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Prayer is the Antidote

by | May 5, 2024

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Introduction

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14

  • If someone is bit by a poisonous snake, what do you give them to save them? An antidote
  • If someone is poisoned, what do you give them to save them? An antidote
  • If someone has overdosed on drugs, what do you give them to save them? An antidote
  • Speaking of deadly poisonous snakes, Leslie and I stopped by to see Dennis and Carol last Tuesday night.
  • We got there to find Dennis holding a snake captive with a broom.
  • Dennis’ back yard is like Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.
  • Bears, alligators, coyotes, deer, raccoons, snakes you name it.
  • So, he tells me “Hold on to this while I got something to kill it with.”
  • At this point we didn’t know if it was poisonous or not, it was about a foot long and as big around as a pencil.
  • Finally, we decided to let it go so I swept it out the door – towards Dennis.
  • Man, that guy can still jump. Anyhow that poor snake escaped into the back yard.
  • As I sat on the beach thinking about my son-in-law going through a heart catheterization, I started doing a lot of praying. The truth is: I really love this guy and worry about him.
  • I especially worry about him when my daughter Stacy tells me he is just like me.
  • Praying is just so much easier when you are sitting on the beach.
  • Because to see the beauty and grandeur of the ocean waves and clouds is to see God.
  • There are two points that I want to make today about prayer as the antidote:
  1. Do it RIGHT
  2. Do it OFTEN

1. Do it RIGHT

  • Is there a right or wrong way to pray?
  • If you consider that Jesus demonstrated prayer on numerous occasions that would be the right way – in my opinion.
  • One of the reasons that I insist on including the Lord’s Prayer in my worship services is that it is the one prayer that Jesus taught us to pray.
  • And if Jesus said it was right, we can feel confident that we did at least one thing right,
  • If we start there, we can use it as a model that can be used for all
  • Let’s start by breaking it down into its component parts.
  • There are five parts to the Lord’s Prayer:
  1. A Salutation – much like dialing a phone number or using an email address.
  2. A recognition – acknowledging God’s sovereign position and perfect will.
  3. An ask – what is it that you want God to do for you?
  4. A reconciliation – we can’t ask for God’s help until we get right with others.
  5. Protection – God allows the enemy to exist but He can help to protect us.
  • Prayer is about making a connection with God – a two-way connection.
  • Jesus speaks of this using the example of knocking on a door in Matthew 7:7-8:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

  • Think about this first part of the prayer as that knock on God’s throne room.
  • From the other side of the door, you hear “who is it? Who are you looking for?”
  • You say: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,”
  • This establishes that you know who He is and that He is who you want to talk to.
  • Just like if you call someone on the phone or send them an email.
  • It’s important to know that, if your message is important, it is going to the right place.
  • The second part is to give God all the praise and glory for who He is.
  • This is demonstrated by Jesus for us even as He lived out His Father’s plan saying:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

  • This establishes that you know and recognize that all good things come from Him.
  • Once you have done these first two things, the connection is open to the Father,
  • Now, it’s time to ask God for his help, in the faith that He can deliver as it meets His will.
  • Jesus only asks for the basics with: “Give us today our daily bread.”
  • But couldn’t this really represent all our needs? Insert whatever you need here.
  • This is where it’s appropriate to ask for anything you want Him to help with.
  • It could be praying over a sick friend or a family member or asking for help with a job.
  • It could be praying for peace in the world or protection for those who serve.
  • The fourth part is very important because God will help us but not if we aren’t willing to help others.
  • Jesus teaches us to address that by asking for God’s help with reconciliation: “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
  • Finally, Jesus knows what we are up against with the enemy, Satan so He adds this prayer

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.

  • We’ve depersonalized this somewhat in our version by asking for deliverance from evil.
  • But, make no mistake, the enemy is just as real as Jesus, and we should ask for protection

2. Do it OFTEN

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

  • Here’s something that occurred to me: When you are praying, what are you NOT doing?
  • When you’re praying, you’re not sinning. At least for the moment.
  • This means that the world stops for us, and we can step away from everything.
  • If you have ADHD like me, you might only have 30 seconds. So prayer may be difficult.
  • When asked how often we should pray, Billy Graham responds in billygraham.org:

One of the Bible’s greatest truths is that God not only exists, but He actually wants to have a personal relationship with us. And prayer is one of the ways He’s given us to strengthen that relationship.

In other words, don’t look on prayer as a burden or obligation; instead, look on it as a privilege. Just imagine: The God who created the whole universe wants to welcome you into His presence — and that is exactly what happens when we pray! If Jesus felt the need to pray, how much more should we?

  • Prayer then, is a moment without sin in the presence of God.
  • What is sin? Sin is whatever separates us from the will of God.
  • Even as Christians, sin is unavoidable because we are human just like Adam and Eve.
  • God told them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
  • They broke His rule and ate from the tree and thus opened the door to evil in the world.
  • Now that we know about good and evil, we have a choice and sometimes choose evil.
  • What are some other rules that God gave us? The ten commandments.
  • No other gods before Him, no worship of idols, no misusing His name, no work on the Sabbath, honor your father and mother, don’t commit murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false witness about your neighbor, and do not covet what your neighbor has.
  • Break any of these rules and you have sinned against God.
  • Whenever we put other things in front of him, we sin.
  • We worship all kinds of idols in this world. What’s your addiction? Not just alcohol or drugs, but how about cell phones? Or TV? Or even your work?
  • It’s a sin-filled world and we are constantly being poisoned. So, what is the antidote?
  • The antidote to sin is prayer: Do it right and do it often.