THE LORD'S PRAYER
INTENTION:
Lord, “Teach us how
to pray”.
Let’s not pray as in
the Old Testament. But let’s pray as confident God will hear us and answer us.
If we find our
prayers are not answered, it’s best to self-evaluate what or how you are
praying; and self-evaluate (reflect) on anything He has already directed for
you.
But know, anytime you
are in need, He is there to help.
And prayer are just
conversations (literal, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual) with your
Father.
I.
TOPIC:
We want to look at what is typically titled: The Lord’s
Prayer.
These verses are something, that from a young age in Sunday
School, I began to memorise. I am sure many of you are also familiar with it if
you grew up in a church or school. But one thing I never really learned from
that time, was the meaning of it. I could recite it, but it didn’t mean much to
me beyond something I was taught to do (as rote).
I was struck one day though when I read someone saying that
this isn’t really a prayer by the Lord—and as such, isn’t really the Lord’s own
prayer. Instead, it should be considered “The Disciple’s Prayer”. And this made
sense to me.
Even though Jesus spoke
it, it was given as a response to what the Disciples asked Him: “Master, teach
us to pray, as John (the Baptist) taught his disciples”. Jesus was giving them their
prayer to say—not a prayer that Jesus was saying He prayed. Given too at a
specific time in their Discipleship with Jesus. If we want to read what Jesus
prayed, we need to read His prayers in John 17. It is here that He prayed for Himself, His Disciples, and all
Believers that were to exist.
So then, let’s delve into some of the meaning and purpose
behind this prayer for the Disciples. And then ask ourselves: can we apply it
to our lives today? Yes and no.
In general, Jesus was teaching them a “new” way of relating
to God. One that probably shook them to the core as to how they viewed or
believed God—not as some distant figure, but a trusting and caring Father.
Jesus took the religion out of prayer, making it a personal relationship; and
one that didn’t require a lot of “vain repetitions”. However, some of what is
said in the prayer has already been fulfilled. It’s these aspects which we will
dig into.
There are two accounts of this prayer for the Disciples—one
in Matthew
6, the other in Luke
11:1-4. They match almost word-for-word. But for our lesson here, we will
focus on the Matthew account—breaking down each section afterwards in the
related verses and questions section.
II.
READING: “The Disciple’s Prayer” (commonly referred
to as “The Lord’s Prayer”):
Matthew
6:7-13 (NMB)
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions like the
heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Be
not like them therefore. For your Father knows what you need before you ask of
him. 9 Pray therefore in this manner:
O our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that
trespass against us.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever.
Amen.
III.
RELATED VERSES AND QUESTIONS:
A. “Our
Father who art in heaven”. This opening line is one of the most dramatic
changes in how the Disciple’s would pray. When Jesus referred to God as His
Father, it infuriated the Pharisees because they had never related to God that
way (nor felt they had any right to). Yet Jesus broke that religious
misconception and forever imparted that understanding of God as a Father to His
Disciples and us. He is not distant and uncaring, He is responsible,
protecting, caring, and in us as believers. We should never see ourselves as
not being born of God and equal to Him (as Jesus demonstrated for us).
John
5:15-18 (NMB) {PoG}
The man {who had been
healed by Jesus} departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made
him whole. 16 And therefore the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought means to slay
him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.
17 And Jesus told them, My
Father works until now, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews
sought all the more to kill him, not only because he had broken the Sabbath,
but said also that God was his Father, and made himself equal with God.
1
Corinthians 8:5-6 (NMB)
And though there be what
are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many and lords
many), 6 yet to us there is but one God, who is the Father, of whom are all
things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and
we by him.
Question: Do you see God as a Father? Do you see
and relate to Him like you see and relate to your own dad?
B. “Hallowed
be thy name”. Tied in with the notion of God as a Father, is that God is only a
Good God. One who does not cause chaos, calamity, sickness/disease, natural
disasters, and the like. The term “hallowed” (G37)
here is representative of this characteristic of God that the disciples may not
have understood. For them, reading what we call the “Old Testament”, they would
see a confusing God who gets blamed for much of the hardships faced in earth’s
history. Yet, Jesus demonstrated how untrue that was. And that God only wants
to bring us Life. To be “hallowed” is to be separate from “profane things”
(that is to treat someone with abuse); as meaning God is not the one bringing
bad things upon people. But instead purifies and cleanses. He is Holy and
Sanctified, just as He makes us Holy and Sanctified. And because He does this
(not leading us to destruction), we can trust Him.
Hebrews
2:10-18 (NMB)
For it was fitting for
him, for whom all things are and by whom all things are, in accordance with the
way that he brought many sons to glory, to make the Lord of their salvation
perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified
are all of one, for which sake he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12
saying: I will declare your name to my brethren, and in the midst of the
congregation I will praise you. 13 And again: I will put my trust in him. And
again: Behold, here am I and the children that God has given me.
14 Considering then that
the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took
part with them, in order to put down through death him that had lordship over
death – that is to say, the devil – 15 and to deliver those who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For in no place does he
take on him the angels, but he takes the seed of Abraham on him. 17 Therefore
it was fitting for him to be made like his brethren in all things, so that he
could be merciful, and a faithful high priest in things concerning God, in
order to purge the people’s sins. 18 For in that he himself suffered and was
tried, he is able to succour those who are tried.
Question: Do you trust God enough to consider Him worthy of being called “hallowed”?
C. “Thy
kingdom come”. It has come! And for us as believers, we have immediate access
to this with the Holy Spirit. His Kingdom is not some distant thing to happen
when Jesus comes again (of which we have to pray towards) but is something we
can embrace now. Jesus spoke in His ministry about that Kingdom being in the
midst of them, it is now gifted to us. It is in us. We can access it for our
life when we need it. And if we are having difficulty seeing it in our lives,
we can just ask the Lord to show what we have access to. For it has power in
us!
Luke
17:20-21 (NMB)
When he was asked by the
Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them and said, The
kingdom of God does not come with watching for it. 21 Neither may men say, See
here, look there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Romans
14:17 (NMB)
For the kingdom of God is
not food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
1
Corinthians 4:20 (NMB)
For the kingdom of God is
not in words, but in power.
Question: Are you waiting for the Kingdom of
God; or do you know you have it?
D. “Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. The Lord works through us. So, what
we choose to limit on this earth, becomes a limit to what the Lord can do from
Heaven. We are supposed to bring Heaven down to earth and do all He desires to
be done—in the way He wants it done. Not forcing us out of anger or vengeance,
but instructing out of Love and a true heart longing to provide us with the
best life possible (an “Abundant Life”).
Matthew
18:18 {PoG}
I am truly telling you:
that whatever you choose to bind [forbid] on earth, it will be also be
bound in Heaven [forbidden from coming to earth]; and whatever you
choose to loose on [set free into this] earth, it will be loosed [set free]
in Heaven [to be able to come to earth].
Ephesians
3:20 (NMB)
Now to him who is able to
do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think by the power that works
in us.
Philippians
2:13 (NMB)
For it is God who works in
you both the will and also the deed, of his own good will.
Question: Do you feel you limit God in your life
and towards those around you?
E. “Give
us this day our daily bread”. This is both a physical and Spiritual need. Jesus
is the Word of Life that is our Daily Bread (Spiritually). We are also told not
to worry about life, because the Lord knows how to provide for us in the
everyday. He is continuously providing for us, even if we aren’t even asking
directly for it. Think of all the stress we put upon ourselves for the things
the Lord wants to freely provide for us.
Matthew
6:31-33 (NMB)
Therefore do not be
anxious, saying, What will we eat? or, What will we drink? or, How will we be
clothed? 32 After all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father
knows that you have need of all these things. 33 But rather seek ye first the
kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and all these things will be
ministered unto you.
John
6:32-35 (NMB)
Jesus said to them, Truly truly I say to you, Moses did not give you
bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For
the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
34 Then they said to him,
Lord, give us this bread forevermore.
35 And Jesus said to them,
I am that bread of life. He who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who
believes on me shall never thirst.
Question: What are areas of your life that you
can “let go and let God”?
F. “And
forgive us our trespasses”. As we have looked at before, Christ took all our
sins of the flesh at the Cross. The sin of not believing in Him is removed when
we do choose to believe in Jesus Christ. We don’t need to ask for his
forgiveness to cleanse away our sins; but we can ask to help clear any guilt we
may have in our hearts.
Hebrews
10:10 (NMB)
In accordance with this
God’s will, we are sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once
and for all.
James
5:13-16 (NMB) {PoG}
If any of you be vexed
with sorrows, let him pray. If any of you be merry, let him sing psalms. 14 If
any be diseased among you, let him call for the elders of the congregation, and
let them pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And
the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if
he has committed sins, {they have been} forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults to
one another. And pray for one another, that you may be healed: The fervent
prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Question: Does something change in you when you
confess the mistakes you make to others (or the Lord)?
G. “as
we forgive them that trespass against us”. The “as” (G2532)
translates to “indeed”. That since the Lord has forgiven us, we indeed
forgive others. This may be hard to do, but the Lord also helps provide the
means necessary for us to be able to forgive others. When we hold onto
unforgiveness, our hearts can become hardened and bitter—we don’t let God deal
with our own pain by taking responsibility for us and the other person. The
Lord has forgiven both their sins committed against you, and your sins
committed against others. And when we forgive, we can gain a peace in our
hearts and minds. Note: this does not mean God won’t forgive us if we chose not
to forgive others—He cannot unforgive a sin that has already been forgiven at
the Cross.
Colossians
3:12-15 (NMB)
Now therefore, as chosen
by God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind,
meekness, and longsuffering, 13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one
another, if anyone has a quarrel against another. Just as Christ forgave you,
so also should you do.
14 Above all these things,
put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And may the peace of God rule
in your hearts, to which peace you are called in one body. And see that you be
thankful.
Question: Do you hold unforgiveness against
someone else—even if they have already died?
H. “And
lead us not into temptation”. They believed God was the one who would create
the temptations. Whether in our own personal lives, or when reading the “Old
Testament”, it can almost seem like God leads people into hardship and trouble
to “try” them. But as the Lord said, it was Israel that “tried” Him (Hebrews
3:7-11). Even when we encounter persecution in our walk with the Lord, know
it is not the Lord that brought the persecution—but that others persecute you
for following the Lord.
James
1:13-17 (NMB)
Let no one say when he is
tempted, that he is tempted by God. For God tempts not to evil, nor does he
tempt anyone, 14 but every person is tempted, drawn away, and enticed by his
own fleshly nature and evil desire. 15 Then when desire has conceived, she brings
forth sin, and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.
16 Do not be mistaken, my
dear brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
comes down from the Father of light, with whom is no variableness nor turning
to darkness.
Question: Do you sometimes distance yourself
from God in persecution/hardship because you blame Him for it?
I.
“but deliver us from evil”. In a continuation of
the pervious section of verse, we can think God is the one trying us to then
fail at the trial and sin. In essence, thinking that He is delivering us INTO
sin. This change is that He is leading us out and away from sin. We can see
that He will always provide a way out when temptation comes our way. We too
have authority over Satan and the devil. And even moreso, God has made
available a deliverance from evil that is both Satan [“evil one”] and the evil
spoken of as not believing on Jesus Christ for Salvation—for when we do believe
in Jesus Christ to Salvation, we are no longer deemed evil.
John
17:13-19 (NMB)
Now I come to you. And I
speak these words in the world so that they may have my joy full in them. 14 I
have given them your words. And the world has hated them, because they are not
of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I ask not that you take them
out of the world, but that you keep them from evil. 16 They are not of the
world, as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them with your truth. Your word is
truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so have I sent them into the world. 19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified
through the truth.
1
Corinthians 10:13 (NMB)
No trial has taken you but
such as follows the nature of man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you
to be tried above your strength, but will in the midst of the trial make a way
to escape out.
Galatians
1:3-4 (NMB)
Grace be with you and
peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself
for our sins to deliver us from this present evil world according to the will
of God our Father.
Question: How can we recognise we are facing
evil—and then use our authority or seek the Lord for help?
J.
“For thine is the kingdom and the power and the
glory forever. Amen.” This places God above all else. He is “the Kingdom”, “the
Power”, “the Glory”, and “the Forever”. Through Jesus and all Creation, He has
demonstrated that His authority is the greatest of all. That there is none
higher than Him. He bows to no one. His rule is far greater than Satan’s,
having stripped him of any power or authority. And we must not confuse God’s
Kingdom with Satan’s kingdom—nor can they intermix. And all this power and
authority lives in us!
Colossians
1:9-17 (NMB)
For this reason we also,
since the day we heard of it, have not ceased praying for you, and asking that
you be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord in all things that
please him, being fruitful in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of
God, 11 strengthened with all might through his glorious power to have all
patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, 12 and giving thanks to the Father,
who has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of saints in light. 13
He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son, 14 in whom we have redemption through his blood; that
is to say, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the
invisible God, and the first begotten of all creatures. 16 For by him were all
things created: things that are in heaven and things that are in earth, things
visible and things invisible, whether they be majesty, or lordship, or rule, or
power. All things are created by him and in him, 17 and he is before all
things, and in him all things have their being.
Question: How can we use all that the Lord has
given us, being that He is alive and living inside of us?
IV.
FURTHER THOUGHT:
A. From
that time the Disciples asked Jesus how they should pray, they learned of their
Identity in Christ. Their prayer life went from one of questioning, to one of
utmost BOLDNESS. This is how the Disciples prayed after they understood what
they had been given from Christ Jesus: a powerful, confident prayer of
authority!
Acts
4:23-30 (NMB)
As soon as they were let go, they went to their companions and told them
all that the high priests and elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard
that, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord and said, Lord, you
are God who has made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who
by the mouth of your servant David has said: Why did the heathen rage, and the
people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers
came together against the Lord and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth,
against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod and also
Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered themselves
together, 28 to do whatever your hand and your counsel determined before to be
done. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and grant to your
servants to speak your word with all confidence, 30 and stretch forth your hand
so that healing and signs and wonders may be done by the name of the holy child
Jesus.
31 And as soon as they had
prayed, the place moved where they were assembled together, and they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God boldly.
Thoughts: For me, this “Lord’s Prayer” was
asking something from God that I never really felt I could obtain. My belief
was that I could ask, but that I was never good enough to actually receive it
from Him—how could He give me what I ask for if I have never met His high
expectations of me. I was always beggarly towards Him.
I did not realize until
late in my life, that what I was trying to pray for had already been given me.
The defeated Christian I was, I didn’t have to live anymore. I could accept
that He infused into me His Spirit and His entire Kingdom for me to have free
access to. Not because I could meet my expectations of what I thought He wanted
from me, but because He wanted to give it all to me, outside of my own
self-judgement and debilitating critiques of self-righteous expectation. He gives
to me because I deserve it for just being His child! You do too!
As a Christian, we should
pray with an assurance of what we already have: Ephesians.
Yet, no matter how you feel and how much "faith" or
"belief" you think you have or don't have, you can come to Him AS YOU
ARE—for He does not judge you nor condemn you—He only will lift you up and out
of where you are.
A thank you to Kelly and Joshua who are inspirational in this life-journey. And to all the family, friends, sponsors, and donors who have fed into this ministry and outreach.
If you would like to support this ministry and outreach, you may do so via our website or at:
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