|
…One man writes, “prayer was the spiritual __air__ that Jesus breathed
every moment of His life.” Perhaps this was the reason why the __only__
time the disciples asked Jesus to teach them something was how to pray. (Luke
11:1) His prayer life was so different from theirs, so dynamic, they felt so
unable in this important area of life.
…Did you know that praying is the single __greatest__ activity that you
can do? To fall on your knees, in private, and approach your heavenly Father
in prayer to worship and bring your every need is your highest activity.
…In the midst of warning us not to be theatrical in our prayers, Jesus
provides us with a __model__ prayer, it has fewer than __70__
words. We do well to understand His words and daily practice them in our
prayers.
THREE PETITIONS DIRECTING US TO BEGIN OUR PRAYERS WITH THE
RIGHT FOCUS…it
is
__not__
to be on our selves, but upon our Heavenly Father!!!!
I.
We Are To Petition God
That His Glory And
__Honor__
Would Be Embraced By All.(v. 9)
“Hallowed be Your Name.”
A. Jesus
opens His prayer with God the Father as the focus. God and His kingdom must
always take priority over our
__needs__.
Never begin your prayers focusing on yourself.
B. “Our
Father”…means that this prayer is for those who are in God’s family. It is
__not__
for all…Many do not have God as their
__Father__,
for Jesus told some who thought God was their Father that, “you belong to your
father, the __Devil__.” (John 8:44)
C. Jesus
directs that our first petition express our deepest desire that God would be
__honored__
by all people everywhere.
1. This
is the desire that all would highly esteem our heavenly Father.
2. This
was Jesus’ great
__desire__.
(John 17:2-4) “I have brought you glory”
D. There
are many unworthy
__ideas__
about God in our world. Many are unholy…
…Often His wonderful __name__ is used as a curse. How terrible that
is!
E. There
are 100s of
__names__
for God in the Bible, each describes some aspect of God’s nature…
…so to begin our prayers, we must first worship Him!!!
II.
We Are To Petition That God’s
__Rule__
Would Come To Rebellious Earth. (v 10)
…”Your kingdom come…”
A. Most
people do not “hallow His wonderful name.” Why not?
1.
__Sin__
is the reason people do not humble themselves before God.
2. There
is another
__kingdom__
present, it is Satan’s, it is the kingdom of darkness. Eph 2:2
…there is great opposition by this evil one, who is doomed for utter
judgment.
B. There
have been
__21__
great world civilizations, all are gone except one. (Proverbs 14:34)
C. Two
ways in which this petition is answered:
1.
It
is a prayer of evangelism: that Christ
__would__
rule in the hearts of the saved.
2.
It will be ultimately and finally fulfilled when Jesus returns to earth and
__rules__
as King for the final 1000 years of earth history. No more curse!
(Revelation 21:1-5)
…this is in fulfillment of God’s promise to __David__ in 2 Samuel
7:11-12.
III.
We Are To Petition That God’s
__Will__
Would Be Done By All People. (v 10)
…”Your will be done on earth, as it is in the heavens.”
A. Satan’s
fall, recorded in Isaiah 14:12-14, marked the entrance into the universe of a
__second__
will.
…Today, because of man’s rebellion, there are __millions__ of “wills.”
…Yet, rebellion against God’s will leads not to __joy__ and happiness,
but to utter misery.
B. In
the heavens, God’s will is
__always__
done. There is __no__ rebellion. Everything does what it was created
to do. Angels wait to do His every bidding.
C. Earth
is the
__only__
point of rebellion in all the universe…and someday soon, this will end.
1.
Apart from the fallen angels, the hearts of men and women are the only place
in the universe.
2.
God’s will is revealed in only
__one__
place today, it is in God’s wonderful Word.
3.
For us who are saved, we are to live our lives doing the
__will__
of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1.
As you pray - begin - not with yourself, but first focus on God our Father!
2.
Learn how to express praise to God the Father - As you glory in all that He
is!
3.
If you are not re-born - God will not answer your prayers. First repent
and be saved!
4. As believers
we must daily strive to do God's will - if we are to pray for His will to be
done!
5. This
week, share the gospel with someone - such advances God's kingdom on Earth.
|