Lord - Teach Us To Pray
Text: Luke 11: 1-5 and Matthew 6:9-13
Today we are going to focus in on two texts. The first is found in the gospel of Luke. Please follow along as I read:
1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." 2 And He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 'Give us each day our daily bread. 4 'And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'" Luke 11:1-5 (NASB)
Our second text is found in the gospel of Matthew. It reads:
9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is 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 also have forgiven our debtors. 13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.']
Matthew 6:9-13 (NASB)
Many people become frustrated and disappointed with praying. It does not seem to work for them. Maybe some of you are in that position? Today I offer you a lesson in praying from the expert of prayer. Some tips from Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. The disciples came to him asking: “Master, teach us to pray.” What He gave them was a sample prayer.
Today we are going to look at the Lord's Prayer. One of the things we find about the Lord's Prayer is that:
It is incredibly BRIEF - yet it is remarkably BROAD
Let me ask you a question - how many of you have been subject to a marathon prayer? I think most of you know what I am talking about. These are the type of prayers that go on and on and on. The person will pray from Genesis to Revelation and not skip a beat. I don't know who holds the record for the world's longest prayer - but I can tell you there have been times that I have felt that I have been an observer of it.
Now let me clarify myself here - I am not saying that a person should not pray for hours - in fact Paul said, "Pray without ceasing." and if you desire or are moved by God to pray for an extended period of time - by all means do so. God honors the prayers of those who pray to Him with a sincere heart no matter what the length. But what we find in our text today is a very brief prayer that has intense content. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray - he covered the content in about 30 seconds - yet extreme depth was there. Today I would like to explore five aspects of the Lord's Prayer:
First: The Lord's Prayer Is GOD Centered
Most of us come to the Lord in prayer with a lot of “I - me - and my” but not this prayer. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he starts out making 'The Father" the center of his prayer. Note how many times Jesus refers to the Father when he says, "your" in the beginning of the prayer. 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done..." In the first two sentences he uses "your" three times. Your kingdom - Your will - Your holiness. God is the first focus of the prayer and it is His kingdom - His will - and His holiness that is centered upon.
Over 70 different times in the New Testament, Jesus refers to God as "Father". As he is teaching this prayer - he teaches the disciples to address God as "Father". The term "Father" indicates a childlike trust in our heavenly Father. Our part to seek Him as a child would seek out a loving father. A loving father, in return, will not only hear his children but will intently listen to his children.
Did you know that when you become a Christian your relationships change?
Jesus becomes your Savior.
The church becomes your Family.
God becomes your Father.
In Romans 8:15 we find:
"For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15 (NASB)
The word “Abba” means “daddy or papa”. God's desire is for us to have a close relationship with him. We need to strive for intimacy and nearness to God. God is not indifferent about His children and he desires for all of us to have a loving relationship with him. We don’t have to approach Him with big churchy words or formalities. He wants us to embrace Him as our Father, to come to Him without fear. He wants us to come boldly into His presence, having the confidence that He is eager to hear the prayers of His children.
After we acknowledge God as Father - Jesus now instructs us to see God as holy: “Hallowed be your name.” He is our Father and He is infinitely holy. God’s nature is like a father – but His name is holy.
God is my Father - He is not the “big guy in the sky” or “my buddy.” He is holy and He is the awesome God. When Isaiah saw God in chapter six he said;
"Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." Isaiah 6:5 (NASB)
In God's presence were all kinds of heavenly beings and they were saying:
"Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah 6:3 (NASB)
Even though God is my loving Father and He is also holy. I need to respect that fact. But I need to do more than just respect the fact. The truth is - if God is my Father I need to move to become more like Him. As a child carries the DNA of their parents - we too need to carry the spiritual DNA of our Father. 1 Peter tells us:
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." 1 Peter 1:14-16 (NASB)
We are unholy - but by being "born again" - by coming into constant contact with One who is holy - by obediently following our Father - we can be made holy. Our prayers should always be God centered. As we pray we should always remember that we are approaching a Holy God who is also Our Father.
The next part of the Lord's Prayer says:
'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.' Matthew 6:10 (NASB)
What this verse says to me is that:
Secondly: The Lord's Prayer Is KINGDOM Centered
Look at how Jesus prayed:
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as in heaven.”
When we pray this part of the prayer we are saying - Father take control of my world and my life.
Folks here is a great truth:
Prayer has never be about asking God to do your will -
but it is about bending to His will.
Prayer is bringing myself into conformity with God's program.
YOUR kingdom come
YOUR will be done
Folks if we pray this way - we have hope. We are asking God to be in control. We are asking God to have His way in this world. I have tried to set up my own kingdom here on this earth - I have tried to live a comfortable life - but let me tell you - nothing can compare with God's kingdom.
Revelation says:
He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Revelation 21:5a (NASB)
How will it be new? Verses three and four in Revelation 21 tells us:
I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4 (NASB)
From these verses I see at least two that will change:
1. Our relationship with God will become closer:
"...the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them..."
2. God will bring about complete healing:
"...He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
Praying to God is about God's Kingdom.
Thirdly: The Lord's Prayer is BASICS Centered
“Give us today our daily bread.” This prayer is for basics of life, not for luxuries.
When I have heard this phrase I have often thought that the bread that was mentioned here was for our physical needs. In fact many commentaries that I have read express this thought too. But I now wonder if this "bread" is only speaking about physical food.
The truth of the matter is that I have found that I not only need physical food but I also need spiritual food as well. I need food that will keep my body alive but I also need food that will keep spirit alive as well. Jesus tells us in John chapter six:
"I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst". John 6:35 (NASB)
How often do I need to eat? I need to eat daily if I am going to remain health. I need to eat daily of physical food but I need to eat daily of spiritual food as well. Is there anyone here who only eats a meal once a week? But sometimes we try to do that in our spiritual lives - don't we. We fast from the word of God when He has prepared for us a feast.
"Give us this day our daily bread" should be a reminder that we need to just not eat physical food but we must consume spiritual food as well.
In the first century, bread had to be made on a daily basis. They couldn’t just buy a couple loaves and put them in the freezer. Do you pray for our daily needs? Do we take time to ask God to meet our physical needs and your spiritual needs daily?
"Lord give me the strength I need to meet the challenges that I face this day" should be a prayer on all of our lips. "Give me my daily strength - grant me my daily portion - for Lord it is You who sustains me every day."
Folks, if we don’t ask God to give us what we need every day we will gradually succumb to the delusion that we actually can provide for these needs ourselves. We can think that we handle this part and God only handles stuff that is serious. Here’s the danger in thinking like this: pride can swell up within us and we can subtly pull away from trust in God.
Fourthly: The Lord's Prayer is FORGIVENESS Centered
After the request for basic needs be met - now Jesus asks that we be forgiven: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." It could also be stated as: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” We seek the mercy of God to set us free. To liberate us from the crippling burden of sin - from the self-inflicted damage which we have done to ourselves and to others.
Forgiveness of sin is the greatest need of the human heart.
Only God can grant us pardon from punishment and guilt.
It’s been my observation that there is one thing that troubles Christians more than anything else is guilt. We kick ourselves for our failures and punish ourselves for our faults. We pray the Lord's prayer asking for forgiveness - yet many times we will not even forgive ourselves. Romans 8:1 says:
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 (NASB)
We need to live as though we have been forgiven. We need to move away from our guilt and shame and truly believe that our sins have been forgiven and that we will be completely accepted in heaven. Let us claim the promise and live it out in our lives - but that is not all. We need to forgive others in the same way that we have been forgiven.
Folks look at the phrase from the Lord's prayer again:
“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”
This request is that we be forgiven in the same manner that I forgive others. But I tell you the truth - this is not the way I want to be forgiven. I want to be forgiven the way that Jesus forgives me not the way that I forgive others - because sometimes I am just not very forgiving. However - the Bible tells us we need to raise our standard of forgiveness when it says:
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)
Here is the secret of forgiveness - forgive in the manner that Christ has forgiven you - and you will be completely forgiven.
Let me ask you - has Christ completely forgiven you? Have your sins been washed clean? Has the debt been paid? If you are a child of God the answer is YES! When God forgives He forgives completely.
Now let me ask you a question. Is there anyone who comes to mind right now who you need to forgive? Have you been holding a grudge? Is there someone in need of your grace? Then give it to them. Forgive then just as Christ has forgiven you. Go to them - tell them that you have forgiven them. Let them know. Matthew chapter five tells us:
"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Matthew 5:23-24 (NASB)
Have you been wronged by someone? Have you sinned against anyone else? Meet them face-to-face - forgive them. Let go and let God's grace and mercy flow.
Fifthly: The Lord's Prayer is PROTECTION Centered
The final phrase of the Lord's prayer is a cry from the depths of the human heart.
"lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
We pray to be saved from the temptations and evil that will cross our path.
Folks there are many temptations and evil in this world. There are many ways to be dishonest. There are many ways to fall short of God's will for your life.
I remember a few years ago that I went into a store and credited me almost a hundred dollars. It was a computer error. I went to the clerk and explained that there had been an error. That I was given to much credit. The clerk told me: "You could of had almost a hundred dollars in free merchandise." I replied, "But it doesn't belong to me."
Folks - honesty and integrity are important assists in the Christian life.
You and I are faced with temptations every day. The Greek word translated temptation refers to a test or a trial. This phrase could read, “And lead us not into trials or testings, but deliver us from evil." Please Lord - keep me out of the hands of the evil one. And so, we ask God to keep us from falling. You see, we are not strong enough to handle these on our own.
Will God answer a prayer like this? You bet He will. 1 Corinthians 10:13 gives us a wonderful promise:
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB)
Folks ask God to lead you away from temptation. When you’re faced with the enticement to sin - look for the way out. God is faithful and will not leave you to face your temptations alone. Pray for His protection and keep up your guard.
Let me close with these thoughts on the Lord's Prayer:
- I cannot say “our” if I live only for myself.
- I cannot say, “Father” if I do not endeavor each day to act like His child.
- I cannot say, “hallowed be your name” if I do not respect God as being holy.
- I cannot say “your kingdom come” if I am not allowing God to reign in my life.
- I cannot say “give us this day our daily bread” if I am trusting in myself instead of in God’s provision.
- I cannot say, “Forgive us our sins” if I am nursing a grudge or withholding forgiveness from someone else.
- I cannot say, “lead us not into temptation” if I deliberately place myself in its path.
Amen!
