| This Sermon was written and submitted by: Joseph M. Willmouth, Pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Biloxi, Mississippi 39532. This contributed article is copyright protected, and the sole property of the contributing author. It may be freely copied and used provided the above credits are included. Document expiration: indefinite. |
1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." 2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."
Introduction: A couple of years ago, the Christian craze was a little book called, "The Prayer Of Jabez." Jabez was a head of a family of Judah, noted for his "honorable" character, though his mother "bore him in pain." (1 Ch 4:9-10). He prayed that God would bless him with more land, and God did. What made this book so popular was that it basically taught that if you prayed for God to bless you, He would. While the book made some good points about prayer, it went far beyond what the Scripture was teaching about Jabez and turned his prayer into a pattern of prayer for all believers without any Scriptural support in doing so. For the most part, Christianity in America today teaches a "fast food" approach to the Christian life; "I want it when I want it," "I want it how I like it," and "I'm the customer, so don't tell me that I'm wrong." Unfortunately, this is not God's way, nor is it the way of the Cross for the Christian. The Christian life doesn't seek its own will, but God's will. The Christian life is based upon perseverance over the long haul.
So how should we pray then? This was the question that Christ's disciples asked Him, and in answering them notice Christ didn't send them to the prayer of Jabez to learn how to pray. But instead Christ instructed them on how they are to pray. Prayer is of the utmost importance to a disciple, because it keeps us in daily contact with our commander and chief so that we can get our marching orders. If you want to be Christ's disciple then you need to be committed to prayer, and ensure that we are praying the way we should. There is no secret formula for prayer, but the Bible does give us many examples of how we should pray and in our passage this morning, Christ provides us with a basic lesson on how to pray.
I. The request about prayer (v.1).
1. The Lord's example of prayer (v.1a).
A. Jesus was a Man of prayer (BEC).Transition: Because of Christ's prayer life was before the disciples it led to. . .1) He prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21).B. The greatest argument for the priority of prayer in the believer's life is the fact that our Lord was a Man of prayer (BEC).2) He prayed before He chose the Twelve (Luke 6:12).
3) He prayed when the crowds increased (Luke 5:16).
4) He prayed before He asked the Twelve for their confession of faith (Luke 9:18).
5) He prayed at His Transfiguration with others around (Luke 9:28-29).
6) He prayed alone (Mark 1:35).
7) He prayed for Simon (Luke 22:32).
8) He prayed in the garden before His betrayal (Luke 22:40-44).
9) He even prayed on the cross (Luke 23:46).
2. The request about how to pray (v.1b).
A. A disciple asked the Lord, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples" (McGee).Application: Warren Wiersbe points out that if Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, had to depend on prayer during "the days of His flesh" (Heb. 5:7), then how much more do you and I need to pray (BEC)! J. Vernon McGee states, "All great servants of God have been men of prayer. The barren lives of Christians and the deadness of the church today are the result of prayerlessness" (McGee). If you want to be a disciple of Christ, then you need to have the desire and zeal for prayer that Christ had, and to learn to follow His example of prayer. Jesus just didn't pray a pre-written prayer, that was nothing more than a habit, but His prayers were from His heart based upon His relationship with His heavenly Father. You cannot not have a prayer life of a disciple, if your relationship with your heavenly Father is not what it ought to be.1) This is an unexpected glimpse into the life of John the Baptist.B. The disciples sensed that prayer was a real and vital force in the life of Jesus, and it made them want to pray too (BBC).2) We see John was also a man of prayer.
Transition: In response to the disciple's request, Jesus gives him. . .
II. The Lord's pattern of prayer
(vv.2-4).
1. Adoration (v.2).
A. Jesus first focuses our attention on the person of God (SL).Application: J. Dwight Pentecost states that, "prayer begins with a recognition of what God is in His absolute and unalterable holiness. . .The disciple who prays as our Lord prayed will be occupied with the person of his Father primarily, preeminently, before he is occupied with his own need" (DFD). If our focus is not first and foremost upon God our Father, then in our sin natures we will quickly turn it into a fleshly tool to satisfy our own self-centered egos. The disciple of Christ desire is to glorify God in all that they do, and this includes their prayers too; 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."1) The term "Father" (Gr.pater, Aramaic abba) is both an intimate and a respectful title.B. In the context of intimacy with God, there also is respect and recognition of God's uniqueness in our adoration of Him (v.2b: NIBC).2) This teaches us that true prayer depends on a spiritual relationship with God that enables us to call Him "Father," and this can come only through faith in Jesus Christ (BEC).
A) Romans 8:14-17, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."B) Galatians 4:6, "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'"
1) "Hallowed be Your name"C. Our adoration also includes seeking God's will to be done (v.2c).A) Hallowed means that God is holy, set apart, unique in His character and attributes (NIBC).2) Our prayers should include the desire to see everyone regard God's name as holy (SL).B) It also carries the idea of "to treat as holy", thus the request was for God's reputation to be revered by men (BKC).
A) Psalm 111:9, "He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name."B) Psalm 79:9, "Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name's sake!"
1) "Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven"2) The kingdom of God is more than just a reference to the coming Millennial Kingdom, but it is an affirmation of our desire to see God's will, His program and His promises to be fulfilled.
A) Christ summed this up in His prayer in Gethsemane when He prayed ". . .Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will." (Mark 14:36).B) To be a disciple of Christ, one must put God's will above his own will, even in their prayer life.
Transition: The next area that our Lord addresses in learning how to pray is. . .
2. Petition (v.3).
A. "Give us day by day our daily bread."Application: It seems to be a little harder for us to remember that we are dependent on God for our daily sustenance since most of us do not live from hand to mouth so literally. But the point is clear, a disciple is to live in daily dependence upon God, acknowledging Him as the source of every good - whether our blessings are physical or spiritual (SL). To live in daily dependence upon God means that the disciple has to entrust their lives into the hands of our heavenly Father, regardless of the circumstances around us or our own desires. The Apostle James reminds us of this truth in James 4:13-15, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'" The disciple of Christ can come freely before his heavenly Father with his requests, and is quick to recognize God's goodness in prayer also.B. Jesus now teaches His disciples that we are to make known our own personal needs and desires (BBC).
1) This request recognizes that one is dependent on God for daily needs (NIBC).2) The Jews in the wilderness learned to trust God for their food day by day (Exod.16:4; Deut. 8:6: SL).
3) People in Jesus' day normally received their pay daily, so they understood this need too (SL).
Transition: The third area concerning the pattern of prayer that the Lord teaches us about is. . .
3. Pardon (v.4a).
A. "And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us."Application: J. Dwight Pentecost, in his book "Design for Discipleship" makes the point, "Sin, perhaps, keeps more people away from prayer meeting than any other single cause, for we cannot approach the presence of a holy God with out being convicted of our unholiness, and that conviction demands a dealing with whatever displeases God. Rather than deal with that in his life which makes him unacceptable in his approach to God, the average individual will withdraw himself from the face of God. A believer recognizes that he has sinned, but a true disciple is willing to deal with that sin" (DFD). We are told in the book of Proverbs that a believer who disobeys God's Word, thus sinning, his prayer is disgusting to God; Proverbs 28:9, "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination [tow'-ebah {to-ay-baw'}; a disgusting thing]." If you want to be a disciple of Christ's, then you need to come before the throne of God and confess your sins, and also let go of your feelings towards those who have wronged you too.1) "forgive," ("aphiemi" {af-ee'-ay-mee}); send off or away, let go, forgive, pardon, cancel.B. This request recognizes that sin is a debt to God that needs to be acknowledged on the basis of His mercy (NIBC).- The Imperative Mood with Aorist Tense: "Forgive us now!" is the plea.2) "sins," ("hamartia" {ham-ar-tee'-ah}); to miss the mark, sin, wrongdoing, as the moral consequence of having done something wrong.1) The believer in Jesus has already received forgiveness from the guilt of his or her sins (SL).C. This request also recognizes that if mercy is to be sought from God by the believer, then mercy must be shown to others (NIBC).A) Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."2) The forgiveness Jesus spoke of here is the forgiveness that is necessary for the maintaining our fellowship with the Father - not salvation (SL).B) Ephesians 1:7, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."
- 1 John 1:5-10, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."1) "For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us."A) "forgive," ("aphiemi" {af-ee'-ay-mee}); send off or away, let go, forgive, pardon, cancel.2) If you want to be a disciple of Christ, then you have to follow God's example of forgiveness of our sins, and apply this principle to those who have offended us.- The Indicative Mood indicates that the certainty and reality of us forgiving those who have sinned against us.B) "everyone," ("pas" {pas}); each, every, all, the whole, everyone.C) "indebted," ("opheilo" {of-i'-lo}); owe, be indebted to, be under obligation, to be in debt for.
A) Ephesians 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."B) Note this is not an excuse for someone who has offended someone, not to correct their behavior; they are also accountable for their actions.
Transition: The final area of the Lord's pattern for prayer is. . .
4. Protection (v.4b).
A. "And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."Application: Our Lord recognized that His disciples were living in a hostile world, in the very midst of the enemy's camp. The Apostle Paul also recognized this truth in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." The child of God, in and of himself, is incapable of waging war against this an ungodly host without God's help. The foolish believer fails to recognize their insufficient ability to fight the battle alone, and will fail to turn to our heavenly Father for help. But the disciple of Christ casts himself before his heavenly Father in prayer daily, recognizing that the battle is the Lord's and He has promised us the victory over temptation; 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." A disciple of Christ's understands their limits, and learns to trust in God's unlimitedness through prayer.1) This remark is often misunderstood as suggesting that perhaps God can lead us into sin (NIBC).B. What this statement expresses is the disciple's awareness of his or her need for God's help in avoiding excessive temptation and enduring all temptations (SL).- This petition is a figure of speech (i.e., litotes) in which the writer expressed a positive idea by stating its negative opposite (SL).2) We know that God never tempts anyone to sin (BBC).- James 1:13-15, "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."3) But God does allow us to experience trials and testings in life, and these are designed for our good (BBC).- It is essentially a prayer request for help in remaining faithful to God and for the spiritual protection necessary to avoid falling into sin.
Invitation:
1. The first thing that Christ's prayer illustration teaches us is
that you cannot have any type of prayer life, unless you know the true
and living heavenly Father of the Bible.
A. And you can only have a relationship with Him unless you have a relationship with Jesus Christ.2. The Lord's Prayer illustrates the variety of requests that a believer can and should make to God, as well as displaying the humble attitude that should accompany our prayers (NIBC).B. John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"
A. There's nothing wrong with following this pattern, as long as we don't use it as some sort of magic formula, or meaningless religious habit.3. The Bible reveals much about prayer, but unless a believer takes it to heart and makes a commitment to it, they can never be a disciple of Christ.B. The prayer life of a disciple must begin in the heart of the believer, and find its expression in various ways like Adoration, Thanksgiving and Praise, Petition, Confession and Pardon, and in Intercession and Protection.
A. And they will never be effective for Christ either!4. If you want to make an eternal difference in this life and in your eternal life, then be a committed prayer; James 5:16b, ". . .The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."B. D. L. Moody once said, "I'd rather be able to pray than to be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught his disciples how to preach, but only how to pray" (D. L. Moody, Leadership, Vol. 1, no. 1).
Study References
BBC - Believer's Bible Commentary,
William MacDonald, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
BEC - Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible
Exposition Commentaries.
BKC - Bible Knowledge Commentary,
John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck, Victor Books.
DFD - Design For Discipleship,
J. Dwight Pentecost, Zondervan Publishing.
McGee - Thru The Bible, J. Vernon
McGee.
NIBC - New Illustrated Bible Commentary,
Radmacher, Allen & House, Thomas Nelson Inc.
SL - Expository notes, Dr. Thomas
Constable (http://soniclight.com/).
Word Studies
V.1.
- "came to pass," ("ginomai"
{ghin'-om-ahee: v, ind, aor, mid, dep, 3per, sg}); to become, to come into
existence, come to pass.
- "praying," ("proseuchomai"
{pros-yoo'-khom-ahee: v, part, pres, mid/pass, dep, acc, masc, sg}); to
offer prayers, to pray, speak to God.
- "ceased," ("pauo"
{pow'-o: v, ind, aor, mid, 3per, sg}); stop, cease, leave off.
- "disciples," ("mathetes"
{math-ay-tes': n, gen, masc, pl}): as one who directs his mind to something,
a learner, pupil, disciple,
follower, used in the NT as one who attached himself
to a spiritual leader.
- "Lord," ("kurios"
{koo'-ree-os: n, voc, masc, sg}); lord, master, one having authority over
persons, sovereign,
- "teach," ("didasko"
{did-as'-ko: v, imper, aor, act, 2per, sg}); teach, instruct, to hold discourse
with others in order to instruct them.
- "pray," ("proseuchomai"
{pros-yoo'-khom-ahee: v, inf, pres, mid/pass, dep}); to offer prayers,
to pray, speak to God.
-- Comes from two Greek Words: "pros," "advantageous for, at" (denotes local proximity), "toward" (denotes motion toward a place); and "euchomai," "to pray."- "as," ("kathos" {kath-oce': conj, subord}); according as, just as, even as.
V.2.
- "when," ("hotan"
{hot'-an: conj, subord}); when, whenever, as long as, as soon as.
- "pray," ("proseuchomai"
{pros-yoo'-khom-ahee: v, subj, pres, mid/pass, dep, 2per, pl}); to offer
prayers, to pray, speak to God.
- "say," ("lego"
{leg'-o: v, imper, pres, act, 2per, pl}); to say, to speak.
- "Father," ("pater"
{pat-ayr': n, voc, masc, sg}); generator or male ancestor, father.
- "hallowed be," ("hagiazo"
{hag-ee-ad'-zo: v, imper, aor, pass, 3per, sg}); to render or acknowledge,
to be venerable or
hallow, to treat as holy, revere.
- "name," ("onoma"
{on'-om-ah: n, nom, neut, sg}); name, the name by which one is called,
proper name.
- "kingdom," ("basileia"
{bas-il-i'-ah: n, nom, fem, sg}); the power exercised by a king, royal
rule, reign, dominion, also used of the
territory ruled by a king (kingdom, realm).
- "come," ("erchomai"
{er'-khom-ahee: v, imper, aor, act, 3per, sg}); to come, appear.
- "will," ("thelema"
{thel'-ay-mah:}); what one wishes or has determined shall be done, commands,
precepts, desire.
- "be done," ("ginomai"
{ghin'-om-ahee: }); to become, to come into existence, to come to pass,
happen.
- "earth," ("ge"
{ghay:}); the earth, land.
- "heaven," ("ouranos"
{oo-ran-os:}); used here of where God dwells.
V.3.
- "give," ("didomi"
{did'-o-mee: v, imper, pres, act, 2per, sg}); to give, to bestow, to grant,
let have.
- "day," ("kata"
{kat-ah': prep, acc}); down from, used here of time as indicating the time
within the ranger of which something take place, durinich something take place, during, each.
- "by day," ("hemera"
{hay-mer'-ah: n, acc, fem, sg}); the day.
- "daily," ("epiousios"
{ep-ee-oo'-see-os: adj, acc, masc, sg}); of a daily and needed portion
of food, sufficient for the day.
- "bread," ("artos"
{ar'-tos: n, acc, masc, sg}); food composed of flour mixed with water and
baked, bread, food, nourishment.
V.4.
- "forgive," ("aphiemi"
{af-ee'-ay-mee: v, imper, aor, act, 2per, sg}); send off or away, let go,
forgive, pardon, cancel.
- "sins," ("hamartia"
{ham-ar-tee'-ah: n, acc, fem, pl}); to miss the mark, sin, wrongdoing,
as the moral consequence of having done something wrong.
- "forgive," ("aphiemi"
{af-ee'-ay-mee: v, ind, pres, act, 1per, pl}); send off or away, let go,
forgive, pardon, cancel.
- "everyone," ("pas"
{pas: adj, pron, dat, masc, sg}); each, every, all, the whole, everyone.
- "indebted," ("opheilo"
{of-i'-lo: v, part, pres, act, dat, masc, sg}); owe, be indebted to, be
under obligation, to be in debt for.
- "do not," ("me"
{may: particle neg}); no, not. (KJV = not)
- "lead," ("eisphero"
{ice-fer'-o: v, subj, aor, act, 2per, sg}); to bring into, to lead into,
- "into," ("eis"
{ice: prep, acc}); into, in, towards, unto, to.
- "temptation," ("peirasmos"
{pi-ras-mos': n, acc, masc, sg}); temptation, testing.
- "deliver," ("rhoumai"
{rhoo'-om-ahee:}); to draw to one's self, to rescue, to deliver.
- "evil," ("poneros"
{pon-ay-ros':}); full of labors, annoyances, hardships, used here in the
ethical sense of evil, wicked, bad.