The Lord’s Prayer Pt 3

Matthew 6:5–15 ESV

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day 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 evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

This is the 3rd part of a 5-part series on the Lord’s Prayer. Our prayers are very important. It is more than the words we use. It is how we approach prayer and the condition of our heart. Jesus demonstrates this by taking time out to talk about how our prayers should be conducted and a template on how we should pray.

Week #1

Recognize and reverence the name of our Heavenly Father. The name is holy and sanctified and we should show honor and respect.

Week #2

Confess and believe in our heart that we really want to see the kingdom of God come and the will of God to come to pass as it is in heaven.

Today, Week #3

Ask for our physical needs.

Matthew 6:11 ESV

Give us this day our daily bread,

Many times, we may start out our prayers by what we need or want. We get it all wrong. Our needs are not the first thing or even the second thing. It is the 3rd thing.

We first need to acknowledge the holy and righteousness of God. The 2nd step is to acknowledge that we want God’s will over our own will. Then the third step is to ask for our needs to be met.

Now this may seem like Jesus is giving us a multi-step approach to a successful prayer life.

We love having steps to follow. I love having steps to follow. You give me 1., 2., 3. and I am good to go. This represents organization and cohesion. We love organization.

Scientific Method

Dave Ramsey Baby Steps

Program Development Steps

12 Steps of AA

These are just a few things which has steps which if followed should lead to success.

So we could approach the Lord’s prayer the same way and miss the whole point. This is not another list of steps to see success in our prayer lives.

This is all about a change of perspective. This is all about elevating God to the right place He should be, not only in our hearts, but our minds also.

It is amazing how this shift changes our whole view of our world and our problems.

Now we are asking for our needs. This part of the prayer is definitely a prayer of faith. The word for daily is right now, in the moment. This is not asking for food for tomorrow but just taking it one day at a time.

Let us take it a step further. Not just physical sustenance but spiritual sustenance for today, for this moment I am in.

Matthew 4:4 ESV

But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Have you been there? Where the right word from the Lord or the right scripture has gotten you through that moment when just the thought of tomorrow was overwhelming.

Matthew 6:34 ESV

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Let us face it. Life is hard. Life can be very painful at times. But God is so good. There is still joy in the morning. God still holds the world in His hands.

I imagine as Christ was given these words, He had in the back or the forefront of His mind, that He would allow His body to be beaten and broken for us. He referred to His body as bread for us.

The God we serve is not distant. He did not wind up the universe and then let it go.

God is all powerful but He is also near the broken hearted. He took the time to shape out with His own hands and then breathe the breath of life.

He is concerned about our physical and spiritual needs. Not one is more important than the other to our Heavenly Father. They go hand in hand.

God gave us life and then when messed it all up, He did not leave us to our own destruction, but gave up everything to bring us back.

The Lord’s prayer is very powerful. It begins with acknowledging the greatness of God and His perfect will, but also is concerned about what is served at our tables and the condition of our spiritual growth. The bread of life.

We may be concerned about the physical which will eventually perish, but Jesus is also concerned about the spiritual which will never die.

John 6:35 ESV

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Luke 22:19 ESV

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Conclusion:

A - Acknowledge

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B - Believe

Acts 16:31 (ESV)

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

C - Confess

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.