?

If our picture of God is wrong; our lives will never be right!

One of Satan’s favorite devices is to try to Distort our understanding of God. (See Genesis 3:1-5)

“The vitality of prayer lies largely in the vision of God that prompts it.  Drab thoughts of God make prayer dull.”  J.I. Packer

1. He Is A Caring Father

“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7, ESV)

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:13, ESV)

Is there anything in my life that God doesn’t care about?

Sometimes our greatest problem is that we don’t Realize how much God loves us!

2. He Is A Consistent Father

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17, ESV)

“if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13, ESV) 

3. He Is A Close Father

“that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,” (Acts 17:27, ESV)

3 Encouraging Truths About God’s Closeness:

• God is never too Busy for me

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18, ESV)

• God loves to Meet my needs

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11, ESV)

• God is sympathetic to my Hurts

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, ESV)

4. He Is A Competent Father

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37, ESV)

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)

God can handle any problem you give Him!

Being Able To Call On God As Father Is Not Automatic

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)

“for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” (Galatians 3:26, ESV)

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”” (Galatians 4:4–6, ESV) 

God The Heavenly Father Desires A Connection
With You As His Child!

Making It Personal

• Am I truly a child of God through Jesus Christ? Am I currently trusting in Him to be not only the forgiver of my sin, but the rightful leader and Lord of my life?
• What is my mental picture of God? What has informed this mental picture?
• How is my understanding of God impacting the way I relate to God? How is it impacting my practice of prayer?
• Will I start this New Year off by consistently inviting Christ Jesus to teach me to pray? What practical steps will I take to grow in my prayer life this year?
• Who can I share these truths with?

Ready to take your Next Step?

• Text Next to 803-637-8484
• Go to FBCFM.COM and click “Next Steps”