Pray for What God Wants
John MacArthur Sermon Summary
Jewish prayers feature expressions of loving, praising, thanking, obeying, pleading, and confessing to God; a longing for purity; recognition of God’s holiness; emphasis on the community’s needs over one’s own; and humility. [1]
Christ gave the disciples a similar framework for prayer. After all, Christ came to fulfill the law. Let’s learn from the Lord’s Prayer. [2]
It opens addressing God as “Papa,” making it personal and symbolizing His love, like the father in the prodigal son parable. Our Papa is the source of everything we need. [3]
Next, we honor God’s holy name. His names include Creator of heaven and earth, Most High, provider, healer, peace giver, shepherd, sanctifier, King, Lord, and Christ. We ask that God, as represented by His name, be honored. [4]
Next comes His sovereignty and our submission. His Kingdom is where He rules, both the universe and the redemptive Kingdom through salvation. You are asking what God wants, which is to build His Kingdom on earth and to bring salvation to the people, so that He is worshipped here as in heaven. [5]
Honoring and submitting to God protects us against sentimentalizing God as Papa, balancing His love with His holiness and power.
Up to this point, our focus is solely on God, on glorifying Him and building His Kingdom. We’ve made no personal requests yet.
The next section focuses on our dependence, asking not just for yourself, but for many. These requests are all based on God’s promises, including provision for our needs (be generous and sow sparingly to reap sparingly); forgiveness for our sins as we forgive others; and protection from evil (God is our safety, who doesn’t tempt us, but allows trial to strengthen us). Whatever happens to us, just ask God to fulfill His promises. [6]
Don’t worry. All good gifts are from God. Just ask. God will do what we ask in Christ’s name so that God will be glorified in the Son. [7]
Pray as His worshippers and for His glory. Share His passion. Prioritize His Kingdom and righteousness over everything we need or want. Live to glorify Him and manifest in the fulfillment of His promises. Live in constant communion with God, which He has made available to us. [8]
Summary of a sermon by John MacArthur, titled, “How should we pray?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnz5kcGdzdc
Christ gave the disciples a similar framework for prayer. After all, Christ came to fulfill the law. Let’s learn from the Lord’s Prayer. [2]
It opens addressing God as “Papa,” making it personal and symbolizing His love, like the father in the prodigal son parable. Our Papa is the source of everything we need. [3]
Next, we honor God’s holy name. His names include Creator of heaven and earth, Most High, provider, healer, peace giver, shepherd, sanctifier, King, Lord, and Christ. We ask that God, as represented by His name, be honored. [4]
Next comes His sovereignty and our submission. His Kingdom is where He rules, both the universe and the redemptive Kingdom through salvation. You are asking what God wants, which is to build His Kingdom on earth and to bring salvation to the people, so that He is worshipped here as in heaven. [5]
Honoring and submitting to God protects us against sentimentalizing God as Papa, balancing His love with His holiness and power.
Up to this point, our focus is solely on God, on glorifying Him and building His Kingdom. We’ve made no personal requests yet.
The next section focuses on our dependence, asking not just for yourself, but for many. These requests are all based on God’s promises, including provision for our needs (be generous and sow sparingly to reap sparingly); forgiveness for our sins as we forgive others; and protection from evil (God is our safety, who doesn’t tempt us, but allows trial to strengthen us). Whatever happens to us, just ask God to fulfill His promises. [6]
Don’t worry. All good gifts are from God. Just ask. God will do what we ask in Christ’s name so that God will be glorified in the Son. [7]
Pray as His worshippers and for His glory. Share His passion. Prioritize His Kingdom and righteousness over everything we need or want. Live to glorify Him and manifest in the fulfillment of His promises. Live in constant communion with God, which He has made available to us. [8]
Summary of a sermon by John MacArthur, titled, “How should we pray?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnz5kcGdzdc
[1] Psalm 34:2, 51:17; Jonah 2:9; Psalm 119:113; Psalm 26:6, 51, 24:3-4; Daniel 9; Deuteronomy 3; Exodus 32
[2] Luke 11:1-4
[3] Matthew 7:9-11, John 20:17, Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6
[4] Psalm 9:10, 20:7; Genesis 14:19, 20, 22; John 17:6; Hebrew 11:6; Romans 11:36
[5] Luke 17:21, 2 Corinthians 4:15, 1 Timothy 2:4, Romans 9:3, Luke 19:41, Psalm 69:9, John 2:17
[6] Luke 11:3-4, Psalm 37:25, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, 1 John 1:9, James 1:13
[7] James 1:17, John 14:13-14
[8] Matthew 6:33, Luke 18:1