But He's My Father Series

THE LORD’S PRAYER

1 – BUT HE’S MY FATHER

This morning, we are continuing our emphasis on PRAYER, that we begin 2 weeks ago

And what we’ve been doing, is saying that for us to…

--see a breakthrough

--have a move of God

--rise up as a church like never before

--see loved ones saved

--find God’s will

--see delivereance

--see souls saved

Then we must, answer the call to prayer

And I believe that God is calling our church to prayer

He’s calling…

--this pastor

--the Administrative Council

--Sunday School Teachers

--Women’s Ministries

--Youth Ministry

--Prision Ministry

--Usher Ministry

He’s calling ALL of us to PRAYER

And so, I invite you to join with me, as we PUSH – PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!

AND TODAY, I can’t think of a better way to teach us about prayer and how to pray, than to begin to look at the model prayer, or what we commonly know as – THE LORD’S PRAYER

For you see, this 65 word, 2 minute prayer cotains the SPIRITUAL DNA, that encapsulates all…

--the promises

--the provisions

--the protections

--the potential

And all the PROBLEMS that we face

And so, this morning, we’re going to look at THE LORD’S PRAYER

Today, we begin with the first phrase: OUR FATHER, WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BY THY NAME!

Let’s stand and read…

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) 9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

There are a couple of things I want to point out to you as we think about the Lord’s prayer….

First of all, it was given, IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST

And that was a request of the Disciples found in…

Luke 11:1 ( KJV ) 1And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Evidently, there was something about…

--the Master’s prayer life

--the results that they saw He had

--the communion they saw He had with God Almighty, His Father

--the glow on His face

And it created a hunger in their lives, and they said LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

I want you to know something this morning and that is that EVERYONE should ENTER the school of prayer, but no one GRADUATES from the school of prayer!

And no matter…

--how many years we’ve been in the church

--how many good deeds we’ve done

--how many books we’ve read

--how many Sunday School lessons we’ve taught

We still need to say, LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

Secondly, I want you to understand that Jesus was teaching the WAY to pray, not the WORDS to pray

You’re not to repeat this prayer verbatim, mindlessly over and over again as though that in itself has some merit

NO – the words, expressions, and pharases are like the train tracks, that lead you into the presence of God!

No, Jesus even warned about this…

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

And notice the themes of this prayer…

--Acknowledgment and Worship (Our father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name)

--Submission and Petition (thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread)

--Forgiveness and Repentance (forgive us of our debts, as we forgive our debtors)

--Guidance and Assurance (and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen.)

All that we need in this world today is found in this 65 word, 2 minute prayer

Someone said that prayer is…

--our greatest power

--our greatest privilege

Therefore it ought to be our greatest passion!

If we fail as a church, it will not be because of…

--people

--property

--prospeirty

It will be because of prayer

And so, let’s look at the first part of this prayer: OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME!

Let me give you three things as we unfold this prayer

First of all…

1. WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE FATHER’S PERSON

Now, understand, that when Jesus instructed us in this prayer, He doesn’t open up talking about…

--the place of prayer (for you can prayer anywhere)

--the period of prayer (for you can pray anytime)