The Declaration Of Dependence
From Cradle to Cross • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Religion can convince you that you’ve got it all figured out.
When to stand — When to sit
What to sing — Where to give
How to dress — How to behave
What to read — What to PRAY
…ON THE OTHER HAND…
Relationship is about never-ending curiosity.
Curiosity lets hunger replace habit
Curiosity is evidence of a humble heart
Curiosity is the doorway to deeper relationship
In Luke 11…
The disciples come and ask Jesus to teach them to pray
They could have seen Jesus praying and said — “We’ve been praying our whole lives”
They could have seen Jesus praying and said — “Let Him do His own thing…we already know this part of the religion”
But they don’t…
They go to Jesus and let their CURIOSITY lead them…
“Teach us to pray”
“Show us how you do it”
“Help us know more”
P. 709
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. — the disciples are clearly watching Jesus and wondering HOW / WHY He is doing what He is doing — When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Have you ever been in a conversation where the other person just kept talking…and talking…and talking…but they never really connected with you???
Lots of words
Very little relationship
I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that MAYBE that’s how we sometimes treat prayer…
Say enough words
Say the right KINDS of words (Thee/Thou)
Repeat enough phrases
Spend enough time
…and somehow God will be more impressed or more likely to listen
NOTICE THIS:
In Luke 11, the disciples don’t ask Jesus…
“Teach us how to pray LONGER”
In Luke 11, the disciples simply say…
“Teach us to pray”
Reject the certainty of RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE and instead…
Let your curiosity drive your relationship with Jesus.
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Before we get into the actual prayer, we have to consider something…
Did Jesus tell us to REPEAT THE PRAYER VERBATIM???
Or did Jesus GIVE US A PATTERN???
In Matthew 6 — Jesus said “This, then is HOW you should pray…”
Sounds like a PATTERN TO MODEL AFTER
In Luke 11 — Jesus said, “When you pray, SAY…”
Sounds like something to REPEAT
So…WHAT DO YOU DO???
Whether you pray these exact words… Or use them as a pattern…
Don’t confuse repetition with relationship.
Prayer is an invitation into relationship
Prayer isn’t ultimately about saying the right words…
…It’s about knowing the right Father…and the more you know Him…the more you’ll gladly submit to Him…
the One who created you
the One who rescued you - through the cross
the One who gave you the hope of life - through the resurrection
the One who is preparing a place for you - in heaven
the One who has INVITED you into His Kingdom…and given you a Kingdom mission for RIGHT NOW
If you choose to use Jesus’ words as a model, let’s talk about how you might do it…
“ ‘Father, hallowed be your name,
HALLOWED — “treat as holy”
When we say “hallowed be your name,” we are saying..
Lord, show yourself to a broken and evil world
So that people will see your power and glory and goodness and love and truth
And will turn from evil and acknowledge you as God
This opening line could easily have been the BEGINNING and the END of the prayer…
God is the CENTER
He is ALL WE NEED
He should be TREATED AS HOLY IN A BROKEN WORLD
When we acknowledge God as HALLOWED, we are declaring an end to our own REBELLION
Illustration: Joseph in OLD TESTAMENT
Joseph as a kid… (Me)
6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”
As innocent as it might seem, when we love feeling like we are the CENTER…it is REBELLION against the “HALLOWED-ness” — the holiness — of God
It is REBELLION AGAINST THE KING OF HEAVEN to place yourself first and God second
Joseph in prison… (Me & God)
8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
We might try to SHARE the spotlight with God and, in doing so, we elevate ourself and reduce His “HALLOWED-ness” — His holiness
It is REBELLION AGAINST THE KING OF HEAVEN to place yourself on a throne that is EQUAL to God
Joseph still in prison… (God)
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
When we acknowledge that God is GREATER and we are LESS, we are increasing the “HALLOWED-ness” — the holiness — of His Name
It is a declaration that our REBELLION is finished
For the past few weeks, America has been celebrating 250 years of existence, which began with the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
In Luke 11, when the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray…
Jesus teaches us to pray a Declaration of Dependence.
Our Father’s name is HALLOWED
Our Rebellion is finished
Our Surrender has been offered
The rest of the prayer outlines our DEPENDENCE on the Father King who is HALLOWED in all of creation
your kingdom come.
When you pray “Your Kingdom come,” you’re NOT just asking God to “show up” and “do something.”
When you pray for God’s Kingdom to come, you’re following through on your DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE…
Everything in my life is YOURS
My future
My marriage
My children
My money
My reputation
God’s Kingdom becomes visible wherever God’s will is obeyed.
In this prayer — which is a DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE — you are…
Ending your REBELLION
Declaring your DEPENDENCE
Submitting yourself to the reign of GOD’S KINGDOM
Jesus goes on with this theme of COMPLETE DEPENDENCE on the Father…
3 Give us each day our daily bread. — PROVISION — 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. — FORGIVENESS, WHICH YOU COULD NEVER EARN ON YOUR OWN — And lead us not into temptation.’ ” — PROTECTION FROM AN ENEMY WHO IS NOT FORMED OF FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT IS A SPIRITUAL POWER AGAINST WHICH, YOU ARE UTTERLY HELPLESS ON YOUR OWN
The disciples come to Jesus and say — “Lord, teach us to pray”
And Jesus proceeds to give them an invitation to a relationship that is built upon DEPENDENCE
…DEPENDENCE to a HALLOWED — holy — FATHER
This prayer doesn’t change God from UNWILLING to WILLING — it’s not a magic spell
Prayer changes you from independent to dependent.
So… What do you do with all this???
THREE NEXT STEPS:
They’re a PRAYER — not a formula
They’re a RELATIONSHIP — not a religious performance
1 - Remember who God is.
(YES – I KNOW THIS WAS A NEXT STEP LAST WEEK…IT MUST BE IMPORTANT)
When you pray… (or even just when you live)
Remember that God is HALLOWED — and you are not
END THE REBELLION
DECLARE YOUR DEPENDENCE
2 - Realign with God’s will.
When you pray… (or even just when you live)
Realign with God’s will and Kingdom
Submit yourself to the reign of GOD’S KINGDOM
3 - Rely on God’s promises.
When you pray… (or even just when you live)
Trust in God’s promised…
Provision
Forgiveness
Protection
Presence
Love
Restoration
INVITATION: Make a Declaration of Dependence to God today (baptism)
CHALLENGE: Choose to Remember — Realign — Rely
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
When you hear the word “prayer,” what is the first thing that comes to mind — duty, habit, comfort, relationship, or something else?
Have you ever found yourself “going through the motions” in prayer? What did that look like? What did it feel like?
What are some ways religion can become routine without deepening our relationship with God? How do we guard against that?
Which part of Jesus’ prayer is most difficult for you to pray?
“Hallowed be Your name”??
“Your kingdom come”??
“Give us”??
“Forgive us”??
“Lead us”??
What does it practically mean for you to “hallow” God’s name in your daily life — not just in your prayers?
If prayer is a “Declaration of Dependence,” in what area of your life are you most tempted to declare independence from God instead?
What is one area of your life where you need to surrender your will to God’s Kingdom this week?
How might you practice each of the three Next Steps this week:
Remember?
Realign?
Rely?
If someone watched your prayer life the way the disciples watched Jesus, what would they learn about your relationship with the Father? What do you hope they would see?
