The Pattern for Prayer (Part 2)

4-3-22Sermon Notes“The Pattern for Prayer” (Part 2)

I recently used an online template to print out a document I needed. The template gave me the structure – I personalized to my own situation. Have you ever used a template? It’s essentially a gauge, pattern, or mold that is used to guide the form being prepared. Sometimes it is used in woodworking, sometimes in metal or plastics…and sometimes paper forms, like the one I just printed. And prayer… The Lord gave us a template for praying. “Here’s how to pray,” Jesus said. It’s a pattern – not a substitute. Here’s what the patter looks like:
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 And 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.’ (Matt. 6: 9-13 NIV)

Prayer’s whole purpose is to glorify God’s name, and to ask for help to accomplish God’s kingdom will on earth. It begins as a family affair (Our Father in heaven), then proceeds to God’s interests first…not ours - God’s name, God’s kingdom, and God’s will. Does God not want to meet our needs? Of course God does! Remember, God is our caring, close, consistent, competent Heavenly Father! What do we need? Our daily bread? For sure! And…

•Cleansing (Forgive us our sins)
•Release (As we forgive those who sin against us)
•Protection (Lead us not into temptation)
•Deliverance (Deliver us from evil)
•Victory (Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever)

These are the next 5 parts of the Pattern for Prayer that we will talk about this Sunday, by the way. Please join us, and invite a friend!

See you Sunday,
Pastor Sam