Real Prayer Is Real Faith

Sermon by Pastor Steve Hopkins for the service of October 2, 2016

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ ¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. ( Matthew 6: 9-15, NIV)

Sermon outline: Real Prayer is Real Faith

1. A Note on the Prayer
   • If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7: 14, NRSV)
   • “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:12-14, NLT)
   • Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV)
2. The Lord’s Prayer
   1. Presence – Our Father…
      • The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in the truth. (Psalm 145:18, NIV)
   2. Purpose – Your Kingdom Come…
      • Glor in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (Psalm 105:3-4, NIV)
   3. Provision – Give us today…
      • The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1, NKJV)
      • The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10, NIV)
   4. Peace – Forgive us…
      • The Lord gives me strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with the peace. (Psalm 29:11, NIV)
      • In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8, NIV)
   5. Protection – Deliver us…
      • The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold in my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27: 1-4, NIV)
3. Transformation Questions
   1. How have I utilized the Lord’s Prayer in the past? How can I do so moving forward in my discipleship journey?
   2. In my own life, do i have the kind of Faith that asks and expects an answer? Do I have faith that prayer does something?
4. The Heart of the Matter – Faith
   1. Now faith is the assurance of thins hope for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1, NASB)

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly, I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand up praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:22-25, NIV)