Our Father Series

“Our Father...”

NOW THIS MORNING

We are going to begin a deep dive into the most well-known prayer in the world. A 2000 year old prayer that Jesus unveiled in His Kingdom Manifesto, that we know as ‘The Lord’s Prayer.’

UNDERSTAND – Jesus after telling how those who live in His Kingdom are not to pray...

#1 – Don’t pray like the religious hypocrites whose prayers are about impressing people.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. – Matthew 6:5

#2 – And don’t pray like the pagans who pray a lot of meaningless words to gods they are not even sure are listening or are ‘god enough’ to be aware of their needs.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. – Matthew 6:7,8

This, then, is how you should pray:

(please stand... I’ll go first)

Our Father who art in the heavens, hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever and ever. Amen – Matthew 6:9-13

MGCC - think about it...

For 2,000 years, wherever people who love Jesus have gathered, they have prayed this prayer…

I MEAN – it seems as if I have always known this prayer…

Ray Pritchard in his book, ‘And When You Pray’ writes…

In twenty centuries of Christian history, no prayer has surpassed the eloquent simplicity of the Lord’s Prayer… I have discovered that all Christians know the Lord’s Prayer. It transcends language and ritual and culture and race. Simple though it is – and perhaps because of its simplicity – The Lord’s Prayer is part of the glue that holds the body of Christ together. We love to argue about doctrine and debate which church is right, but in the end when we begin to say, “Our Father who art in heaven” – our hearts join as one to repeat those ancient words that speak with such contemporary power.

[End Quote]

YEAH - I know exactly what he is talking about…

I MEAN – like, every time I have prayed this prayer with other believers this feeling of unity and closeness to God has always swept over me…

AND – our hearts really were joined together as one as we repeated those ancient words that really do speak with such incredible power.

AND LISTEN - it is so crazy, and so Jesus to pack so much power in a mere 72 words...

(that’s how many words are in the Greek text when you include the doxology at the end)…

AND MGCC – here’s the deal...

The truths, the concepts and the insights that Jesus packed into this prayer contain the power to mold and reshape our lives entirely. Our individual lives. Our Church. Our community. Our world.

Overstatement? Exaggeration? Not at all!

UNDERSTAND – in the coming weeks as we dive down deep into this 2000 year old prayer given to us by Jesus (God the Son) we will see… that yes it is a powerful template for prayer… BUT – we will also see that it is so much more.

We’ll see – that is a means, a key, a pathway to living the life we were created to live… and becoming the people God intended for us to be.

NOW BEFORE – we move over to the edge and begin our descent into this prayer.

I want to do some background/intro type stuff.

• Offer a simple definition of prayer

• Give you an outline of the Lord’s prayer

• Suggest two ways you can you use this prayer during our study

• And answer the question that some may have as to why we should even pray at all.

A definition

Prayer is a believers communication with God the Father, through the authority and person of Jesus Christ, assisted by the Holy Spirit.

Let me explain what I mean...

FIRST - of all we pray to God as Father. And we are going to deal with this in just a few moments.

SECOND - our prayers are to be offered through Jesus Christ. Paul says in 1 Timothy 2:5, there is one… one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

UNDERSTAND – the only reason you and I have access to God the Father, is that the door was opened by the blood of Christ…