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Sunday Message for the Bilingual Brethren - 24 January 2021 : "When You Pray"

Text: Matthew 6
24 January 2021

ALERTING PEOPLE TO THE PROBLEM OF HYPOCRISY IN PRAYER

1. The problem of hypocrisy in prayer

“And when you pray, you shall not pray as the hypocrites…”   Matthew 6:5
a. Hypocrites praying openly and loudly in public
b. Showing off to people that they were religious and holy
c. Not sincere in their prayers.

2. Learning to pray privately to God as our Father

“But when you, when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place…”   Matthew 6:6
a. They were not to pray like these hypocrites
b. Prayer to be done privately and lovingly with our Father in heaven
c. Prayer done privately would be rewarded openly.

ALERTING PEOPLE TO THE PROBLEM OF CHANTING PRAYERS

1. The problem of chanting prayers

“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do…”   Matthew 6:7
a. There were those who were praying just like the Gentiles
b. These idol worshippers would repeat their chants again and again
c. The Jews were influenced by this

2. Learning to pray without chanting prayers

“When you pray, do not use vain repetition as the heathen do…Therefore do not be like them for Your Father know the things you have need of before you ask Him.”   Matthew 6:7, 8
a. The problem of repeating prayers to God should be avoided
b. Our Father in heaven knows our needs even before we ask them.
c. Praying to our Father with the Lord’s prayer in mind.

ALERTING PEOPLE TO THE PROBLEM OF BEING UNFORGIVING IN PRAYER

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”   Matthew 6:14-15

1. The problem of being unforgiving in prayer

a. There were those who prayed for forgiveness
b. They can say “Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors”
c. In reality, they were still unforgiving.

2. Seeking to be forgiving before prayer

a. Before we pray, we should resolve these things first
b. The need is to be reconciled with the brother first   (Matthew 5:14)
c. Forgive first before seeking forgiveness from our Father

THE CHALLENGE TO PRACTISE PRAYER CORRECTLY

1. Practise praying privately and alone with the Father

2. Practise talking to God with the Lord’s prayer in mind

3. Practise forgiving others before we pray