How to Pray and How to Fast
The sermon emphasizes the importance of praying in a direct, simple, and earnest manner, with a filial spirit and a willingness to forgive and restore others as God has forgiven and restored us.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the significance of the 'disciples' prayer' found in Matthew 6:9-18, illustrating how its seven petitions resonate with the deepest spiritual longings of believers across generations and cultures. He stresses that prayer should be direct, simple, and earnest, focusing on reverence and unselfishness, using collective pronouns to foster a sense of community. Meyer highlights the importance of approaching God with a filial spirit, embodying love, forgiveness, and trust, while also recognizing that true forgiveness requires us to extend the same grace to others that God has shown us.
Text
Matthew 6:9-18
This might more fitly be termed the “disciples’ prayer.†As we tread its stately aisles, we cannot but think of the myriads who have stood on the same pavement, and have found, in every age, that these seven brief petitions express sufficiently their deepest and holiest longings. Old men and little children, Roman Catholics and Protestants, the servant and his master, east and west, stand together in this noble temple not made with hands.
Prayer should be direct, simple and earnest.
It must be reverent, hallowing the Name; and unselfish, employing, we, us, and our,-not “I,†“me,†“mine.†It must breathe the filial spirit which cries, “Abba, Father.†It must be conceived in love and breathe forgiveness and trust for the supply of all the hunger of our nature. When God forgives, He forth-gives; that is, He casts out of His hand and mind and memory every trace of our sin. We may claim that God should repair as well as forgive; but we must be willing to deal with all others as God has dealt with us.
Sermon Outline
- The Disciples' Prayer
- The Filial Spirit in Prayer
- God's Forgiveness and Provision
- Forgiveness and Restoration
- Dealing with Others as God Deals with Us
- Reverent and Unselfish
Key Quotes
“When God forgives, He forth-gives; that is, He casts out of His hand and mind and memory every trace of our sin.” — F.B. Meyer
“We may claim that God should repair as well as forgive; but we must be willing to deal with all others as God has dealt with us.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We should pray in a direct, simple, and earnest manner, being reverent, unselfish, and conceived in love.
- When God forgives us, we should be willing to forgive and restore others as well.
- Prayer should be characterized by a filial spirit that cries 'Abba, Father'.