The prophet Isaiah wrote, "BEHOLD, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:1-2).

James taught it is the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man that availeth much (James 5:16).

What are some of the characteristics of prayer that pleases God? Consider Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:5-15: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

Friends, it should be mentioned that, although this prayer is often called "The Lord’s Prayer," it is not really Christ’s prayer but rather it is an example of how we are to pray. For example, the phrase "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" cannot be an expression of Christ’s sentiments on his own behalf as there were no sins in Christ’s life.

Also, it should be mentioned that it would be inappropriate for us to pray this prayer today word for word, as Christ prayed. Notice Christ’s words, "Thy kingdom come." Matthew 16:18-19 indicates that Christ’s church and the kingdom are one and the same. Listen to Christ’s words to Peter: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

When Christ spoke this model prayer, recorded in Matthew chapter six, his kingdom, the church, had not yet been established. But Christ’s church was established on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts the second chapter. Christ’s kingdom, the church, has been in existence for nearly 2,000 years. Although it would be improper for us today to speak of the kingdom as something that is yet in the future, we can pray for the well being of Christ’s church.

Also notice Christ’s words, "Our Father, which art in heaven." Prayer is a privilege reserved for those persons who are children of God. One becomes a child of God through his obedience to the gospel of Christ.

Friends, it is at the point of a person’s being baptized into Christ that he is "born again" and becomes a child of God. Notice Paul’s words in Romans 6:3-4: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism, into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

However, from Matthew 6:5-15, what can be appropriately referred to as the model prayer, we can learn several lessons as to how we are to pray. First, consider some of the negatives. Jesus not only taught how we are to pray, he also taught how we are not to pray. We are not to pray in order to be seen of men. Jesus spoke of the hypocrites who loved to pray while standing in the synagogues or on the street corners. Jesus said these men have their reward. Instead, we are to go into our closet to pray. The word used by Jesus that is translated "closet" has the meaning of a private chamber. Jesus is not condemning all public prayer. Consider Paul’s prayer recorded in Acts 27:35: "And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat." However, Christ is condemning the motive of those who pray in order to be seen of men.

Jesus taught we are not to pray in order to be heard by men. Jesus criticized the hypocrites’ use of vain repetitions. Notice Jesus was not condemning all repetition. Please observe Matthew 26:44 concerning Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane prior to his death: "And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words." When Jesus was criticizing the use of vain repetitions, he was criticizing the use of empty, meaningless repetition.

After Jesus taught how we are not to pray, he taught how to pray. First, our prayers are to include an expression of adoration. Notice verse nine of our text: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." To hallow means to set apart or make holy. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words indicates it is the opposite of "to make common". It is unacceptable to address God in prayer in a common manner as we would another human being.

Next, our prayers are to include confession of our sins. Notice Jesus’ words in verse 12: "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." In I Peter 3:12, Peter wrote, "For the eyes of the lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the lord is against them that do evil." God will not hear the prayers of a person who fails to recognize his sin and subsequently refuses to repent of his sin.

In order to be forgiven of our sin, we must possess a forgiving heart. Jesus taught, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).

Next, our prayers ought to include an expression of thanksgiving, although this is not explicitly mentioned in our text. In Philippians 4:6, Paul wrote: "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

Also I Thessalonians 5:17-18: "Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Notice Paul’s words to Timothy: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men" (I Timothy 2:1).

To those of you who are parents, have you ever been saddened when your children displayed an attitude of ingratitude? How much more then is God, the provider of all that we have and enjoy, saddened when his children fail to appreciate the things he has done?

Our prayers to God are to include our supplications, or requests. Jesus’ example of how we are to pray included requests concerning our past. Christ prayed, forgive us our debts. That is forgive us of our past sins.

Jesus’ example of how we are to pray included requests concerning the present (give us this day our daily bread). Jesus did not teach that we are to pray for the luxuries of life, but rather we are to be content when our needs are met.

The apostle Paul wrote, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:11-13).

To Timothy, Paul wrote:"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us therewith be content" (I Timothy 6:6-8).

The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE" (Hebrews 13:5).

Jesus’ example of how we are to pray included requests concerning the future. Notice Christ’s words, "lead us not into temptation."

Yes friends, prayer is a wonderful privilege enjoyed by those who are children of God when they pray as they ought.

I thank you for your attention and hope you can be back next week.

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