Allow me to begin by stating an important truth: God will faithfully and unfailingly bless those who come to Him in sincere prayer. Without question, the Lord will recompense those of His children who biblically pray according to His will and Word. Jesus made it plain in Matthew 6:5-8 that those who pray insincerely and hypocritically will receive the world’s reward (Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward), and those who pray sincerely and humbly will receive God’s reward.
Perhaps it was the truth of the above paragraph that led D. L. Moody to say, “I’d rather be able to pray than be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught his disciples how to preach, but only how to pray.” There is a simple sense of rightness in that statement, and it is one that I keep asking the Lord to teach me! At the same time, there is nothing difficult to understand regarding how to be involved prayer. After all, the basic definition of prayer is “conversation with God,” and if He is not involved, there is only the pretending of prayer.
And even though our topic is awesome as it entails the collaboration of God Almighty, Jesus made it clear that prayer can be about anything. His teaching in Matthew 6:5-13 reveals that, from the smallest matter to the greatest, from the headlines of today’s news to the affairs of eternity, these matters may be subjects of prayer. Consider this: Jesus teaches that the prayer for daily bread, which is meant to encompass all our daily needs, is flanked on the one side by prayer for the coming of God’s kingdom and for His will to be done on earth, and on the other side by prayer for the forgiveness of sin, preservation in temptation and deliverance from all evil! I’d say that about covers the whole spectrum of matters large and small.
However, it is not without significance that such prayers are to place God, His will, His kingdom and, indeed, His very name first. Such appropriate prayer will thus be marked by simplicity, concentration, patient confidence—and obedience. If a person will read Matthew 6:6 with understanding (But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you) they cannot help but come away with the knowledge that God wants His children to speak to Him with a sense of intimacy and expectation.
The Church has Jesus Christ as her Lord and her living head, who, having conquered death, is alive forevermore. Consequently, His disciples can enter into living, personal contact with Him, talking with Him just as the Twelve did when He was on earth (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:8 ff). And it follows that genuine prayer is not monologue but dialogue, in which the person praying is often silent before the Lord in order to listen to His command through the Word. Therefore, prayer is something very personal and specific, a genuine conversation with God. We are privileged to pray to the Father, by the authority of His Son and through the agency of the Holy Spirit. And since the believer knows God as his Father, his or her praying proceeds from a childlike trust, as expressed in the form of address “Father”, which Jesus taught His disciples to use.
Jesus gave believers the right to approach God with the invocation “our Father” (Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2) which, incidentally, shows that the Savior likely was incorporating both public and private prayer in this matter. Just as believers may corporately say “our Father,” so he may also in the quiet place at home or wherever the individual disciple may pray personally to his Father. As Father, God is near, and to whom man can turn in believing trust with all his petitions.
And this public versus private consideration is a good test of one’s motives; the person who prays more in public than in private reveals that he is less interested in God’s approval than in human praise. It is not biblical piety but a reputation for piety that is his concern. Another word for it is hypocrisy. Throughout Matthew 6 the disciples’ charitable giving, prayers and fasting are said to be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you (6:4, 6, 18). Jesus was emphasizing this to contrast the type of piety which sought to make a display of itself.
Jesus’ teaching is simple in contrast to the complicated and difficult traditions of men. His phrase when you pray implies great latitude. No prescribed time or occasion is given by the Lord. The room could refer to any sort of small room or chamber, even a storage closet. The idea is going to a private place for an important, private conversation.
The primary point Jesus makes does not have to do with location but with attitude. Jesus says to find a posture of prayer that is set up so you will not be tempted to show off. Shut out everything else so that you can concentrate on God and pray to your Father. Do whatever you have to do to get your attention away from yourself and others and on Him and Him alone. Our family members or friends may know that we are praying, but what we say is not meant for them to hear.
One’s motivation is a central concern in prayer. It is the retiring and dependent character of true prayer that Jesus is teaching here. Of course, the Father seeing in secret does not mean He is not present when we pray in public, or with our families or other small groups of believers. He is always present because He is God! But the Lord Jesus would have us get the point regarding singleness of intention. True prayer is always intimate. Even public prayer, if the heart is right and concentrated on God, will in a real and profound way shut one up alone in the presence of God.
Lord, teach us to pray.
Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Pastor Larry
Filed under: From the Pastor’s Pen