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Introduction I’ve been sober now for 12 years, but in my early sobriety I used to go to a lot of 12 step meetings. And I’ve heard this prayer said many times in these rooms, but I’m wondering if the people truly know what it means to pray this prayer. This is why I decided to have a message on the Lord’s Prayer. If you are also a recovering alcoholic and you have also prayed this prayer I want to you help bring more meaning to it. I’m not doubting that this prayer hasn’t been prayed with full sincerity I’m just saying that I want to go over this prayer and help bring more meaning to it for you the listener. I want to help you help yourself, but not by my power or might or earthly wisdom, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ left here before he ascended to the right hand of the Father. Let’s pray and ask for that help right now.
Introduction Cont. I’m not doubting that this prayer hasn’t been prayed with full sincerity I’m just saying that I want to go over this prayer and help bring more meaning to it for you the listener. I want to help you help yourself, but not by my power or might or earthly wisdom, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ left here before he ascended to the right hand of the Father. Let’s pray and ask for that help right now.
Background to our text • When we look at what is going on in the Gospel of Matthew we see a description of the life of Jesus. We read of Jesus being born, Jesus being baptized, Jesus being led into the desert, and then in chapters 5 and 7 we read what is called “The Sermon on the Mount.” • Within this great sermon we have what has been referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer.” This occurs in Chapter six. • When we look at chapter six we can see how Jesus came to radically change the way we think, the way we live, and the way we pray.
Matthew 6: 9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 6:9-13.
We are to pray this together • This prayer is meant to be prayed as a body of Christ, not just by ourselves. • Our Father Give us today our daily bread forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
Point # 1 Question When we ask God for his name to be hallowed, and his kingdom to come, and his will to be done- it means?
Point 1 Cont. Answer We focus on God instead of ourselves. It’s about what God wants to accomplish with his purposes, for his kingdom, in his way.
Isaiah 55: 6-11 ““For my thoughtsare not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, "declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.As the rainand the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,so that it yields seedfor the sower and bread for the eater, so is my wordthat goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purposefor which I sent it.”
Is it really all about god? • Do you really want God’s name to be acknowledged as holy? • Do you really want God’s kingdom to be established? • Do you really want God’s will to be done? • When people look at your life do they see these things taking place?
They are two kingdoms at war and we are in a spiritual battle God’s Kingdom Satan’s Kingdom
spiritual battle cont. Pray, pray, pray • When we pray this prayer we are in fact entering into a spiritual battle. When you are living your life are you building God’s kingdom or Satan’s kingdom? • Praying this prayer the way God intended us to pray it will change you and you won’t have to wonder whose kingdom your building.
spiritual battle cont. No middle ground Serve God’s Kingdom • One way or another you will either serve God or Satan. There is no middle of the road.
Question: Point # 2: When we ask for our daily bread, an attitude of forgiveness, and to be delivered from temptation and the evil one-it means? Answer Jesus We must follow the example of Jesus
It’s how we react that’s important • You see it’s not so much what happens to us in life that’s important, it’s how we respond to life, according to the scriptures that matters. • And the way we react to the things that happen to us in life is to follow the example of Jesus.
Daily bread • When we ask for our daily bread we ask for what we need, not what we want. • It’s called daily bread for a reason. • When we ask for our daily bread we are asking for God to provide all our needs. Nothing more and nothing less.
God knows our needs • Jesus says in Luke11: 13 “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” • God knows what we need and if we put our focus on the things of God he will take care of the rest, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Forgiveness cont. • When we approach the area of forgiveness we tend to gloss over this and skip this step. We find it easy to ask for provision, but it’s another thing to ask for the strength to forgive those around us. • As we look at what Jesus went through the day he was crucified we a prime example of how to forgive.
Father forgive them • The gospel of Luke 23:33-34 says, 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Don’t deceive yourself • 1 John 1:8-10 says8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” • If you want God to revolutionize your life-forgiveness has to part of it.
Dealing with temptation • When we are tempted and dealing with Satan, we are not to just stand there and do nothing, but we are called to like Jesus. • When Jesus was tempted in the desert and was tempted by the devil he responded to every temptation with scripture. • With each temptation Jesus responded with scripture.
Respond with scripture • “It is written Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” Jesus referred to Deuteronomy 8:3 • “It is written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test” Jesus referred to Det 6:16 • Jesus said “Away from me Satan for It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only Jesus referred to Det 6:13
Cont. • Jesus said “Away from me Satan for It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only Jesus referred to Det 6:13 • Don’t try to fight Satan alone, but use the power in God’s word
Read more • Let’s read Matthew 4: 1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
Keep reading 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
More reading—this is great! • Let’s also read Ephesians 6: 10-18 because this passage deals with the issue of us being in a spiritual battle as well as using the word of God to fight temptation.
Cont. • 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ...
Cont. 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Summary: Praying the Lord’s prayer can revolutionize your life if you let it.
Summary cont. • The first part of the Lord’s Prayer is about getting our focus on God’s name and his kingdom and his will and the last half is about how we respond to life as it happens. • When we respond to Satan we respond with scripture, just like Jesus did and leave the rest to God.
Summary cont. • It’s a prayer that we pray as a church, not just as individuals. • Charles Price says, “A prayer- less life has no power.” I would like to add to that by saying, “A prayer-less church has no power.” • It doesn’t have to be this way for you. Pray the Lord’s prayer with a new refreshing attitude and watch God work.
