A Paradigm For Prayer

A PARADIGM FOR PRAYER

Text: Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

This is not a magic formula to be spoken as an incantation in times of trouble or a simple way to fulfill our obligations to pray without ceasing.
1. Our Father which art in Heaven - the greatness of our God
A. Heaven is His throne.
True worship takes us out of earthly atmosphere into heaven itself.
The way to God’s throne should not be unfamiliar, BUT let it not become common-place in our mind.
Let us learn to be intimate with God without becoming insultingly familiar.
His name should not be a by-word and he is NOT the ‘man upstairs’. These are taking the name of the Lord in vain as surely as is cursing.

2. Hallowed be thy name
It must be hallowed in our hearts, before it will be hallowed in our actions. We often esteem our own good name above the name of God. (We stand by and let the name of our God be reviled, while being willing to defend our family name at the slightest provocation)

3. Thy kingdom come,
They of Christ’s day rejected the King and his kingdom because to have accepted it would have meant the end of their business and religion

4.Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven
Longing for the will of God;
A. How few of those in the business world today could really pray - ‘Thy will be done.” ?

B. How would the recognized institutions and rituals of religion be changed?

C. Many of our personal lives and habits would be altered-
1. Friendships; daily companions; habits; conversation; dress!

4. Give us this day, our daily bread
A great lesson on faith is taught here - (the just shall live by (out of) faith.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written , The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

A. I know He will give me a good year? Season? Etc.
Say not ‘we will go into such a city -
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain :
4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will we shall live , and do this, or that.
4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

Since God does not promise it, it is pride in our own ability and self- confidence and NOT faith! Therefore it is SIN.
Manna had to be gathered daily. Their sincerity or ignorance could not keep it from spoiling! God makes no promise beyond our needs for today and makes no promise for tomorrow. Reason? Only way to keep us dependent on Him.

5. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors
Mt 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mt 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Mt 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Mt 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
A reminder that we have some failings too!
Two dangers into which we might fall :
1. An unforgiving spirit toward those who wrong us.
2. Pride and self righteousness in forgiving others and forgetting that we too, are sinners! (this was the self-righteous man’s error “I thank the Lord that I --
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

6. Lead us not into temptation (adversity) ( the trial of your faith is precious)
1. James 1:13: Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
God does not tempt us to sin

2. He will not even allow you to be tempted above measure
I Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

7. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever!
Thoughts back to God
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

1. For His glory, He saves souls
From that great High Priestly Prayer (the real Lord’s Prayer)
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

2. For His glory he allows us to serve Him
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

3. For His glory He supplies our daily needs
Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

4. For His glory we shall be raised in His likeness, and shall reign with Him.
Php 3:21 - Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Ro 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Re 20:6 - Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Re 22:5 -And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

2Ti 2:12 - If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Re 5:10 - And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.