Elements of Biblical Prayer

In this part of the sermon: The sermon transitions to identifying the various 'slices of the pie' of prayer warranted by Scripture, inviting congregational input to list praise, intercession, confession…

The general discipline of prayer is likened to a whole pie, and the various kinds of prayer are the 'pieces' or 'slices' that comprise it, helping to visualize the different dimensions of prayer.

If we take prayer, the general discipline, privilege, exercise of prayer, as the whole pie, what are the pieces which scripture tells us comprise the whole pie of prayer? In other words, what kinds of prayer, what dimensions of prayer, what aspects of prayer are warranted by the word of God? Now, it's obvious, at least I hope it is, why I'm proceeding from the first question to the second question, for it's useless to talk about our prayers being regulated by the word of God

3:42 - 4:24 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon transitions to identifying the various 'slices of the pie' of prayer warranted by Scripture, inviting congregational input to list praise, intercession, confession…

The analogy of cutting a pie neatly is used to explain that while categories of prayer are separated for understanding, in reality, they overlap and are not 'ironclad' or perfectly distinct.

So the focus of worship is the giver, whereas generally the focus of praise is his what? His gifts. Now again, these things are not ironclad, and that's the problem with cutting them up in the pie. Okay?

12:29 - 12:42 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Is it the Christian's duty to engage in every form of scriptural prayer? In other words, to put the question even more personally and more to the conscience, are you sinning as a Christian if in your prayers you are not …

Martin uses the idiom 'you can't change City Hall' to explain why he has given up trying to change the common terminology of 'Lord's Prayer' to 'disciples' prayer,' acknowledging the persistence of established phrases.

But may I say, when a certain phraseology is fixed in the consciousness of the Christian public, it's losing business to try to change it. I've given up on certain things along that line. I guess all of us like to think we can alter City Hall, but I think you know the old statement, you can't change City Hall. But it's been called the Lord's Prayer, and it will be called that probably when the Lord comes back again.

15:30 - 15:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Be convinced that you can sin in the very act of praying, and subject yourselves to the spiritual disciplines necessary to pray biblically.

The example of a husband not loving his wife as Christ loved the church is used to illustrate how failing to meet a biblical standard constitutes sin, applying this principle to prayer.

The answer is obvious. I am not obeying him to the extent that my praying does not come up to the biblical standard. The same way, if I as a husband am not loving my wife as Christ loved the church, with a patient, sensitive, tender, understanding, sympathetic love, am I sinning?

20:16 - 20:35 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You see as long as the spirit is weighed down with the sense of its own sinfulness it's impossible for that spirit to soar in praise in adoration and in intercession.

Martin shares a personal experience of trying to begin prayer with worship when burdened by sin, finding it 'psychologically impossible' and highlighting the need to start where one is emotionally and spiritually.

When you feel the load of unconfessed sin upon your heart in terms of some specific areas of spiritual declension there is only one thing you can do when you come into the presence of God. Have you ever tried to praise God? I remember trying to do this for a while because I accepted a rather what I think now was an unrealistic approach to the Lord's Prayer. And I said well the Lord's Prayer begins Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name therefore I must begin I must never bring anything else until I worship God.

31:14 - 31:46 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You see as long as the spirit is weighed down with the sense of its own sinfulness it's impossible for that spirit to soar in praise in adoration and in intercession.

A stanza from John Newton's hymn 'Thou art coming to a king' ('With my burden I begin, Lord remove this load of sin') is quoted to support the idea that one must begin prayer with their present burden, often confession.

No. It's psychologically impossible. I have to begin where I am. And John Newton knew this in his wonderful hymn Thou art coming to a king large petitions to him bring.

32:15 - 32:26 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You see as long as the spirit is weighed down with the sense of its own sinfulness it's impossible for that spirit to soar in praise in adoration and in intercession.

The analogy of a mother in labor, focused solely on bringing forth her child, is used to describe intense intercessory prayer where a believer can do 'nothing but pray' for specific individuals.

to bring yourself to pray for certain individuals you can do nothing but pray for them. You feel like a mother when it comes time to bring forth a child when she's going to have her baby and she goes into labor there's only one thing she can do she's got to have her baby she can't be distracted there's one thing well there are times when God gives us and that's a biblical analogy God gives us that travailed soul Galatians 4.19 and the great burden the preoccupation of our prayers is intercession or it may be supplication there's a specific need there's a particular crisis and our whole future ...

35:18 - 36:02 Read in full sermon