Bible Text: Matthew 6:5-15 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: A Master’s Class in Prayer, Matthew

1.  “Nothing is more central to the spiritual life than prayer…” (Richard J. Foster).  “To know God it is necessary to spend consistent time with Him.” (Robert D. Foster)  “Prayer – secret, fervent, believing prayer – lies at the root of all personal godliness.” (Carey’s Brotherhood quoted by E. M. Bounds). “To be little with God is to be little for God.” (E. M. Bounds)

2.   After requests related to God’s interests (desire for His name, His kingdom and His will) we then bring requests related to our needs:

-for personal, temporal needs (food, clothing, shelter).  A reminder that we are indebted to God for all we have (including our employment)

-for spiritual needs (need for daily cleansing to maintain temporal fellowship with God)

-for deliverance, both from temptation and in temptation.

3.  Jesus emphasizes the need for believers to be forgiving people (see also Matthew 18:21-35 and Paul in Ephesians 4:32).  There are dangers in not forgiving:

-it blocks us from receiving God’s forgiveness on a daily basis (blocks our fellowship with Him)

-it builds resentment in us which will affect us socially (isolation), emotionally (anger, depression) or physically

-it may bring God’s discipline into our lives (1 Corinthians 11; Hebrews 12)

-it reflects the standards of the world not the standard of Jesus Christ

4.  “One cannot walk in fellowship with God if he refuses to forgive others.” (John A. Martin)