Kingdom Prayer aligns KC’s with the Will of God (Matt 6:9-10)

Open: Receiving a failing grade on my midterm in Physics at UT. Only 2 questions and I totally messed up Q1. I decided to apply my own understanding of the law of physics and it did not end well.

Transition: Math is a precise subject that requires a thorough understanding of the principles. Set up the equation correctly, apply the proper principles, and you get the correct answer. The reality is, however, that most of us don’t give a hoot about math, and that’s ok, because this isn’t about math.

Today’s message is, however, about the importance of instruction. Jesus is teaching us principles of prayer and it is in our best interest if we know them and heed them.

Kingdom Citizens are to know the correct format for prayer (Luke 11:1-4)

Explanation: The Lord’s Prayer is found in the heart of the Sermon on the Mount and it guides us in our understanding of life in the Kingdom. A similar version of this prayer is found in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 11:1-4) and the context of the prayer in that setting is instructive. Jesus was praying in the hearing of His disciples and when He finished, one of them asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1) This prayer we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer can be more accurately understood as the Disciple’s Prayer. In this prayer, Jesus gives His followers a pattern - a model format for prayer that is pleasing to the Father.

Illustrate: Desks, furniture, gas grills, and basketball goals all come with instruction manuals. Most of us ignore them and try to put it together on our own. Why then, are we so frustrated on step 32 when we realize we have to start over?

Argument: The importance of Biblical instruction cannot be emphasized enough. For the most part our churches are worldly, weak, and divided, and one of the root causes is that we operate on feelings and emotions instead of allowing the truths of the Bible to saturate and guide our lives.

Application: Let us approach the Scriptures with humility. Let us ask God to open our minds to a new and fresh view of Kingdom prayer that pleases Him. We CAN pray more effectively as we learn from Christ.

Kingdom Prayer will reflect community as opposed to individualism. (Matt 6:9a)

Explanation: The first word of the Disciple’s Prayer is the plural possessive pronoun “OUR.” The pronoun our refers to something that is shared by a group as opposed to something possessed by an individual. The use of our indicates community. It is very instructive that nowhere in this prayer, here or in Luke’s account, is the singular my or mine used. It is always our or us.

Argument: Jesus is teaching us the importance of community. Our prayer life is NOT to be about us - KC’s are called to pray for one another. By nature we are selfish, and we have to be intentional in moving outside of ourselves.

This is why it is so important to be involved in the life of a local community of faith - to be active in a local church. We were created for community and we grow and thrive when we place ourselves in the arena for which we were created. When you are connected, you become aware of others and can more readily pray for them.

Kingdom Prayer acknowledges that God is our Father (Matt 6:9b)

Explanation: Jesus’ ministry highlighted the aspect of God as Father in a new and striking manner. The OT only referenced God as Father in one or two places, but Jesus constantly referred to God as Father. We are accustomed to this, but the Jews of Jesus’ day were not. They were shocked by how Jesus referred to the Almighty as Father, and they struggled with this concept.

This NT teaching, however, emphasizes the personal nature of God. The other Names for God emphasized His Holiness and His transcendence; the term “Father” emphasizes His immanence - while He is the High and Holy One who inhabits Eternity He relates to us as Father.

Argument: Much religious teaching in the early 20th century focused on the “Fatherhood of God” as an attempt to blend Christian distinctives with other religions. The though was that “since God is our father then all of mankind are brothers, so why don’t we all just get along?” That is a misguided sentiment. While it is true that all humanity has God as Creator, it is only those who are rightly related to Him through Christ who have the privilege to address Him as Father.

We who are IN Christ, those of us who have bowed the knee to King Jesus are indeed brothers and sisters in faith and God is indeed our Father. The Holy Spirit empowers and enables us to cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15-16)

Kingdom Prayer is God-centered (Matt. 6:9c)

Explanation: Jesus teaches us to begin our prayer by acknowledging the Holiness of God. He reminds us that God resides in Heaven as a place of authority and then Jesus calls us to “hallow” the Name of the Father. The word hallow is not a common word for us, but it simply means to make holy - to recognize or set apart as special and important.

NOTE: God IS Holy in and of Himself. We do not have the power to make Him more or less holy than He already is.

Example: Isaiah 6:1-3 and Rev. 4:1-8 attest to this wonderful reality.

Argument: The correct approach in prayer is a recognition of this truth accompanied by a desire to live it out in our lives. While we cannot change God’s holiness, we CAN promote His holiness to others

Kingdom Prayer seeks to know and accomplish God’s will, not our own (Matt 6:10)

Explanation: Jesus emphasizes the priority of knowing and doing the will of the Father and instructs us that prayer is an avenue for discovering this truth. Jesus teaches us that our first petition is to join in with asking for God’s Kingdom to manifest itself in our midst. This petition is given in the present tense, not some vague asking for something in the far-off future. Believers are to be actively engaged in praying for God’s Kingdom purposes to be realized in our generation.

We know this because Jesus adds a modifier: He teaches us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Heaven is the realm where God resides and where sin is absent. When God gives direction to the angels they carry out His directives according to His word and without delay. This is our goal as well, even though we fall short. We do not get away with saying, well, I knew it was going to happen anyway, so I didn’t pray about it. That is disobedience!

Argument: This issue of wills is the crucial part of effective praying. Many of us are more concerned about our own agenda instead of God when we come to pray. We have a tendency to skip right past the Hallowing of God’s Name and the seeking His Kingdom will and get right to our laundry list of wants and needs. We forget that the Almighty already knows what we are going to say before we say it (cf Matt 6:8), and spend time “informing” Him of our current situation and then asking Him to do what we want

Illustrate: George Mueller quote: “I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.”

Application: Let go of your own desires and seek His. Work to build His kingdom, not your own.

Conclusion: Reflect on the opening illustration: a lack of understanding the principles involved in physics resulted in a failing grade. Jesus has given us a model for praying. As you pray, consider your answer to the question, “Does prayer work?” If your answer of YES is dependent upon getting what you want when you ask, then you will be disappointed.

If, however, your reward is time with the Father, then you will ALWAYS receive the Reward.