The Lord's Prayer Part 1 Series

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 1

Matthew 6:9–15 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

INTRODUCTION: JESUS HAS JUST COMPLETED HIS DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PHARISEES AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND THE INCORRECT MANNER IN WHICH THEY PRAY AND THEIR MOTIVES IN PRAYING.

TO RECAP, JESUS CONDEMNED PRAYER THAT WAS DONE FOR THE ADMIRATION OF OTHERS, THAT IGNORED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT PRAYER PROVIDED, AND THAT WAS COMPOSED OF REPETITION IN THE HOPES OF ENGAGING GOD TO ANSWER.

IN RESPONSE TO THAT, JESUS NOW LAYS OUT FOR HIS DISCIPLES A PATTERN FOR PRAYER. IN FEWER THAN 70 WORDS, IN THE INFINITE MIND OF GOD, WE HAVE COMPRESSED HERE EVERY CONCEIVABLE ELEMENT OF PRAYER.

IT COMPOSITION IS SIMPLE ENOUGH THAT EVEN A YOUNG CHILD CAN UNDERSTAND IT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BEYOND THE FULL COMPREHENSION OF THE MOST MATURE OF BELIEVERS.

JESUS PROVIDED THIS AS A PATTERN FOR PRAYER. AND ALTHOUGH MANY OF US HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO MEMORIZE THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE, IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO SIMPLY BE RECITED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT TO BE USED AS A GUIDE FOR OUR OWN CONVERSATION WITH GOD. THAT AS WE SPEAK WITH HIM, WE BRING IN THE ELEMENTS OF PRAYER THAT CENTER ON GOD HIMSELF, HIS PLAN, AND HIS PROVISION.

TRANSITION: PRAYER IS NOT AND NEVER SHOULD BE:

• BARGAINING WITH GOD.

• MAKING DEMANDS OF GOD.

• ONLY ASKING GOD FOR THINGS.

• A THERAPEUTIC, MEDITATION-TYPE EXERCISE.

• BOTHERING GOD AND TAKING UP HIS TIME.

• A WAY TO CONTROL THE LORD.

• A WAY TO SHOW OFF ONE’S SPIRITUALITY BEFORE OTHERS.

I. THE BASICS ABOUT THE LORD’S PRAYER

a. THIS TYPE OF PRAYING CAN ONLY BE DONE BY SOMEONE WHO IS COMMITTED TO CHRIST.

b. THE LORD’S PRAYER IS IN THE FIRST-PERSON PLURAL

i. THE FOCUS OF THIS PRAYER IS NOT ON ME OR MY

ii. LOOKING AFTER OURSELVES FIRST HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THE CHRISTIAN PRAYER LIFE

iii. OUR PRAYERS AND CONCERNS SHOULD BE FOR OTHERS MORE THAN OURSELVES

1. REMEMBER THAT GOD KNOWS ARE NEEDS

2. GOD KNOWS OUR NEEDS BETTER THAN WE KNOW THEM

3. GOD KNEW OUR NEEDS BEFORE WE DID

4. GOD SATISFIES OUR NEEDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS WILL AND PURPOSE

c. THE LORD’S PRAYER SPEAKS TO THREE SIGNIFICANT NEEDS THAT SHOULD BE IN OUR PRAYER

i. PHYSICAL NEEDS – VS. 11

ii. SPIRITUAL NEEDS -- VS. 12

iii. MORAL NEEDS – VS. 13

d. BEFORE WE CAN GET TO THE NEEDS ADDRESSED IN THIS PRAYER, WE FIRST NEED TO GET TO THE PRESENCE AND WORSHIP OF GOD

II. THE FIRST WORDS OF THIS PRAYER SPEAK VOLUMES

a. OUR FATHER

i. THIS WAS NOT A TERM USED BY THE JEWS TO DESCRIBE GOD

1. THE TERM FATHER IS USED ONLY 14 TIMES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

2. AND IN EVERY CASE, FATHER WAS WITH REFERENCE TO THE NATION, NEVER TO AN INDIVIDUAL.

ii. JESUS GAVE THE TERM FATHER A NEW FOCUS WHEN HE IN OVER 60TIMES REFERRED TO GOD AS HIS FATHER

iii. IN THE EPISTLES WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO BOTH SEE GOD AS OUR FATHER AND TO CALL HIM FATHER – ABBA – DADDY.

iv. BY CALLING GOD OUR FATHER IT IS:

1. IT IS EVIDENCE OF BEING HIS CHILD – SALVATION AND REDEMPTION

2. A SIGN OF SPIRITUAL HEALTH – WE ARE IN A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER

3. IT IS AN EVIDENCE OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF OUR FAITH

v. TO SAY “OUR” REFLECTS SELFLESSNESS AND UNSELFISHNESS

vi. TO SAY “FATHER” REFLECTS OUR SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP:

1. GOD AS OUR FATHER

2. TO JESUS AS A FELLOW HEIR AND SON OF GOD

III. THE BLESSINGS WE ENJOY WHEN GOD IS OUR FATHER

a. WE LOSE THE FEAR OF ETERNITY

i. WE ARE TOLD BY JESUS THAT WE ARE NEVER LEFT OR FORSAKEN

ii. THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST AS LORD LIVE IN FEAR OF ETERNITY

iii. TO AVOID THIS FEAR, SOME CHOOSE NOT TO BELIEVE IN GOD.

1. GOD DID NOT DO THIS

2. PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD DO THE SAME STUFF – HYPOCRISY

3. EVIL IN THE WORLD

4. PRIDE – THEY DO NOT ONE ANYONE TO INTERFERE WITH HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES

iv. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HAVE PEACE IS THROUGH BELIEF IN GOD