BASICS: PRAYER
MATT.6:1-18

THERE IS A DANGER OF CONFUSING THE APPEARANCE OF SOMETHING FOR ITS REALITY …

VS.1
THE THEME, THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, A PROPER STANDARD AND MOTIVATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS …

RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE TO A JEW,
RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS EXPRESSED IN THREE WAYS;

    GIVING ALMS, RIGHTEOUSNESS EXPRESSED TOWARDS OTHERS,


     FASTING, RIGHTEOUSNESS EXPRESSED TOWARD SELF …


THE QUESTION: WHY DO I DO WHAT I DO?


THE AUDIENCE: GOD OR MAN?


THE DANGER:

   THE DANGER OF PRAYING LIKE A PERFORMER, VS.5-6

      DON’T BE A PRETENDER, “HYPOCRITES”

      REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE

      PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY



   THE DANGER OF PRAYING LIKE A PAGAN, VS.7-8

VS.7, THE PRAYERS OF THE PAGANS

          MANIPULATIVE

          MECHANICAL

          MAGICAL

VS.8, THE PRAYERS OF THE BELIEVER

         HE KNOWS EVERYTHING THEREFORE, I CAN ASK HIM ANYTHING

         GOD IS AFTER INTIMACY



   THE DANGER OF PRAYING IN PARODIES, VS.14-15

      PRAYER IS FAMILY BUSINESS

      PRAYER AND FORGIVENESS



THE DELIGHT OF PRAYER, VS.9-13

    PERSONAL – “OUR FATHER”

    WORSHIPFUL – “HALLOWED”

    RESPECTFUL – “THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE”

   PRACTICAL – “GIVE US …”

   SPIRITUAL –

      “FORGIVE US …”

      “LEAD US NOT …”