1.  Heavens  reckoning of our Praying.

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matt.6:7).

Prayers are not to be merely recited, nor are our words to be repeated thoughtlessly, or as if they were automatic formulas.

They are not to be" Vain Repetitions " (v7). Many religions believe that by repeating the same prayer-hundreds of times they will be heard for their much speaking. The Lord here says (v. 8), "Be not like unto them"; and He gave a model of acceptable prayer.

In these verses there is also brevity  

“That our prayer life is to be constrained by certain conditions”

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matt.6:12)

 (A). “Forgive us our debts” The parallel passage in Luke 11:4 uses the word that means “sins” so that in context, spiritual debts are intended. Sinners are debtors to God for their violations of His laws This request is the heart of the prayer, it is what Jesus stressed in the words that immediately follow the prayer  v14-15

There are two areas of divine forgiveness

The 1st area is that of the forgiveness that comes to the sinner at the time of justification and deals with the guilt if his sins in a total sense. (Eph.1:7)

To this forgiveness there is attached but one condition. I.e. to receive it once for all by faith in Christ (Rom. 4:5-8)

The 2nd area covers the relation of the divine Father to those who have become His children and deals specifically with the matter of fellowship whenever it is broken by sin. (1John 1:9, Psalm 66:18, Prov. 28:13)

To obtain such forgiveness we must confess and forsake sin

The problem raised by the conditional nature of this petition for forgiveness may be explained  in the fully developed doctrine of Christian salvation

(B). “Lead us not into temptation”  God does not tempt men (Jas.1:13)  but will subject them to trials that may expose them to Satan’s assaults, as in the case of Job and Peter.

Thou hast made us kings and priests unto God. Both in the king and the priest the chief thing is power, influence, blessing.

In the king it is the power coming downward;

in the priest the power rising upward, prevailing with God.

In our blessed Priest-King, Jesus Christ, the kingly power is founded on the priestly 'He is able to save to the uttermost, because He ever liveth to make intercession.' in us, His priests and kings, it is no otherwise: it is in intercession that the Church is to find and wield its highest power, that each member of the, Church is to prove his descent from Israel, who as a prince had power with God and with men, and prevailed

The place and power of prayer in the Christian life is too little understood. As long as we look on prayer chiefly as the means of maintaining our own Christian life, we shall not know fully what it is meant to be.

 But when we learn to regard it as the highest part of the work entrusted to us, the root and strength of all other work, we shall see that there is nothing that we so need to study and practice as the art of praying aright

  (B).“The Christian’s The power of Attorney”.

 John Ch.14 v12-14

The progressive teaching of our Lord in regard to prayer and the distinct reference the wonderful promises, of the last night  that Jesus was with His disciples before the crucifixion (John 16:16)  have to do with the works we are to do in His name, to the greater works, and to the bearing much fruit,

It is only when the Church gives herself up to this holy work of intercession that we can expect the power of Christ to manifest itself in her behalf.

See also  

The Prayer Life of a Spirit Filled Believer

Mother’s Prevailing Prayer

God’s School of Prayer

“Lord teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1)

Studies on The Sermon on the Mount  in Matthew Ch’s, 5-7  

After this manner therefore pray ye:

 Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

James reminds us in  (Ch.1:12-13) “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him”

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempt he any man.

The primary meaning is usually that of proving by testing or testing under trial

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled you Eve through his craftiness, so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2Cor.11:3)

The Christian Pilgrim in his walk and especially in the area of his prayer life will inevitably lead to engage with opposition and Spiritual resistance of Satan and his hosts.

Thus as a spirit filled warrior he must continually “be strong” he must strengthen himself with the armour provided for him.  (Eph. 6:10-12)

The ground for the warriors strength is his “position in the Lord”. His strength is the “power of His might” The Holy Spirit empowers him to make good the new life in resisting Satanic attack.

2. Lessons to be learned. In God’s

School of prayer

(A). “The encouragement to pray” Matt.::7-11                 (Andrew Murray on Prayer)

All the promises connected with the command, “Abide in Me” in John Ch.14.  there is none higher, and none that sooner brings the confession, 'Not that I have already attained, or am already made perfect,' than this: “if ye abide in me, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you”.'  Power with God is the highest attainment of the life of full abiding.

And of all the traits of a life like CHRIST there is none higher and more glorious than conformity to Him in the work that now engages Him without ceasing in the Father's presence-His all-prevailing intercession.

The more we abide in Him, and grow unto His likeness, will His priestly life work in us mightily, and our life become what His is,

A life that ever pleads and prevails for men.