What Jesus Said Concerning Prayer - Zac Poonen - May 31, 2017
http://rlcfchurch.org/what-jesus-said-concerning-prayer River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
Jesus taught that believers ought to pray at all times, a practice likened to breathing, meaning prayer must be continuous throughout daily life. Furthermore, the speaker emphasizes that prayer must be done in secret, as Jesus warned against praying publicly merely to impress others. True change comes from self-examination after praying in public, which allows one to gradually break free from the need for external validation.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
How often should we pray?Jesus and the epistles teach us to pray at all times and without ceasing, meaning our prayer life should be continuous rather than restricted to specific hours.Luke 18:11 Thessalonians 5:17
Prayer as spiritual breathingJust as breathing happens continuously without us consciously thinking about it all the time, prayer should be an unceasing spiritual activity in our daily lives.
Never pray to impress peopleJesus warned against the hypocrisy of praying in public just to be seen and admired by others, urging us instead to pray in secret to our Father.
Avoid meaningless repetitionJesus taught us not to use empty, repetitive words or think that God hears us simply because we speak for a long time.
The pattern of the Lord's PrayerThe prayer Jesus gave is not meant to be repeated mindlessly as a formula, but serves as a foundational pattern for how we should approach God.
Recognizing our intimate relationship with GodWe begin prayer by addressing God as our loving heavenly Father who is Almighty and already knows our needs before we ask.
Putting God's interests firstThe first three requests of the Lord's Prayer focus entirely on God—hallowing His name, advancing His kingdom, and doing His will—shifting us away from self-centered praying.
Asking for our daily physical and material needsAfter putting God first, Jesus instructs us to pray practically for our daily bread, including food, clothing, shelter, and provisions for our families.
Forgiving others as we want to be forgivenThe petition to forgive our sins is directly tied to how we treat people who have wronged us, making it a dangerous prayer if we hold onto bitterness.
The parable of the unforgiving servantThrough the story of the servant who was forgiven a massive debt but refused to forgive a tiny one, Jesus illustrates the severity of withholding forgiveness.Matthew 18:23–34
The consequences of an unforgiving heartIf we refuse to forgive others from our hearts, God calls us wicked, grows angry with us, and hands us over to spiritual tormentors.
