One Month Left
We have a little less then one month left for our Summer Prayer Fest and I want it to end with us running all the way through the finish line! Today, I want to reveal something rather remarkable if you did not know it. What we know as the “Lord’s Prayer” is not really His prayer, but rather a model for basic prayer life of us. Let’s read the passage first.
Matthew 6:5-13“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. 6 “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. 7 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen [do.] For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Let’s break this down. We will talk about verses 5 through 8 in a moment, but for simplicity sake let’s examine the prayer itself. Many people have analyzed the prayer; there is no formula for a correct prayer, but rather a heart in the right place! Verse 5 through 8 will discuss this. However, there is a uniqueness that can be found in the manner that Jesus provided as an example.
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” At the very beginning, it should all be directed with the understanding of who we are talking to. He is Holy, He is the rightful, righteous and all powerful, all knowing and all present God. He was before the beginning, and will be after the end. It is simplified in this one statement.
Next comes the recognition of what God is doing on earth in the present. “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven.” For the Amillennial and progressive christian who does not believe in a literal thousand year reign of Jesus, nor His promises to Israel, you are rejecting what Jesus is literally saying right here. Jesus is telling us to pray for His kingdom on earth! Nevertheless, we have a Father who does care for our wellbeing and it is why he says for us to pray for what we need, and recognize that we are sinners who need help. This reminds us to help others and forgive others as He has helped us and forgave us. This is exemplified in verses 11 through the beginning of 13. “Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”
The final part of verse 13 and the conclusion of the prayer is a recognition that it is all entirely in His hands. That we are in His protection and His will guides our steps. This is why we are to recognize this as His faithful sheep. “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
This prayer is not as much a formula for “proper prayer” but rather this is the key cornerstones that we need to recognize in our relationship with God. There is not one identical prayer in all of the Bible, and this is intentional by the Holy Spirit to keep mankind from creating something that is not. This is why verses 5 through 8 was discussed by Jesus before He gave any model of prayer. Only the Lord knows the thoughts and hearts of a person in prayer, however it is unique that He immediately identifies characteristics of that can easily be identified.
Our prayer life needs to be serious. We need to take it with passion and reverence with a daily step by step walk. Talk with the Lord, walk with the Lord, and most importantly be with the Lord. Prayer is not something to shy away from, but rather embrace and seek His direction in it.
Summer prayer fest:
This week let’s lean on John 17:13-26 and see the prayer that Jesus did for you and I! “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, [are] in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare [it,] that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”