The Dependence of Christian Prayer
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Intro: Snack bar scene in Caddyshack. Judge Smails: “You’ll have nothing and like it!”
Big Idea: Christian prayer depends on the Father for provision, pardon & protection.
Context: Jesus has been instructing His followers on life in the kingdom. He has shifted from ethical righteousness (morals) to religious righteousness (piety). Kingdom piety is different in its motivations. Jesus is instructing them on prayer. It isn’t disconnected from earthly realities.
- Jesus has a realistic view of the world. It is broken. We are dependent.
- The one on whom we depend gets the glory in the end. Ill. Dad’s fall
- The ‘doxology’ is not found in the oldest & best manuscripts.
- It is completely consistent with Scripture- but Jesus didn’t say it. Pray, don’t preach it
I. Christian prayer depends on the Father for provision. Note the ‘our’- rampant individualism!
- Prayer confesses we are dependent on God to provide our physical needs.
- The church fathers spiritualized this. But God is not unconcerned for earthly needs.
- Bread represents staple foods, possibly other needs.
- “Daily” is a unique word. Means ‘necessary for survival’ or ‘daily’. Ill. Checkers comm.
- In this world, some do not have enough & others have too much. Pray for the poor!
- We can live for the kingdom in this world, living modestly (2 Cor. 5:15).
- Or we can (sinfully) live for this world at the expense of the kingdom (denies the Cross).
- Kingdom focus => needs; Self focus => wants expand. Ill. What I want
- Will we trust Him to provide for our needs, or be consumed by covetousness (Prov. 30)?
7 “Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30 (NIV)
“If we have all the food in the world, but no Christ, we will ultimately starve. If we have food, with Christ, we have all we shall ever need.” Sinclair Ferguson
Transition: Christian prayer develops a daily dependence on God for earthly provision.
II. Christian prayer depends on the Father for pardon. We’ll hit this again next week.
- In this fallen world we all sin, and are sinned against. Ill. Broken families
- Called sin a ‘debt.’ In Luke, sin is “rebellion”. Ill. Debts/transgressions
- God cancels the debt, or pardons the sin. It is an act, not a process. Obj. White board
- Jesus satisfied God’s justice when died on the cross. He paid our debt- we don’t owe it.
- The past tense is misleading- we don’t have to forgive others to be forgiven.
- Both verbs are “past” tense to point to an act. Ill. My state grant cancelled 10%/year.
- We need to be forgiven daily. Don’t minimize yours! Don’t worry; Jesus is a big Savior.
- We need to forgive daily, for sins committed against us that day. Don’t maximize theirs!
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1 (NIV)
Transition: Christian prayer develops a daily dependence on God for pardon & to pardon.
III. Christian prayer depends on the Father for protection.
- In this fallen world we all suffer. And there we are tempted (1 Cor. 10/Prov. 30).
- Pressure: test or temptation. God tests: Satan tempts (James 1).
- The petition is the second verb; deliver us from evil. Ill. Toothpaste tube (1 Cor. 10)
- When tested by suffering, we are tempted to doubt or criticize God.
- When tested by suffering, we are tempted to take the easy way out (Abraham).
- Temptation comes from inside- the flesh- as we scheme, grumble & panic. Ill. now
- God, save us from the devil. Save us from the world. Save us from ourselves!
- We depend on God each day to protect us from evil in all 3 (2 Cor. 5 & 12).
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. James 1 (NIV)
Conclusion: Christian prayer depends on God to provide for earthly needs in this fallen world thru His kingdom. We need our Father to provide for our needs, pardon our sins and protect us in suffering. Jesus wants us to know our Father is not unconcerned about such things- he invites us to ask. Will we persist in unbelief and rely on ourselves or someone else, or will be come by faith to the only one who can meet these real needs?
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