EXPOSITIONS OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT XX – “When You Pray”
Matthew 6:5-15                                                      October 21, 2007

INTRODUCTION
For all of their “religiosity,” the Pharisees and Scribes did not know God as Father.  The first century Christians recognized the paradox that fellowship with God in prayer means sorrow for sin, yet joy in His forgiveness and grace.  The Lord’s Prayer serves 2 purposes:  1) a model of prayer; and 2) an outline of the whole of the Christian life. 
I.  PRAYER THAT COMES FROM HYPOCRITICAL HEARTS
Prepare your hearts for worship during the week, particularly Saturday nights.  Proper preparation causes our Worship to spring to life week by week. 
Eph. 3:20.
II, PRAYER FROM A BELIEVING HEART
Calvin was the first commentator to recognize the relationship between the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments.  Commandments 1-4 have to do with our relationship to the Lord.  Commandments 6-10 have to do with our relationship with others.  In the Lord’s Prayer, petitions 1-3 bring us face to face with Our Heavenly Father, and petitions 4-6 bring us to our selves, our relationships with others and our daily needs.  The Lord’s Prayer, like the Law, is concerned first with the Glory of God, His praise and worship; and, secondly, with our needs and wants.
Sinclair Ferguson suggests that the Lord’s Prayer focuses on five concepts:
                1)            The worship of the Father
                2)            The Kingdom of the Father
                3)            The sustenance of the Father
                4)            The grace of the Father
                5)            The protection of the Father
Rom. 12:2. 
III. WHY THE LORD JESUS GAVE US THIS PRAYER
It is a model of real, sincere Christian prayer, in contrast to that of Pharisees.  If we mean what we say, then the Lord’s Prayer is God’s alternative to false forms of prayer.  True Christian prayer is always preoccupied with God & His glory, 

SOME OF THE RESOURCES USED IN THIS STUDY:
J.I. Packer PRAYING THE LORD’S PRAYER
J.I. Packer I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN
R. Kent Hughes ABBA FATHER: The Lord’s Pattern for Prayer
Philip G. Ryken THE PRAYER OF OUR LORD
Philip G, Ryden WHEN YOU PRAY: Making the Lord’s Prayer Your Own
Terry L. Johnson WHEN GRACE COMES HOME: Living the Lord’s Prayer
Thomas Watson THE LORD’S PRAYER