The Lord's Prayer
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Our Father
Our Father
When we go to God in prayer we must first recognize the relationship we have with God. We are children of God. John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
As a child of God, we are under His authority. Whatever He desires we must accept and help facilitate. We can trust in the Lord because of His character.
Character of God
Character of God
Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
The first thing we notice is “the Lord, the Lord God”.
The repetition of "Lord" and then "Lord God" in Exodus 34:7 is significant and carries deeper meaning than just a simple reiteration. Here's a breakdown of why this is so:
1. Emphasis and Solemnity:
In Hebrew, the word "Lord" (YHWH) is God's personal name, the most sacred and revered name in Judaism. Repeating it emphasizes the holiness and importance of what God is about to declare. It creates a sense of awe and solemnity, highlighting the gravity of the moment as God reveals His character.
2. Clarification and Definition:
The addition of "God" (El) after the first "Lord" serves to clarify and define who this "Lord" is. It's not just any lord or powerful being, but the ultimate source of all existence, the Supreme Being. This combination, "Lord God," reinforces the idea that YHWH is the one and only true God.
3. Completeness of God's Character:
Some scholars suggest that the two names represent different aspects of God's character. "Lord" (YHWH) is associated with His mercy and grace, while "God" (El) is associated with His power and justice. By using both names, the verse emphasizes the completeness of God's character, encompassing both His merciful and just attributes.
4. Literary Device:
The repetition could also be a literary device used to emphasize the importance of the message. It's a common technique in Hebrew poetry to repeat words or phrases to create a powerful impact and make the message more memorable.
In essence, the repetition of "Lord" and then "Lord God" in Exodus 34:7 is not redundant but rather a deliberate and meaningful way to emphasize the holiness, uniqueness, and completeness of God's character as He reveals Himself to Moses.
The next thing we notice is that He is compassionate and gracious.
This means that He understands us because He created us. He knows our weaknesses, fears, and shortcomings. His grace is is manifested in helping in our weaknesses, fears and shortcomings.
Thirdly, we see that He is slow to anger.
This means that he is very patient with us. It also shows that God can become angry. I don’t know what that point is, but I do know that I do not want to test it.
Fourthly, He is abounding in lovingkindness and truth. This means that he will never exhaust his kindness to His children. His truth is everlasting and he will never deviate from His truth. This is why He is never changing. Truth never changes.
Fifth, He is forgiving. In Christ all sin is forgiven. The blood of Christ satisfies the wrath of God towards us.
Finally, we see that He is just. For those that refuse the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, they will face the judgment of God and His wrath. John 3:18-21
“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
Hallowed Name of God
Hallowed Name of God
Simply put we are to bring glory to God by acknowledging the holiness of God. When we approach Him we must know that He is perfect in every way.
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
Light represents everything good and righteous and darkness represents that which is wicked and evil. As this relates to us God deals with us in perfection. Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
God causes ALL things to to work together for good! It applies to those who love God and do His will.
Your kingdom come and Your will be done.
Your kingdom come and Your will be done.
We are asking that the principles and laws of heaven manifest themselves on earth. This happens through the children of God. 2 Cor. 5:20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
We make the kingdom of God come to earth when we share the gospel. The sharing of the gospel reconciles men to God.
The will of God is to know Him and make Him known. John 17:3
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
The other will is to make disciples. Matt. 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The first thing we must do in prayer is recognize the relationship with God (Father), the Holiness of God (Hallowed), and the will of God (Your will be done)
God’s Physical Provision
God’s Physical Provision
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
Bread is representative of our physical needs. God is the One who provides for us. It may seem unnecessary to ask God for our daily needs, when we live in a country of abundance. It is not the request that God is looking at. He is looking at the recognition of completer dependence upon Him for our sustenance.
The dependence upon God and His provision breed a heart of gratitude. When we recognize God as the source of our provision we can be content with what God provides. It is in this contentment that we harbor thankfulness and avoid covetousness. Phil. 4:10-14
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.
If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
We are dependent on the daily provision of God. He is faithful to provide! We should be faithful to contentment and gratitude!
God’s Spiritual Provision
God’s Spiritual Provision
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
“But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
The two spiritual provisions God gives are the forgiveness of sin and the deliverance from evil.
Forgiveness of God
Forgiveness of God
Everyone sins. Rom. 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Our sin separates us from God. Is. 59:2
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
It is only in the forgiveness of our sins that we can be reconciled to God. Reconciliation is only found through Jesus Christ. Jesus death, burial and resurrection brings forth the forgiveness of our sins. Behavior modification does not bring about the forgiveness of sin. Our forgiveness is found in Christ alone through faith alone.
However, when we ask for the forgiveness of our sin, we must ask it on the condition of us forgiving others. We can not rightly ask for forgiveness, when we are not willing to forgive others. This is because we are not living in the spirit of Christ when we are not willing to forgive.
The sin that we committed against Christ is much greater than the sin that any one individual has done to us. It was our sin that killed Jesus. He went to the cross and laid down his life because of our sin. When we contemplate the seriousness of our sin that caused the perfect, sinless, Son of God to die a torturous death. What has someone done to us that is more egregious than that?
When we are not willing to forgive others of their sins against us then the Lord will not forgive our sins. Matt. 6:14-15
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
You may ask that if we are forgiven by faith in Christ, then why is it required for us to forgive others to have our sins forgiven. In Christ the judgement of sin is forgiven. This means we will not face eternal condemnation for our sin. Rom. 8:1
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
However what Jesus is referring to hear is the relational aspect of forgiveness. He will not restore the relational aspect when we harbor un-forgiveness. This means that our prayers will be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7
You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
We must live rightly with others in order to have fullness of relationship with the Father. Unforgiveness demonstrates that we have sin in our life. It is repentance of this that brings forgiveness and restoration with God as Father.
Are your prayers hindered? Do you have unforgiveness towards someone?
Deliverance from evil
Deliverance from evil
Our heart is full of evil. Jer. 17:9-10
“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”;
“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; “Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known.”
Given the opportunity to sin through temptation, we will give in every time. However the Lord gives us the power to overcome sin and temptation. 1 Cor. 10:13-14
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that enables us to overcome temptation. He is the way of escape. Rom. 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
We must make a conscience decision daily to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. This is what we are praying in the Lord’s prayer!
Conclusion
Conclusion
The posture of the heart will enable us to pray adequately by articulating the posture of our heart.
Relationship ( Our Father)
Seek my face (Your kingdom Come Your will be done)
Humbleness ( Give me daily bread)
Repentance (Forgive me of sin and deliver me from evil)
