The Inner Room (Matthew 6:5-15)
Gearl Spicer, July 17, 2022
Part of the Lessons on Prayer From Jesus series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Matthew 6:5–15 (Listen)
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:
“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 this day 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 evil.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(ESV)
Sermon Notes
Secrets of The Heart
Lessons on Prayer From Jesus
Key verse - Lord teach us to pray. Luke 11:1
The Inner Room
Matthew 6:5-15
7/17/22
How often do you find yourself praying?
It is our intimate encounters that we find inspiration to pursue Him!
Inner room - "a kind of storage room in which treasures are kept." Stott
*But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6
*In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Mark 1:35
*But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. Luke 5:16
I. Live the humble way - Matthew 6:6
A. Open your heart to unlock the mystery
B. Anticipate His assurance in your heart
C. Be challenge in your pursuit
D. Await the door to open
II. Avoid what hampers effectiveness - Matthew 6:7-13
A. Avoid repetition
B. Experience transforming impact
III. Experience the freedom of forgiveness - Matthew 6:14-15
A. Freedom to move forward
B. Pressure we must avoid
Do you have an inner room?