Sermon Central
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The Lord's Prayer 3 - The Pattern Of Prayer Series
Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Aug 18, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: Sometime we repeat prayers over and over again and do not stop to think about what we are saying. The Lord's prayer falls into this category - we need to stop and think about each phrase and use it as our prayer.
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The Pattern of prayer
Sometimes when we say something in worship perhaps we do not stop and think what we are actually saying and when we do we wonder what on earth do we mean by that?
Even though we might have been saying the same things over and over again we do not really think about what we are actually saying.
For example we have a lead in statement to invite us to say the Lord’s Prayer at the Eucharist: ‘As our saviour Jesus Christ has taught us we are bold to say’
Bold to say!?
And the question is quite simple- what right do we have to be bold in the face of Almighty God to say this prayer?
What arrogance to think that I can approach Almighty God in this way and that He will even listen to us let alone answer our prayer. Surely a far better introduction to this prayer would be:
‘In the words which Jesus taught us to pray we say meekly kneeling on our knees: Our Father…
But NO - we are bold to say, Our Father- but why are we able to be so bold?
Ironically the answer again comes from the Eucharist, from one of the sentences said at the Offertory, from the book of Hebrew’s:
‘Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need’ Hew. 4:16
Approaching boldly into the presence of God and why can we do this?
Again the answer is in Hebrew’s verse 14: ‘Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us with confidence draw near .. ‘
Jesus has given us the right to enter into the presence of God the Father, enter with boldness and what better right have we than to do it with the very prayer that He Himself taught us… Our Father…
The 2nd issue with respect to the Lord’s Prayer is the way in which we use it as it is far more than just a simple short prayer – its full of meaning!
For example are we to regard the Lord’s prayer as a form of prayer, as we do in using it as written day by day; OR as a pattern of prayer itself so as to help us as a guide for our daily prayers.
In St Luke’s gospel Jesus told His disciples and indeed us: ‘When you pray, say.. Our Father…’ (Luke 11:2)
But in Matthew’s gospel it is offered as a pattern for all prayer, ‘This is how you should pray… Our Father… ‘ (Matt 6:9)
Hence the answer is quite simple, we can use the prayer in which ever way we feel as appropriate – a form of prayer in its own right and hence its prominence in our services OR as a pattern of prayer to form a structure and from this I believe we have a lot to learn.
It is inevitable and right that we should use the Lord’s prayer as a form of prayer for it comes from Jesus Himself – A prayer which He Himself used, so it must surely be good enough for us!
It is a prayer which has His stamp of approval, His authenticity and is ideal for His followers to use.
It is a prayer which is common to ALL Christian people and therefore crosses the denominational divide forming a uniting factor among the different churches.
It is a form of prayer which expresses the mind of Christ and is therefore one prayer which we can offer with confidence, with boldness in His Name.
Nevertheless, the use of any form of prayer has its dangers, particularly the danger of simply repeating the words without giving them a moments thought, not realising what we are actually saying, and even ignoring the meaning and implications of what we are saying!
‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’
Do we really understand what we are saying in this simple statement or even realise the implications behind this really NOT so simple a statement.
The words are on our lips but are they in our hearts?
And true prayer can only come from the heart!
It is all the more needful for us to be on our guard against this especially in this the most important of prayers.
When Jesus gave this prayer to His disciples He also told them, ‘When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do’
The Lord’s prayer has to be said reverently from the heart as if for the first time.
It would be obviously helpful if we were to say the prayer more slowly than we normally do in public worship; to think about the words as we repeat them and to have a clear understanding of what they mean and the implications of what we are saying.
