The Lord's Prayer Pt 5

Introduction

This is the 5th part of a 5 part series. Our Lord and Master has taken time to expressly to teach us the components and attitude of prayer. And also our display of prayer with other people. Jesus broke down prayer into 5 parts:

Recognize the name of our Heavenly Father is holy and sanctified

We want God’s will really to come to completion here on earth as it is in heaven

We ask for God to not meet our physical needs, but our spiritual needs also.

Forgive us as we have forgiven

God does not lead us to sin, but provides a way of escape from sin.

Verse

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.

Sermon Illustration

Pic 1

We may think we are oblivious to temptation. That in itself is a temptation to place our trust in ourselves instead of God.

Pic 2

This was a common idea in some 1st century churches. If we want more grace in our life then we must commit more sin. Paul addresses this:

Romans 6:1–2 ESV

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Pic 3

Any shortcut other than the way of escape Jesus has provided, only leads to death. There are many who try different paths of escape, but the path to the cross is the only escape. Everything else leads to death.

Message

Temptations of Christ

Matthew 4 shows the three temptations Jesus Christ experienced and overcame. All temptations we will ever face will fall into one of these three categories.

Trust in ourselves more than God.

We live in a time when so many things are at our fingertips. We do not wait. If God does not move in a given time period, then we take it upon ourselves to fix. This usually ends in an unfavorable way.

Tempt or test God.

This is not the same as setting a fleece out before the Lord because you are honestly trying to discern God’s will. This is putting God on the spot out of pressure from someone else. This is an attempt to change the parameters of our relationship with our Lord. Instead of being subject to God Almighty, you are trying to make God subject to you.

Putting things or people above God.

This is so easy to do and many times we do not realize we are doing it. It is so easy because we cannot see God and we can see these other things. As we draw closer to the Lord, the Lord will reveal to us if our priorities are not correct.

God does not tempt us

James 1:13 ESV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

God gives a way of Escape

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

God does give us a way of escape. We are not forced to sin. We sin because it gives a moment of pleasure. It satisfies the flesh or our more carnal nature but it does not satisfy the soul. It carries a heavy cost.

Look at the cross behind me. It is a great cost.

Does He still feel the nails?

There is a song from 1989 called “Feel the Nails”. When we consider how we handle temptations, I think this is very important to ask ourselves. This could make all the difference when we face the next temptation which we may have given in to, but now we can stand and not give in.

Does he still feel the nails Every time I fail Can he hear the crowd cry "Crucify" again Am I causing him pain Then I know I've got to change I just can't bear the thought of hurting him. It seems that I'm so good at breaking promises And I treat his precious grace so carelessly But each time he forgives What if he re-lives The agony He felt on that tree Holy, holy Holy is the Lord Holy Holy Holy is the Lord

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.