God’s Gym: The Exercise of Prayer - Part 1
February 2, 2020 Speaker: Michael Knight Series: God's Gym
Topic: Prayer Passage: Matthew 6:19–23
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Once we’ve talked to the Father about Himself, then we can talk to the Father about us. Too often our prayers are all about ourselves. Jesus set the example of prayer in Matthew 6 by first focusing on God and His will. Commit yourself to the discipline of prayer and adjust your prayers to Christ’s example.
1. Start your exercise of prayer by focusing on God. (Matthew 6:9-10)
•. Address Him as your Father.
- It’s an intimate relationship with God. (John 1:12; Romans 8:15)
- It’s an awe-inspiring relationship with God. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
2. Praise His Holy Name.
• “Hallowed” means “to make holy or declare sacred.”
• Names in the Bible revealed something about the person.
• Names of God reveal His character:
- Elohim = God as Creator
- El Shaddai = God Almighty/God All-Sufficient
- Adonai = Lord or Master
- Jehovah = Self-Existent One
- Jehovah-Jireh = The Lord will provide
- Jehovah-Rophe = The Lord who heals
- Jehovah-Nissi = The Lord our banner
- Jehovah-Shalom = The Lord our peace
- Jehovah-Rohi = The Lord our Shepherd
- Jehovah-Shammah = The Lord is there
- Jehovah-Sabaoth = The Lord of Hosts
- El-Elyon = Most High
- El-Roi = God who opens our eyes
• Those who know your name will put their trust in You. (Psalm 9:10)
• To focus on God’s name is to focus on His character.
• The more you focus on God’s character, the more you get to know God, making it much easier for you to allow God to be God in your life.
3. Pray for His kingdom to come.
• “Your Kingdom come” is speaking about Christ’s future Messianic reign.
(Revelation 11:15)
• This focus allows us to understand that all of history is a record of ”God’s Story”: the return, rule, reign of Christ!
• This prayer encourages you to become eternally-focused.
• This prayer encourages you to become a submissive servant.
4. Pray for His will to be done.
• Praying God’s will be done is asking for God’s will to be done both in our lives and in the world.
• Right praying involves conforming our will to God’s will and not the other way around.
1. Start your exercise of prayer by focusing on God. (Matthew 6:9-10)
•. Address Him as your Father.
- It’s an intimate relationship with God. (John 1:12; Romans 8:15)
- It’s an awe-inspiring relationship with God. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
2. Praise His Holy Name.
• “Hallowed” means “to make holy or declare sacred.”
• Names in the Bible revealed something about the person.
• Names of God reveal His character:
- Elohim = God as Creator
- El Shaddai = God Almighty/God All-Sufficient
- Adonai = Lord or Master
- Jehovah = Self-Existent One
- Jehovah-Jireh = The Lord will provide
- Jehovah-Rophe = The Lord who heals
- Jehovah-Nissi = The Lord our banner
- Jehovah-Shalom = The Lord our peace
- Jehovah-Rohi = The Lord our Shepherd
- Jehovah-Shammah = The Lord is there
- Jehovah-Sabaoth = The Lord of Hosts
- El-Elyon = Most High
- El-Roi = God who opens our eyes
• Those who know your name will put their trust in You. (Psalm 9:10)
• To focus on God’s name is to focus on His character.
• The more you focus on God’s character, the more you get to know God, making it much easier for you to allow God to be God in your life.
3. Pray for His kingdom to come.
• “Your Kingdom come” is speaking about Christ’s future Messianic reign.
(Revelation 11:15)
• This focus allows us to understand that all of history is a record of ”God’s Story”: the return, rule, reign of Christ!
• This prayer encourages you to become eternally-focused.
• This prayer encourages you to become a submissive servant.
4. Pray for His will to be done.
• Praying God’s will be done is asking for God’s will to be done both in our lives and in the world.
• Right praying involves conforming our will to God’s will and not the other way around.
More in God's Gym
March 1, 2020
God's Gym: The Exercise of GivingFebruary 23, 2020
God's Gym: The Exercise of PurityFebruary 16, 2020
God's Gym: The Exercise of Prayer - Part 3