PRAYER SERIES
Part 3
“The Lord’s Prayer”
SOME BASICS OF THE “LORD’S PRAYER”
Like Psalm 23, the “Lord’s Prayer” is one of the most famous passages of Scripture.
It is a “Model” of prayer for us.
Jesus’ Disciples asked him to teach them how to pray.
In response he gave them what we have named,
“The Lord’s Prayer.”
Though I like the name, “The Lord’s Prayer”, some have suggested that it should more accurately be named “The Disciple’s Prayer” because it was to help them to focus on all of the daily needs that sinful people need to address in their lives.
The famous prayer that Jesus actually prayed himself is found in John 17.
The Lord’s Prayer comes in the middle of his famous Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 6:5-13 [Luke 11:1-4]
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. [More on this in a future teaching message]
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
[Luke = “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. Luke 11:1-4]When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:]
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
[Luke = “Father,
hallowed be your name,]
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
[Luke = your kingdom come.]
11 Give us today our daily bread.
[Luke = Give us each day our daily bread.]
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
[Luke = “Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.]
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
[Luke = “And lead us not into temptation.]
for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
[some later manuscripts add this ending to Matthew’s Gospel].
WORD BY WORD THROUGH THE “LORD’S PRAYER” (Matthew 6:9-13)
“OUR” Father in heaven.
The word “Our” shows us that we are not alone. We have a need for other people.
· Do your prayers only include yourself?
· Who are the people that you see most in your life?
· Do they interact with you? Do you interact with them?
· How can you interact more with people and be encourage to them by “Being Jesus to them”?
Our “FATHER” in heaven.
The word “Father” reminds us that God is like the perfect father to us.
This makes us like brothers and sisters to each other.
· How can you act more like a brother or sister to other people in how you talk and how you act and how you pray?
“THE HAND MODEL FOR PRAYER”
(A way to help remember to pray for )
Thumb (Closest to your body)
= People closest to you.
First Finger (Pointer finger)
= Those in Teaching roles.
Middle Finger (The tallest finger)
= Those in authority over us.
1 Timothy 2:1,2
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
Ring Finger (Weakest finger)
= For those who are struggling & weak.
2 Corinthians 12:9,10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Every one of us can be counted among the weak
IF WE ARE HONEST WITH OURSELVES!
Pinky (Littlest Finger)
= The little people/those who are of low stature.
To mature in the area of your “Prayer Life” will add wonderful blessings to your life.
Why not take time out right now to pray through each finger.
Q: If you just prayed, how did it go?
Q: Did you find it to be a blessing?
Q: What surprises came up during your prayer?
You can pray like this all of the time.
YOU HAVE FULL, DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD WITHOUT HAVING TO “GO THROUGH A PASTOR OR ANYONE ELSE.”
“When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, [On the cross] he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…” (Matthew 7:50)
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
-Hebrews 4:16
YOU HAVE FULL, DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD WITHOUT HAVING TO “EARN THE RIGHT” FOR GOD TO LISTEN TO YOU.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
-James 1:5