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
WHILE KAYAKING IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND OFF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, MARK ASHTON-SMITH, A 33-YEAR-OLD LECTURER AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY, CAPSIZED IN TREACHEROUS WATERS. CLINGING TO HIS CRAFT AND REACHING FOR HIS CELL PHONE, ASHTON-SMITH’S FIRST INCLINATION WAS TO CALL HIS FATHER. IT DIDN’T MATTER TO THE DESPERATE SON THAT HIS DAD, ALAN PIMM-SMITH, WAS AT WORK TRAINING BRITISH TROOPS IN DUBAI 3,500 MILES AWAY. WITHOUT DELAY, THE FATHER RELAYED HIS SON’S MAYDAY TO THE COAST GUARD INSTALLATION NEAREST TO HIS SON’S LOCATION. IRONICALLY, IT WAS LESS THAN A MILE AWAY. WITHIN 12 MINUTES, A HELICOPTER RETRIEVED THE GRATEFUL ASHTON-SMITH. LIKE THIS KAYAKER, WHEN WE ARE AFRAID OR IN PERIL, OUR FIRST IMPULSE SHOULD BE TO CALL OUR FATHER—THE ONE WE TRUST TO HELP US.
v. WHEN GOD IS OUR FATHER HE IS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP
b. WE HAVE A HOPE THAT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT
i. ALL OF GOD’S PROMISES ARE REAL BECAUSE GOD IS REAL
ii. GOD PROMISES TO MEET OUR NEEDS,
1. HE KNOWS ARE NEEDS
2. HE KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR WANTS AND OUR NEEDS
3. EVEN UNSEEN WE CAN HAVE HOPE. WE CANNOT SEE GOD, BUT WE CAN SEE THE EVIDENCE OF HIS INVOLVEMENT IN OUR WORLD AND IN OUR LIVES
THERE WAS A TIME IN OUR WORLD DURING BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WARS, WHEN MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY WOULD GO OFF AND MANY TIMES WOULD BE GONE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BEFORE THEY EVER CAME HOME. THE STORY IS TOLD THAT A GOOD MARINE SERVING HIS COUNTRY WENT OFF TO FIGHT. WHEN HE LEFT, HIS WIFE WAS EXPECTING A CHILD. THAT CHILD WAS BORN, AND THAT CHILD WAS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL. BECAUSE THIS WAS A SPECIAL HOME, THE MOTHER WOULD NEVER LET THE LITTLE GIRL FORGET ABOUT HER FATHER. EVERY DAY SHE TALKED OF THE GIRL’S FATHER AND SHOWED HER DAUGHTER PICTURES OF HER FATHER. SHE TALKED ABOUT THE FATHER’S LOVE AND CARE FOR HER, AND ABOUT HOW SOMEDAY HER FATHER WOULD COME HOME. WHEN THE LITTLE GIRL WAS 4 YEARS OLD, SHE WAS PLAYING IN THE FRONT YARD. A MAN CAME TO THE GATE. SHE LOOKED UP. SHE LOOKED INTO HIS EYES WITH LOVE, AND HE LOOKED INTO HER EYES WITH LOVE. THEN SHE SAID, “DADDY, YOU’RE FOR REAL. DADDY, YOU ARE FOR REAL!”
SO VIVID WAS WHAT THIS MOTHER TOLD HER DAUGHTER, THAT SHE KNEW HER FATHER WHEN SHE SAW HIM
HOW MUCH MORE THOSE OF US WHO KNOW GOD AS FATHER. WE SEE AND HAVE SEEN HIS MIRACLES AND INVOLVEMENT THAT WE WILL KNOW HIM WHEN WE SEE HIM FACE TO FACE.
c. WE ARE NEVER ALONE
i. WE HAVE THE PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN OUR LIVES
1. DOES NOT LEAVE
2. DOES NOT FORSAKE
3. WITH US AT ALL TIMES
ii. WE HAVE THE RECEPTION OF GOD IN GLORY
1. THE PROMISE TO THE THIEF COULD VERY WELL BE THE PROMISE TO US AS WELL, “TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”
d. WE HAVE DIVINE DIRECTION
i. WE HAVE DIRECTION FROM A LOVING FATHER
1. THROUGH HIS WORD
2. THROUGH HIS SPIRIT
3. THROUGH THE CONFIRMATION OF OTHER BELIEVERS
ii. WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE OF FULFILLED PROPHECY AS A GUIDE TO THE FUTURE
e. WE HAVE THE SECURITY THAT GOD WILL MEET OUR NEEDS
i. AS A CHILD OF OUR FATHER, WE ARE TOLD TO AVOID BEING ANXIOUS
1. TO FOCUS ON THE DAY
2. TO REALIZE THAT OUR WORRY IS NOT PRODUCTIVE
3. AND TO REST THAT GOD HAS OUR BACK AS WE ARE ORTH MORE THAN MANY SPARROWS
THERE IS AN OLD ROMAN STORY WHICH TELLS HOW A ROMAN EMPEROR WAS ENJOYING A TRIUMPH. HE HAD THE PRIVILEGE, WHICH ROME GAVE TO HER GREAT VICTORS, OF MARCHING HIS TROOPS THROUGH THE STREETS OF ROME, WITH ALL HIS CAPTURED TROPHIES AND HIS PRISONERS IN HIS TRAIN. SO THE EMPEROR WAS ON THE MARCH WITH HIS TROOPS. THE STREETS WERE LINED WITH CHEERING PEOPLE. THE TALL LEGIONARIES LINED THE STREETS’ EDGES TO KEEP THE PEOPLE IN THEIR PLACES. AT ONE POINT ON THE TRIUMPHAL ROUTE THERE WAS A LITTLE PLATFORM WHERE THE EMPRESS AND HER FAMILY WERE SITTING TO WATCH THE EMPEROR GO BY IN ALL THE PRIDE OF HIS TRIUMPH.
ON THE PLATFORM WITH HIS MOTHER THERE WAS THE EMPEROR’S YOUNGEST LITTLE BOY. AS THE EMPEROR CAME NEAR, THE LITTLE BOY JUMPED OFF THE PLATFORM, BURROWED THROUGH THE CROWD, TRIED TO DODGE BETWEEN THE LEGS OF A LEGIONARY, AND TO RUN OUT ON TO THE ROAD TO MEET HIS FATHER’S CHARIOT. THE LEGIONARY STOOPED DOWN AND STOPPED HIM. HE SWUNG HIM UP IN HIS ARMS: “YOU CAN’T DO THAT, BOY,” HE SAID. “DON’T YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS IN THE CHARIOT? THAT’S THE EMPEROR. YOU CAN’T RUN OUT TO HIS CHARIOT.” AND THE LITTLE LAD LAUGHED DOWN. “HE MAY BE YOUR EMPEROR,” HE SAID, “BUT HE’S MY FATHER.” THAT IS EXACTLY THE WAY THE CHRISTIAN FEELS TOWARDS GOD. THE MIGHT, AND THE MAJESTY, AND THE POWER ARE THE MIGHT, AND THE MAJESTY, AND THE POWER OF THE ONE WHOM JESUS TAUGHT US TO CALL OUR FATHER. IS HE YOUR FATHER?
THIS WEEK, WE HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT THIS SIMPLE TERM, “OUR FATHER”.
WITHIN THOSE TWO WORDS, WE CAN FIND A WEALTH OF TEACHING AND APPLICATION TO OUR WALK AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.
NEXT WEEK, IF THE LORD TARRIES, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT, “HALLOWED BE THY NAME.”
