A Model of Prayer, Humility, and Fasting

Sermon for the 2022 Tennessee "Day of Prayer, Humility, and Fasting."

MAIN IDEA: the Scriptural model for "prayer, humility, and fasting" is to pray biblically, intentionally, worshipfully, humbly, and believingly.

INTRODUCTION: We want to pray as those who seek the good of the city we live in (Jer 29:5–14). There is no wiki-guide to praying well or cultural effectiveness. What should we be aiming at, that we may pray in this way?

1. Pray BIBLICALLY, v2.
2. Pray INTENTIONALLY, v3.
   3.Pray WORSHIPFULLY, v4.
   3.a. Pray adoringly. Confession without adoration does not belong to a man who knows God. The truth about God is foremost.
   3.b. Pray reverently. Casual praying does not belong to a man who knows God.
3. Pray HUMBLY, v5–15.
   4.a. Corporate humility.
   4.a.i. Recognizing the same guilt in ourselves (cf. Isa 6).
   4.a.ii. Recognizing our federal guilt in their sin (v6b, 8, 11).
   4.b. Confessing sin.
   4.b.i. Admitting its horror (v5a).
   4.b.ii. Admitting its nature (v5b, 10a).
   4.b.iii. Admitting its heinousness against instruction and patience (v6a, 10b)
   4.b.iv. Admitting its heinousness against goodness and grace (v7a, 9a, 15)
   4.b.v. Admitting its origin in ourselves (v7b, 8, 9b)
   4.b.vi. Admitting its persistence in us (v7c, 13b)
   4.b.vii. Admitting God's justness in curse and discipline (v11, 14)
   4.b.viii. Admitting God's faithfulness in curse and discipline (v12, 13a)
4. Pray BELIEVINGLY, v16.
   5.a. For the sake of His righteousness (v16a)
   5.b. For the sake of His covenant (v16b)
   5.c. For the sake of His glory (v17)
   5.d. For the sake of His compassion (v18a)
   5.e. For the sake of His goodness, not ours (v18b)
   5.f. For the sake of His Name (v19)