Book The Essentials of
Effective Prayer
Week 2, Day 3, pages
20-21
Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13
In light of what we read
earlier in Matthew 6:7, do Jesus' words in verse 9 indicate that He intended
His disciples to repeat these exact words on a regular basis? Explain your answer.
We are not to pray
vain repetitions.
If the Lord's Prayer provides a basic
structure for our conversations with God, we should note the key elements it
suggests. Read through the passage
again, watching for these elements, and next to each key element listed below,
note the verse number(s)s where it appears:
- Worship-- showing reverence v. 9
- Declaration of allegiance--stating where your loyalties lie v. 10
- Petition--making a request v. 11
- Confession of sin--seeking forgiveness v. 12
- Request for deliverance--pleading for protection v.13
What element begins and ends
this prayer? What does this suggest?
Worshipping God's
character and recognizing His sovereignty.
Discuss what you've observed
so far about the Lord's Prayer and how it will impact your prayer life.
I did a study on this
Scripture a few years ago, plus received a teaching about it. Here are a few of my notes:
"Our
Father"
When I pray, I am
praying as a part of the Church, the Body of Christ. Not my
Father but our Father.
"Who
art in heaven"
I am taking my focus
off the earthly cares and looking to heaven.
Here are some notes from a teaching I received:
- Heaven is not just a place we go to when we die; heaven is a reality that is trying to press itself upon this present darkness
- Lord is trying to get our focus off the earthly and onto heaven.
- Prayer begins in heaven, not on earth.
- Prayer does not begin with men; it begins with God.
- Prayer does not begin with me; it begins with Him.
Our
prayer is ineffectual because we pray as earthly men focused on earthly
things. Prayer should focus our vision
on the Father, not on men or the problems of men. Spiritual prayer begins in the spirit;
heavenly prayer begins in the heavens.
"Hallowed
be Thy Name"
I begin prayer by
worshipping God, recognizing Who He is, that He is set apart.
- Hallowed/Hagiazō (37) is often translated sanctify. As I was looking up this word in the BlueLetterBible and Vine's Expository Dictionary, I found this little note which I thought summarized our previous study on holiness: "…every believer is sanctified in Christ Jesus… sanctified or holy ones. Thus sainthood, or sanctification, is not an attainment, it is the state into which God, in grace, calls sinful men, and in which they begin their course as Christians. Col 3:12; Heb. 3:1"
- Name/onoma (3686)
Used for everything which the name covers,
everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by
mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority,
interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds, etc.
For
all that a "name" implies, of authority, character, rank, majesty,
power, excellence, the Name of God as expressing His attributes,
My
comments:
These
names imply something: Osama Bin-Laden,
Hitler, Mother Teresa, Billy Graham.
When we hear the Name of God (another good reason to study His Names),
what do we think immediately? As I pray,
His Names that come to mind reflect the depth of my understanding of Who He has
revealed Himself to be to me.
"Thy
kingdom come"
As always, I am not
praying for God to bring Him in line with my will but rather that I will focus
on His kingdom being established in my heart, that as I abide, Jesus will
exchange His life for mine and I will accept His will, trusting that He is at
work even when things seems to be falling apart.
- Kingdom/basileia (932) denotes "sovereignty, royal power, dominion." The kingdom of God is the sphere of God's rule (in my heart)…and is not of this world (John 18:36). So when I pray for His kingdom to come, I am praying that God will rule in my heart, then in the heart of those who believe but are not yet disciples, and then for the world. "Thy kingdom come" is one powerful prayer, if we truly understand it, isn't it?
"Give
us this day our daily bread"
I was surprised to
find that this word give/didōmi (1325)
is the root word for reward from
Day 2 (Matthew 6:5-8), to bestow a gift.
"Deliver
us from evil"
There
are different Greek words translates evil. This one ponēros (4190) means, among
other definitions, "bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of
peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble."
I see that as we pray for God's kingdom to come and cooperate with
Him in fulfilling His will that Christ takes first place in our hearts, in the
hearts of believers/disciples/bondservants, and the world, we will face perils
that cause us pain and trouble. God can
deliver us from those. The three men in the fiery furnace just came to mind as
well as Daniel in the lion's den.
"For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever. Amen!"
We end
with worship and confession (agreeing with God) that God is indeed sovereign.
This day,
Lord, remind me gently by Your Spirit to pray by worshipping you from beginning
to end.
Linda
Moderator
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