Prayer.
The duty of prayer is assumed. To be without prayer is to be without religion. "Behold, he prayeth," is another way of saying," He has become a Christian" (Acts 9:11). Prayer is the language and homage of dependence. The idea is that of coming to God for a blessing with a vow ( προσεχῦη, from πρὸς," with," and εὔχη," a vow"), viz. to fulfil the conditions upon which his blessings are promised. The elements of acceptable prayer are—
I. SINCERITY.
1. The prayer of the hypocrite is deception.
2. The prayer of the hypocrite is idolatry.
3. The true man's prayer is true.
II. SIMPLICITY. The expedients of hypocrisy are avoided.
1. As to posture.
2. As to place.
(a) ostentation,
(b) distraction.
Isaac went into the field (Genesis 24:63); Christ went up into a mountain; Peter found a closet on the housetop.
3. As to manner.
III. FAITH.
1. Prayer gives no information to God.
2. -Prayer is enjoined to help us to feel our need.
3. It is also enjoined to encourage our faith in God.
The Lord's Prayer (part 1).
In the Gospel of Luke this prayer is given in still briefer form. The occasion there was that the disciples, after the Lord had prayed, said to him, "Lord teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say." Here, however, "After this manner pray ye." The use of forms is sanctioned; so is extemporary prayer. Better a "form of sound words" than no family worship. Consider—
I. THE ADDRESS TO GOD.
1. It is a great truth that God is our Father.
2. This Divine title is proper to the gospel dispensation.
3. Note the plural, OUR Father.
4. Note the place of his residence.
II. THE ASCRIPTION OF PRAISE.
1. The Name of God stands for himself.
2. To hallow is to revere God's Name.
3. The Name of the Father should be everywhere revered.
The Lord's Prayer (part 2).
The verses before us contain three of the seven petitions of this model prayer. These are—
I. THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD MIGHT COME.
1. God's absolute empire is in his arm.
2. The kingdom coming is the gospel in triumph.
3. We should pray for the coming of Christ in his kingdom.
II. THAT THE WILL OF GOD MIGHT BE DONE.
1. In the heavens it is perfectly done.
2. The will of God is man's highest wisdom.
III. THAT WE MAY BE NOURISHED IN HIS SERVICE.
1. Bread stands for the necessaries of life.
2. This is the language of pilgrims.