DO NOT KEEP BABBLING WHEN YOU PRAY

Matthew 6:7-18

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Once again, Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:7 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. The Catholic Rosary reminds me of babbling, but we need to beware of it as well. We need to beware of two extremes. The one is by overapplication of this Scripture passage and NOT PRAYING at all.

James 4:2 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.

How many of you have prayed for growth in your church, stronger faith, and other things in the privacy of your home?

James 5:15-16 15 the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

Romans 12:12 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Colossians 4:2 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Ephesians 6:18-20 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

God commands us to pray, as we well know. Yet how many of you know what you are going to pray for, before you start praying? Coming from experience, I will often times lay down at night, and decide to start praying, without any idea of what I am going to pray. After 5 minutes I find myself asleep, because I can't think of what to pray for. This also, therefore doesn't amount to much more than babbling. Therefore we want to find a

Jesus gave us a prayer with a purpose. Let us examine His prayer, and see what makes it so good. Matthew 6: 9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

What does this prayer tell us about our relationship with God?

How does this prayer cover our needs?

Since this prayer has purpose, it is good to speak it often. Now we want to imitate Jesus prayer, and not babble like the pagans. In order to do this, it would be smart to make a prayer list, to pray from. Here are some Bible passages which give us suggestions as to what to pray for-

1 John 5:16 16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life.

1. Answer

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.

2. Answer

3. Answer

Jeremiah 42:3-3 Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do."

4. Answer

2 Corinthians 13:7-7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong.

5. Answer

3 John 2:2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

6. Answer

Ephesians 3:16-18 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

7. Answer

Luke 6:28 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

8. Answer

Mark 14:38 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

9. Answer

Matthew 19:13 13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.

10. Answer

Luke 18:13 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

11. Answer

How does the golden rule stand out in these prayers and the Lord's Prayer?

Is our forgiveness dependant on our forgiving someone else?

To pray for all of these things could take a long time. What happens if we forget to pray for something?

So why do we pray?

Once in a while, it is a good suggestion to take a look inside yourself, and see what you are really lacking. Jesus prayer was focused more on the spiritual, than on the physical. Often times our prayers are focused on the physical. We must ask ourselves why we want the physical, because there may be a spiritual problem behind it.

John read his Bible a lot. One day he read the James passage which said, "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective". He wanted to get a new house for three years, and prayed for it. He was sick of living in an apartment, and was getting upset with his lot in life. He was starting to save up money for the house, but broke his leg, so he lost his money. He felt that he may not be righteous, or God just wasn't listening.

Was it ok for John to pray for the house?

What was at the root of his problem?

What should he have been more concerned about?

Was God listening?

If we don't have the proper mind set, God will reject all of our prayers. As he says in

1 Peter 4:7 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Isaiah 1:15-16 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; 16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong.

1 Peter 3:12 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Matthew 21:22 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Psalm 102:17 17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.

Luke 18:14 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

What are the prerequisites that need to be fulfilled so that God will answer our prayers?

How do we get these prerequisites?

Romans 10:17 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Sanford and his wife had been a member of St. Paul's for years. Although he never went to church or read his Bible, he believed in God. One day his wife got sick. He prayed to God to heal her, but she died. Therfore he lost faith.

When did Sanford lose faith?

What was Sanford's "faith" based on?

Any questions? Email Pastor Pankow at bslc@birch.net.