THE LORD'S PRAYER - OUR PRAYER

by Charles Robey
(Trussville AL, USA)

The Lord's Prayer is one of the best loved and most spoken prayers, ever to be penned. On any given Easter Sunday, it is thought that over 2 billion people worldwide recited this prayer.

The prayer was given, as a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, as Jesus was discussing how we should pray. We are not to pray to impress God or others, or to think that we might be able to manipulate God. (Matthew 6:5-7) We should simply come to "Our Father", as a child would to his father, honestly being real about our failures and need of God.

The disciples once asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. ( Luke 11:1 ) Jesus then answered them by teaching them, what is now known as the "Lord's Prayer".

This, then, is how we should pray: (Matthew 6:9-11)

OUR FATHER
The first two words of this prayer are the basis for the entire prayer. Those being, "our Father". Yes, God is every ones Father, who has a personal relationship with God, through His Son "Jesus Christ". God is no respecter of persons. ( James 2:1-13)

He is the Father of all creation. ( Acts 17:29). He is the Father of the nation Israel. ( Exodus 4:22). He is the father of the Lord Jesus Christ. ( Matthew 3:17) And He is the Father of all us believers. ( Galatians 3:26)

WHICH ART IN HEAVEN
Then, of course we have His dwelling place, Heaven. Determining the existence of Heaven, is outside of our human finite mind. The scripture tells us, however, that God resides in heaven - which seems to exist outside of time and space as we know it.

Someday, God will provide us with a new heavens and earth containing the new heavenly city called the New Jerusalem. ( Revelation 21:1-2) It's there that God will dwell among us. In (Isaiah14:13) we see a hint of Heavens location, as being up and above the stars. In (John 18:36) we see that Heaven is not of this world. And in (Acts 7:56) the Heavens opened up.

However, I'm not hung up on any particular location of Heaven. I just know wherever He is, that's where I want to be. ( Philippians 3:20 ) So, just beam me up, Lord. ( 1 Thess 4:17)

HALLOWED BE THY NAME
Sacred, holy, sanctified, blessed, consecrated and undefiled. Yes, He is all these distinguishing attributes, and many more.

God knows everything and His knowledge is complete. ( Isaiah 40:28) ( Job 37:16) ( Psalm 147:5) ( 1 John 3:20 ) ( Romans 11:33)

God is able to bring to pass everything that He chooses. He has no external limitations. ( Job 42:2) ( Genesis 18:14

God is present in all places at all times. ( Proverbs 15:3) ( Jeremiah 23:23-24) ( Psalms 139:7-12)

God is absolutely unchanging.( Psalm 90:2) ( Malachi 3:6)

God revealed Himself to man (Moses, Job, Isaiah, Mount of Transfiguration, etc.) each encounter mentions His holiness. ( Psalm 99:9 ) (Habakkuk 1:13

Though all the attributes of God are important and dependent on one another, the fact of God’s holiness seems to be the one He wishes us to put emphasis upon.

God’s holiness is manifested in His righteousness. Because He is holy, He is righteous. This attribute of righteousness is the way His holiness is expressed when dealing with men.( Psalm 116:5) ( Ezra 9:15) (Exodus 9:23-27( ( Psalm 129:4) ( Psalm 145:17) (Jeremiah 12:1) ( 1 John 1:9)

God is sovereign. This is how He rules His people and to do what He knows is best for us. Though He is in complete control, He has also given us a free will to obey or reject His leading. ( John 3:16)

If there is one attribute that people love to embrace, it is the fact that God is love. This word encapsulates for us His mercy, grace and loving-kindness.

God is not like the deities of other religions who are thought of as angry and hateful. And oh yes are died in the grave. God is loving towards His creatures, ( 1 John 4 ) and is alive and well.

And God’s mercy has been defined as God not giving us what we deserve, yet in His mercy He has chosen to offer us a way for salvation (Ephesians 2:4) (Romans 5:8) ( Deuteronomy 4:31) ( Psalm 103:8)

THY KINGDOM COME
Given the cultural turmoil of today's world, we Christians tend to pray for this moment, as much as any other request. ( Revelation 22:20 )

THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
What a wonderful world it would be if everything down here was as it is in Heaven. ( Isaiah 25:8-12) ( Revelation 21:2-5) ( Revelation 22:1-6)

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
As God's children, what can be more childlike than asking God to furnish our daily bread ( Exodus 16:4) ,a phrase that describes all our physical and human daily needs. With the confidence of children we say: " Father, please give us this day what we need", as bread is a symbol of all necessary food.

Since God takes care of the birds (Matthew 6:26), will He not care for us, His Children. ( Psalm 37:25)

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE
THEM THAT TRESSPASS AGAINST US
This request has a two-fold purpose. Here, not only do we ask our Lord's forgiveness for our own sins ( 1 John 1:9 ) , but we also ask Him to forgive the others, who have sinned against us.

Asking for our forgiveness is often times rather difficult. Just imagine, asking God to forgive our family, friends and co-workers for sinning against us.

We surely need God's help to do this. but it must be done or we ourselves cannot receive God's mercy, ( Matthew 6:14)

These trespasses ( debts ) are actually obligations incurred; i.e., sins of omission and commission. The forgiveness simply means a cancellation of such debt or obligations.
( Psalm 103:12)

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPATATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
The Christian life can sometimes be a battle. Especially, in this turbulent time, in which we are living. A time when Satan himself seems to have his way with all mankind. ( Ephesians 6:12) With trials, sickness, failures, false values and promises, and the like, crushing in from every side. So we must prayerfully ask God to keep us from failing when we are tested ( 1 Cor 10:13), to help us to know the right thing to do, to deliver us from the evil which awaits us in life.

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER AND EVER
The Lord's prayer is a summary of the teaching of Jesus. It offers the grace of Jesus, His reverence and childlike self-assurance in the Father, and His confidence of divinely facing life no matter what comes.

It is a model for our prayers. It begins with adoration of God ( Matthew 6:9 ), acknowledges subjection to His will ( Matthew 6:10 ), ask petitions of Him (Matthew 6:11-13), and ends with an ascription of praise ( Matthew 6:13).

Remember, When you pray " The Lord's Prayer", His spirit will become your spirit. ( 2 Cor 4:13)

In (Romans 8:16) we see clearly that we do have a human spirit: “The Spirit Itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Thus, when we are the “children of God,” then God’s Spirit will always bear witness with our spirit.

I realize this "Lord's Prayer" is directed to God's people. However, you can be included, as well. Are you a child of God, beloved? Do you have a personal relationship with God, through His Son Christ Jesus ? ( Philippians 1:21)

It's simply just a matter of faith, ( Hebrews 11:1,6) on your part, to accept God's free grace to change your life. ( Ephesians 2:4-9) You see, you can never earn your way to God. You can never be good enough for God. And you cannot depend on your family or friends to get you to God. ( Ephesians 2:8-9)

If you have done this then:
---Start reading the Bible, starting with the book of John. ( Psalm 119:11) ( 2 Timothy 3:16)
---Start talking ( praying) to you Heavenly Father. ( Philippians 4:6-7)
---Start attending a good Bible believing, full gospel ( 1 Cor 15:1-4) church. (Hebrews 10:25)
---And don't be ashamed ( Romans 1:16) to tell others what God has done for you,. ( Isaiah 6:8)

And all God's Children said "AMEN" !