Is prayer for our benefit, or for God’s?

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).

IDEA: Not all praying may be prayer.

PURPOSE: To help listeners pray with the right attitude and in the right way.
Someone has said that there are as many reasons given in Scripture why God will NOT answer prayer as reasons that He will.
Do you agree with that?

I. We may pray to be seen by other people:
Matthew 6:5-6 – “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Why would anyone do that? What would they gain?
Do those “performance prayers” ever get answered?

II. Is it possible that we may pray in a manner that betrays the fact that we don’t know what we are doing when we pray?
Matthew 6:7-8: “But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
Why do some people pray prayers that say the same thing or use the same phrases over and over?
The Prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel prayed over and over again, “O Baal, answer us!” (1 Kings 18).
The people of Ephesus shouted the phrase “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” for two hours (Act 19).
Have you ever felt that you must badger God into taking notice of you when you pray? Why?
Are “all-night prayer meetings” more effective in getting our prayers answered? Is there any benefit to such prayer meetings?
Do you think that God times our prayers? Are short prayers as effective as long prayers?
The model prayer Jesus gave us has only 52 words in English and 50 words in the Greek text. Does that mean anything?
Do you think Jesus said these things to discourage us from praying?

III. What is the issue Jesus is getting at?
It can’t be the frequency or the repeating of a prayer. What do you make of Matthew 26:36-42?
It can’t be that He warns against long periods of prayer (Matthew 14:23-25).
What is the issue?