Over the past few Sundays we have been focusing on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  What is recorded for us in Matthew chapters 5 to 7.  Jesus teaching about what it means for us to live in relationship with the living God down on the level where we live life.

In other words - God comes - blesses us - in Christ make us to be righteous.  Righteous meaning at the heart level God makes us to be right before Him - justified - forgiven - nothing between us.  But, what does it mean for us to live righteous?  To live rightly before God in the day to day stuff of our lives?

In the section of Jesus’ teaching that we began last Sunday Jesus has been focusing us on what motivates us - at the heart level - at the core of who we are - why we do what we do in our relationship with God.

At the heart level motivation is huge.

Someone has said that the “The most motivated person on earth is a 5’10” non-swimmer in 6’ of water.” (1)

What moves us forward through life?  What stirs our passions?  What challenges us to try even when the odds are against us?

At the heart level - Jesus is getting us to think through - at the core of who we are why we do what we do in our relationship with God.

Jesus has been giving us warnings.  Examples of what people do that outwardly looks really righteous.  How people use money.  How we use what God blesses us with.  How people fast - or sacrifice for God.  Examples that - as people in Jesus’ day heard those examples - and even today - we might be tempted to say, “That’s righteous living.”  Or say to ourselves, “Self.  You’re living righteous.”

But then Jesus gives a warning - focusing the crowd He’s teaching - focusing them - and us - to think about the “from the heart motivation” of why people do what they do.   Jesus’ pointing out that, way too often, what motivates us is... us.  What other people think about us.  What we think about ourselves.

When really - what must be our motivation - if we’re to really be living “from the heart” rightly before God - living the life that God desires to bless - to reward - with the joy of His presence now and forever - our heart level motivation - why we do what we do needs to be God - not the ooo’s and awe’s of others - not self.  But God alone.  To God be the glory.

This morning we’re coming to a hugely familiar passage of Scripture.  Jesus focusing on prayer.  Prayer that’s all about us verses prayer that’s all about God.  Jesus helping us to examine our hearts?  What is prayer from a heart focused on God really all about? 

Would you join me at Matthew 6 - starting at verse 5.  Either by swiping or turning pages - which a few of us still do.  Or, its up here on the screen.    Let’s read verse 5 together:  And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites.  For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

True to form - His pattern - Jesus begins with a warning.  The example of hypocrites at prayer.

The word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word “hupokrites” which means what?  It was the Greek word for someone who wore a mask - an actor who assumed the role of another person.  Over time it came to mean someone who was a fake - a poser - someone who played a role with the world as their stage.

In Jesus’ day there were specific times set aside for prayer - morning - midday - and dusk.  A person could work out their schedule to be at the synagogue or on the street someplace - shopping at Costco - in the middle of a large crowd - when the time for prayer arrived.

We could stop - stand there - lift up our hands - gaze up toward heaven - and pray loud enough to make sure that everyone around us could hear the piety and awesome depth of our relationship with God.

Jesus begins with an example of what was commonly seen as righteous living.  What - as people were living in the community of that day - what was commonly understood to be living in a way that pleased God.

Jesus then moves on to the motivation of these hypocrites.  They’re playing a role - acting righteous - so that they can be seen by others.  Seen and thought of as righteous - as being tight with God - blessed by God.

(phone call) Oh, God.  Excuse me.

Yes.  Well maybe a small earthquake.  People are starting to question that whole loving God thing.  Well, okay, maybe just a short drought.

Look I’m trying to preach here.  About 11:00.  A.M.  Well, some of us have to operate in the time space universe.  No, its spring forward - fall back.

Okay.  Well, can you call be me back in a couple of hours and I’ll try to help you with that?  Okay.  Say hi to Jesus for me.  Bye.

Sorry about that.  Where were we?  Oh.  So these hypocrites were trying to impress others with their supposed inward relationship with God by the way they showed off praying in public.

Then third - notice what Jesus say’s about the reward they receive.

Jesus lays it out like it is.  If their motivation is the be honored by men - the ooo’s and awe’s of the crowd - they’ve received their reward in full.  They’ve had their fleeting moment in the sun.  Their moment on stage.

Their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Hey, it’s possible.  See the little pulpit?  For a moment they get the adoration which lasts for a time.  Then that’s it.

Praying to be noticed is like saying we’re praying for someone and we aren’t.  Or, saying we’re going to pray for someone and we don’t.  Trying to be well thought of spiritually without really have the from the heart life to go with it.

 Jesus’ example is a warning to us - exposing the heart focused on self.   Pay attention to this behavior and see if this is what you’re doing.  If your praying is about what glorifies you that ain’t righteous.  God - who’s concerned about our hearts - what motivates us - God doesn’t reward that kind of hypocritical behavior

Let’s go on.  Let’s read together verse 6:  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

But when you pray - in contrast to the hypocrites - with their public displays of prayer motivated by pleasing themselves - in contrast Jesus is going to give us four examples of what - God blessed - God focused prayer from the heart is all about. 

First example:  go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.

Hold onto to this.  At the heart level prayer is us and God - going one on one with God.  Not about what others see.  But about what’s coming out of our heart towards God.  Prayer from the heart is personal. 

We get the picture of what Jesus is saying here.  Right?  When we pray we’re suppose to go find some place where we’re not going be seen by others or be distracted by others.  Don’t worry that God might not be able to see us or hear us - our prayers bouncing off the ceiling.  God sees.  God hears.  He’ll respond to what’s coming out of our heart.  We’re together on that.  Right?

Let’s be careful.  Jesus isn’t giving a prohibition against public prayer - the congregation praying together - or a Bible study group - or some meeting called for prayer.  Gathering for prayer each Sunday in the Fireside Room at 9:40 a.m. - commercial announcement.  That isn’t sin.

There are number of examples in the New Testament where believers got together publicly - as a group - and prayed.  Even Jesus prayed in public.  God rewarded those times of prayer.  So this isn’t a prohibition against coming together for prayer.

Where Jesus is going with this has to do with how we get off focus during public prayer.  Which is way too easy for us to do.

When I was a kid - not too many years ago - my parents would take me to these mid week prayer meetings.  Remember those?  The way these worked - we’d sing a few hymns - the pastor would share a few things - and then we’d commence to prayin’.

At first there was this awkward silence.  People waiting to see who’d go first.  Then a few people would offer some okay prayers about stuff.  After that went on for a while - one of the elders would stand up and offer A PRAYER.  Impressive in solemnity and thought and vocabulary and passion and... length.  Then another elder would stand and offer A PRAYER.  Then another elder.  When they were done we knew - or at least as a child - I knew - that we had... prayed.

Let’s be careful.  There’s a place for prayers that are well thought out and passionately delivered.  That’s not a bad thing.  Something we sometimes miss in the protestant church.  But as a child I’d missed the coming from the heart motivation part.  I was impressed with the form.  And that form was intimidating.

Public prayer - for most people - is terrifying.  Speaking in public is bad enough.  But praying.  That’s over the edge.  Been there? 

What will others think of us?  Will they think we’re showing off?  Will they think less of us spiritually?  Maybe we’re afraid that we can’t express ourselves adequately.  Or, we feel we lack experience.  Others are so much more qualified - more able to pray.  We might feel that others are more mature spiritually.

Sometimes what makes us uncomfortable when we pray may be the realization that we’re talking to our creator - the almighty God of creation.  We’re one on one with God.  How could our words ever be “good enough”.  By what right can we come before others and speak to God.  Who are we to even consider the idea of leading others in prayer to God?

Have you ever felt any of that?  When we get hung up on what others think - or comparing ourselves to others - then our focus in prayer can easily shift from God to self - to us.

Going into an inner room is choosing to let go of all those distractions.  One reason why we close our eyes when we pray.  Minimize distractions.

God is not sifting through our prayers checking for grammatical errors -holding us accountable if we stumble over our words.  “You used an adverbial instead of a gerund”  ZAP!  POOF!  God is not holding us accountable to use pity pious religious sounding language when addressing Him.

God - our Father - desires for us to come to Him in prayer.  He enables it.  Chooses to listen to it.  God the Holy Spirit comes and helps us to put words to the deepest of our thoughts. 

Whether public or private - the purpose of our prayer is not what others see or think - or what we think others see or think - or about our personal hang ups about prayer.  At the heart level prayer is about our own intimacy with God - going one on one with God.  When we choose to do that focusing on Him - He’ll reward our prayer - even our stumbling efforts - He’ll reward us with His presence - His blessing.

Let’s go on.  Let’s read verses 7 and 8 together:  And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Jesus’ second example of God blessed - God focused prayer from the heart - put simply is this:  Prayer is about quality not quantity. 

Jesus warns, “Don’t go on babbling like the pagans.”  Piling on empty phrases - meaningless - mindless - repetition.  They’ve memorized all these formula prayers - little cliché phrases - prayers said at meals and at sunrise and sunset and various times during the day.  Thought being - that if we repeat these often enough sooner or later God is going to get the idea we’re serious and answer us.

Its like going down a list of prayer requests every day - during our devotions - regardless of whether our heart’s engaged or not.  We need to keep praying or God won’t answer.  Pray before meals - even if we’re not thinking about what we’re praying.  This is what Christians do.  Don’t forget to thank God for the food.  It’ll be unblessed.  You’re gonna get poisoned. 

It’s the God is a vending machine approach to prayer.  Right?  Put coins in and out comes an answer - Coke Zero.  But the question is:  How much is enough?  How many coins does it take?  How many times do we have to repeat the prayer before God answers?  If we stop at 100 and we should have prayed that particular prayer for that particular need - if we stopped at 100 and the number required was 101 then God won’t answer us.

Maybe yelling is better than just speaking?  What about facing towards South Dos Palos hopping up and down on our right leg and squawking like a chicken?  Do that 10 times a day and you’ll get God’s attention. 

All of that puts us in the driver seat.  Like we can manipulate God - coerce Him - impress Him with our piety and dedication - influence God by how we pray - the repetition and the formulas.

What God wants is quality not quantity.  He wants real one on one communication coming out of our hearts.  He’s listening to what’s behind the words we say.

Jesus says that God already knows what we need before we ask Him.  He’s way ahead of us in prayer.  We’re going down the list repeating ourselves and He’s at the bottom line already.

Let’s be careful.  The obvious question is what?  If God already knows then why ask?

There are only 303 more shopping days until Christmas.  Aren’t you glad you know that?

Imagine a small child makes a gift for their mommy or daddy.  Some kind of very creative heart felt craft project.  They borrow some wrapping paper - scotch tape - ribbon.  Sequester themselves in their bedroom to wrap this all up.  All of which is incredibly obvious to the parent.  Right?

When they bring out their gift it obvious what’s inside.  The wrapping job is creative.  Ever got a present like this?

Any right thinking parent is going to receive that gift with joy.  Its not the wrapping job that’s important - is it?  Not even the gift.  Its what’s behind all that that’s important.  The heart of the child saying, “I love you.  I’m glad you’re my mommy or daddy.  I need you.”

We’re not praying to God in order to inform Him of our needs.  We bring our hearts to God because He’s the source of our life.  He desires for us to ask - to come to Him in prayer - not to manipulate Him - which He can see through anyway - God desires for us to ask so that we can be reminded of who He is.  When we have that quality of heart - opening our hearts to Him as the source of our lives - we receive His blessing - His love and approval of us.

Prayer is about the quality of our hearts before God not the awesome quantity of our prayers.

Jesus’ third example of God blessed - God focused prayer from the heart - is prayer centered on who God is. 

Verses 9 to 13 are probably some of the most well known verses in the Bible.  People all over the world - Christians and non-Christians - know the Lord’s Prayer.  There’s a blessing in that.  A blessing in being able to join together in prayer.

There’s also a danger.  A danger in praying with our brains on autopilot doing the same kind of mindless repetition Jesus just warned about.  The Lord’s Prayer is a means not an end.  Its a example to follow - a jumping off place - talking points to get us started as we learn to pray from the heart.

To help us engage our brains here let’s read these verses out loud together.

Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

[For Yours is the kingdom

and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.]

In the context of Jesus’ focusing on the motivations of our hearts its crucially important for us to understand that Jesus is giving us an example of prayer in order to help us center our hearts on God while we’re praying.

Verse 9:  Pray like this:  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

When we pray “our Father” were speaking of ourselves as common, ordinary people, trying to live life, to measure up, struggling along looking to God for salvation.  People to whom God offers a radical and amazing intimate relationship - in which we can actually call God “our Father.”

God - through Jesus Christ, God offers us the opportunity to open our hearts to Him, to repent and come to salvation in Jesus Christ, and to enter into this wonderful relationship.  “Our Father” centers us on what God has done for us.

That He is “our Father in heaven” reminds us that He is the almighty God of creation.  Sovereign Lord of all.  The One True God.

“Hallowed - or honored - be Your name” is a statement of awe.  Who God is - His reputation - His character - His nature - His works - should leave us breathless - stunned.  There is no God like Our Father.

Verse 10:  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven is a prayer asking God to make the reality of His kingdom accessible to us now.

If we open our hearts to God, He will transform our hearts by the work of the Holy Spirit - conforming our hearts, minds, and actions - so that what we do here is in accordance with His will which is done in Heaven.  What we cannot do for ourselves God desires to do in us and through us.  Point being:  His will - alone - is worthy of accomplishment - in Heaven - on earth - in us.

Verse 11:  Give us this day our daily bread is our acknowledgement that our lives are in God’s hands.  It’s a prayer of faithful trust in God for His provision for our daily needs.  Those who live in God’s kingdom have no need to fear or worry about tomorrow.  God has it all under control and He will take care of us.  God is the source of all we need.

Verse 12:  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors is first an agreement with God that we have a hopeless debt of sin that we owe God.  The payment for our sin requires our eternal separation from God.  And yet, God has forgiven our debt through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross.

Second - understanding God’s graciousness towards us should change our heart towards others.  We have the opportunity to live with compassion and forgiveness towards others.

Hang on to that:  Who’s the source of forgiveness?  God.  Who needs forgiveness?  Us. 

We fail and flounder in sin.  Yet, God gives us the choice to cry out to Him.  If we choose to follow God He will deliver us.  When we cannot trust ourselves - we can always trust God.

 Then this phrase at the end of verse 13:  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.  Some translations include those words in the text - putting them in brackets.  Some versions put them in the footnotes.  What’s up with that?

Bottom line - its just good scholarship.  That phase isn’t in some of the best ancient manuscripts and our translations are letting us know that.  But they are included in some manuscripts and they are beautiful and they do reinforce Jesus’ point. 

An acknowledgement - a centering on who God is.  To God alone belongs the kingdom.  He is the power.  To Him alone belongs all the glory forever.

The final word “Amen” is an affirmation.

(cartoon) “I dunno about that - are you sure your regular pastor lets you say, ‘Okey-dokey Holy-smokey’ instead of Amen?”

Amen is like “Right On.”  “Make it so.”  An affirmation - we agree - at the heart level - with what’s being said here about God.

Jesus’ example - “The Lord’s Prayer” - in every part - whether its dealing with who God is - or our needs before Him - Jesus is giving us this example of prayer to help us - to teach us - what it means to center our hearts on God while we’re praying.

Then , coming to verses 14 and 15 - Jesus’ last example of God blessed - God focused prayer from the heart - is simply this:  Prayer that  understands God’s forgiveness. 

Let’s read verses 14 and 15 together:  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

A bit later in Jesus’ ministry - Jesus is teaching in the town of Capernaum - just a tad east from where Jesus is sharing the Sermon on the Mount.  While Jesus is teaching, Peter asks a question.  “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me?  Seven times?  (NLT)

Maybe you’ve heard this.  Way back when there was man who rode into town to pick up his mail order bride from the railroad station.  On the way back to the farm - they’re riding along in the wagon - the bride - the groom.  The mule pulling the wagon stops.

The man gets out.  Gives the mule a swift kick - yells at it, “That’s once.”  The mule moves on.  After a while the mule stops again.  The man gets out.  Kick’s the mule.  Yells at it, “That’s twice.”  They go on.

The mule stops a third time.  The man gets down.  Takes his rifle and shoots the mule dead.  At which point his bride starts to yell at him, “What did you do that for?  That’s the only mule we’ve got to pull the wagon.”  The man looks at her and says, “That’s once.”  Have you heard that?

The rabbi’s said that we have to forgive someone 3 times.  The fourth time we can do whatever we want.  Peter is being magnanimous.  Not just 3 times.  But seven times.

Jesus’ answer is off the chart.  Jesus said to Peter, “No, not seven times, but seventy times seven.”  (Matthew 18:21-35)

Its a joke.  Sarcasm.  For the bean counters among us.  489… 490… BAM.    “Hah Hah.  Gee Peter, you’re really a forgiving kind of guy.”

Jesus’ point is, why forgive at all?  “If that’s your attitude, Peter, if that’s what’s coming out of your heart, why forgive at all?” 

We need to be honest.  What Jesus tells Peter is hard for each one of us to live out in the reality of our self-focused little worlds.

When we're focused on ourselves and not God - we’re going to think that God should forgive us.  After all God is a God of love.  He’s suppose to forgive us.  We deserve His forgiveness.  If we think about it, whatever our sins are they really aren’t that bad.  Not like other people’s sins.

Many times people will say the words, “I forgive you.”  But, inside there remains a tiny little knot, a burden carried around maybe even for years, a hatred towards someone, a rehearsed speech they’d like to level someone with.  When we’re focused on ourselves its possible to forgive without really forgiving.

The prophets of the Old Testament were God’s spokesmen declaring God’s word - often God’s coming judgment against the sin of His people.  The prophets were just trying to live rightly before God.  Usually they were getting hammered by God’s people.  If anyone had a right to hold a grudge - to have a holier than thou attitude - to struggle with forgiveness - it was the Old Testament prophets.

Nehemiah prays:  “I and my father’s household have sinned.  We have acted corruptly… we have not kept the commandments…”  (Nehemiah 1:7)

Isaiah cries out to God:  “I’m lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips…”  (Isaiah 6:5) 

Daniel - in sackcloth and ashes - pleads with God for mercy:    “we have sinned against you… we have not obeyed… we have done wickedly…”  (Daniel 9:3-19)

There is not a whole lot of self-righteous spiritual arrogance in that.  There is a heart felt recognition of our need for God’s forgiveness.

We owe God our lives.  Which is why Jesus had to give His.  His life was given in payment for ours.  His life was the only payment that would satisfy the debt we owe God.  We can’t earn the payment.  We don’t deserve it.  All we can do is throw ourselves in faith at the feet of our merciful God, accept what He has done, and surrender our lives to Him.

Point being that if we really understand how greatly we’ve been forgiven then that realization - if we allow it to penetrate our hearts - should reorganize our thinking about others - should reorientate our priorities before God as we pray.

Prayer from the heart that seeks God’s blessing isn’t about asking God to give us stuff or what we want Him to do for us.  Its not about protecting our rights and prerogatives.

In prayer we have the God given privilege of seeking to align our hearts with God - who’s movement in history is about the redemption of humankind.  To open our lives before Him that His will would be accomplished in us and through us.  To seek Him with everything He has blessed us with - including our very lives and our life in Christ - to follow Him - that should He chose to use us - that others might be drawn to Him - that He alone would receive the honor and glory that is due Him alone.

God desires to meet us in prayer.  To bless us as we pray.  To touch our lives and the lives of others - responding to our prayers.  For us to be in His presence and to know that He is and that He is there.  That in this life we’re not alone.  To bless us with His reward that includes the joy that comes from our being in the presence and pleasure of God - today - and forever.

That is a huge - amazing - truth we need to grab on to.  Especially as we head out of here into out there.

May we also grab onto the challenge - God desires to meet with us without the distractions of our selves - without our pretense and pride.  But with our hearts open before Him. 

_______________

1. Chuck Swindoll, Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes, page 401