Bible Studies
Understanding the Lord's Prayer! (Matthew 6:5-13)
(((NOTE: I write unto them who are both on the milk and the meat)))
Most people like to call it the Lord's prayer I prefer to call it the disciples prayer. For it was for the disciples to pray, not for the Lord. Just my thing, no big deal either way.
First off we must learn that this prayer is not a prayer that you repeat by quote. If it were, God would have no praise, God's will in your life would not be specified, your daily needs would not be brought before the Lord, your sins could not be confessed out for forgiveness and God's protection and the pleading of the blood of Christ could not be poured out over your life and petitions. That is why Jesus said: "After this manner therefore pray ye", ( Matthew 6:9). The word manner in the Greek(what the NT was written in) means "a way of doing something". Jesus is showing us the way to pray here, not what words to say. You will also notice that this makes this a way of praying by saying the plural word "us". If it was a word for word prayer, and this being plural; then Jesus would have contradicted his teaching of praying. Look at the same teaching three verses before,@ (Matthew 6:6).
So it is clear that you can see that it is not about praying this word for word; but the way our prayers should be brought before God in a step by step order. With this said let us break each step down....
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name:
What does it mean to hallow God's name? It means to praise his name, magnify who he is, worship his existence, glorify him for who he is and what he has done. Open up with your praise and thanksgiving unto him and honor him. This shows respect and love of his very being. In the book of Psalms you will David opening up unto Lord with hallow-ness in almost every chapter. That is a great way to see how to hallow God's name! So practice glorifying names that you could call God. He loves it!
(Psalm 95:2, 69:30-31,100:4, 34:1, 35:28) (Romans 15:11) (Ephesians 1:6, 1:12) (Revelation 19:5)
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven:
After we open up to God in prayer with praise and worship to our King, we ask for his will to be done in our life's. Not ours! Our will is carnal and covetous. His will is good, acceptable and perfect, (Romans 12:2). How does a person learn what God's will is for them in their lives? We learn his will by reading and studying his word. That is why it is very important to study God's word,(2 Timothy 2:15). The more you learn about God's character, his personality,his ways, his manifestations, his love, mercy, kindness, patients, his wants that he has for you in your life and who he is altogether; you will not only fall deeply in love with him, you will want all that he says and has for you! Therefore you will want to say, "thy will be done". So study his word and learn him. Never stop learning his ways!!!
(Romans 12:2) (Colossians 4:12) (Hebrews 13:21)
Give us this day our daily bread:
There are two parts to this act. 1."Give us this day" is a trust issue that God requires from us. He does not want us to trust in him for tomorrow, for we are not promised tomorrow, (2 Corinthians 6:2). If you are like me who has lost very close loved one's, you know this scripture first hand. By depending on God on a daily basis you are showing forth your faith unto God. Just as the Hebrews did in the wilderness with the Manna which came down from heaven daily, (Exodus 16:19). So put your trust and faith in God on a day to day basis. 2. What is your daily bread? It is your needs for that day. Ask God for your necessities each day."Yet you have not, because you ask not",(James 4:2). This goes hand and hand with knowing God's will for your life. For it will be of that which is pleasing unto God for you that day. Also see my bible study entitled 'Praying in the accordance of the will of God'. God knows your needs yet he wants you to ask him for them. It's an act of dependability. That is why he said: "and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."(Matthew 18:3). Not just as a child's faith, which is strong; but that, child to parent dependability. As well as the power of the tongue. Just as a loving Dad or Mother would want you to come to them when needing something that would not be unpleasing to them and ask them. Again, study God's word always!!!
(Isaiah 58:10-11) (Jeremiah 5:7) (Matthew 27:55)
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors:
There is so much power in this one! We must forgive all who we have a fault against! Not doing this one act alone, will hinder the whole prayer. Forgiveness is very important. Did you notice that he said: "as we forgive our debtors"? That means you will be forgiven with the measure of forgiveness that you give! So please make sure you forgive wholeheartedly before you ask for forgiveness! Also read my article entitled 'I forgive you, just not in my heart'.
(Psalm 32:1) (Matthew 6:14-15, 9:6, 18:21, 18:35) (Luke 23:34) (Acts 8:22) (2 Corinthians 2:7)
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen:
Again, another two part act. 1. Is this not everybody's wish? If only it were that easy. We do live in the prince of darkness' domain, so it is not. That is why you must always "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation",(Matthew 26:41). This is a commandment that is required from the believer to perform most all the time. For it is the believer who gets tempted almost continually. Satan already has those that he has, so he works overtime to destroy the believer's. Stripping them of their faith and leaving them spiritually rented, if possible with the person. This is a field that I dealt with on a numerous amount of time's. I have battled more than I know. Some with victory and some with defeated-ness. I have seen more demons cast out of believers, I have seen Satan take more believers to a lower degree than he would of a non-believer. I have battled much and seen much. Believe me when I say, he would rather have you, than a non-believer. For he already has them, and your above him and his prideful heart hates that very thought. Which got him kicked out of heaven! So always pray for God's strength to overcome temptation which, it's ending results lead to death if not repented. Always pleading the blood of Christ over your mind and heart, sanctifying it under the power of the cross! 2. Once again just as we come unto God we end the same way. In other words, we come rejoicing and we leave rejoicing. Both an act of faith! You see David in many of the books of Psalms showing us his example for it is they: "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things"(Hebrews 8:5). A great lesson to learn on this topic is from (((Matthew 4:3-11))). So study your word, apply this very effective method and always watch and pray in all things!!!
(Matthew 26:41) (Mark 13:33, 14:38) (Luke 21:36, 22:40) (1 Corinthians 10:13) (Hebrews 3:8)
(James 1:2) (2 Peter 2:9) (Revelation 3:10)
1. Open up with praise.
2. Acknowledge his perfect will in your life.
3. Trust in him with whatever your need is and ask him.
4. Confess your sins before him in truth.
5. Cover yourself and prayer with the blood of Christ.
6. Leave his gates with praise.
7. All in faith,faith,faith!!!
Everlastingly in the Kingdom,
Pastor Justin Thomley
www.battleoffaith.org
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