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THE LORD’S PRAYER

“IN THIS MANNER, THEREFORE PRAY, OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAILY BREAD.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS. AND DO NOT LEAD US INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE. FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND GLORY FOREVER. AMEN.” MATTHEW: 6:9-13
THIS PRAYER IS ORGANIZED INTO TWO PARTS; EACH PART CONTAINS THREE PETITIONS. THE FIRST PART FOCUSES
ON GOD AND PLACING HIM AT THE CENTER OF OUR PRAYER. THE THREE PETITIONS IN THE FIRST PART OF THE LORD’S
PRAYER CAN BE CATEGORIZED AS:
- THE HALLOWING OF GOD’S NAME – TEACHING US HIS MAJESTY;
- THE COMING OF GOD’S KINGDOM – TEACHING US HIS PURPOSE; AND,
- THE DOING OF GOD’S WILL - TEACHING US HIS WILL.
THE SECOND PART OF THE PRAYER FOCUSES ON US. ITS THREE PETITIONS ARE THREE REQUESTS:
- GIVE US…THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD – A PETITION FOR A PRESENT NEED;
- FORGIVE US…AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS – A PETITION FOR A PAST SIN; AND,
- LEAD US…AND DELIVER US…FROM EVIL – A PETITION FOR FUTURE PROTECTION.
WE BEGIN PRAYER NOT BY ASKING ANYTHING OF GOD, BUT BY OPENING THE WAY FOR THE INFLOW OF GOD.
VERSE 9: WE RECOGNIZE HIM AS FATHER, THE FIRST PERSON OF THE TRINITY. AS HE IS THE FATHER, WE ARE
HIS CHILDREN. FATHER SUGGESTS PATERNITY, WHICH IS THE CREATOR RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR BIRTH.
FATHER ALSO SUGGESTS A RELATIONSHIP OF INTIMACY, TRUST AND LOVE THAT IS RESERVED FOR A CHILD.
JESUS CALLED GOD “DADDY” WHEN HE PRAYED IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE (LUKE 22:42), IN WHICH
HE CRIED, “ABBA, FATHER, …NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE.”
ROM. 8:15 ________________________________________________________
GAL. 4:6 _________________________________________________________
- FATHER = AUTHORITY
- FATHER = LOVE
- FATHER = RESPONSIBILITY
HALLOWED BE – MEANS TO SANCTIFY, TO MAKE HOLY, PURIFY OR CONSECRATE. WE ARE ASKING GOD TO HALLOW,
OR REVERE, HIS OWN NAME. HIS NAME IS HOLY.
NAME – MEANS: NAME, AUTHORITY, AND CHARACTER. THIS GIVES IMPORTANCE TO THE CONFESSION OF A NAME.
“WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN MY NAME”, MEANS ASKING IS ACCEPTABLE TO HIS CHARACTER AND AUTHORITY,
OR HIS NATURE. TO KNOW ONE’S NAME IS TO HAVE INSIGHT INTO HIS NATURE. IT IS LIKE PRAYING, ‘GOD, REVEAL
YOURSELF TO ME.’ WE ARE ASKING GOD TO ESTABLISH HIS NAME, NATURE AND CHARACTER IN OUR LIVES AND
TO HAVE THAT NATURE REFLECTED UPON THE WORLD AS A LIGHT. HE REVEALS HIMSELF BY:
- HIS CREATION
- HIS PEOPLE
- HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST
- THE STILL, SMALL VOICE
APPLICATION:
THINK OF YOURSELF AS A CHILD, AS GOD’S CHILD. PONDER THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PERFECT FATHER, WHO
LOVES YOU, HAS FULL AUTHORITY OVER YOU, AND WHO IS HOLY. ALLOW HIM TO REVEAL TO YOU INSIGHT ABOUT
HIMSELF AS FATHER. WHAT KIND OF FATHER IS HE TO YOU-
VERSE 10: THE WORD KINGDOM IS FOUND 49 TIMES IN MATTHEW (KINGDOM OF HEAVEN); 16 TIMES IN MARK; AND 38 TIMES IN
LUKE (KINGDOM OF GOD). KINGDOM IS DEFINED AS THE ROYAL DOMINION FOUND IN THE HEART AND ON EARTH IN ITS
IMPERFECT MANNER BEFORE ITS COMPLETION IN A WORLD OF GLORY. IT CAN BE DEFINED AS ROYALTY, RULE, OR
REALM. ITS PERFECT MANNER IS FOUND IN HEAVEN. THUS THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS HERE AND THERE.
WE PRAY FATHER’S WILL TO BE DONE HERE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. THE EARTH WAS VOID AND FORMLESS
IN GENESIS UNTIL CREATOR GOD FORMED THE EARTH AND FILLED IT. WE MIGHT SAY IT IS MUCH THE SAME WITH US ?
APPROACHING FATHER DAILY ASKING TO BE FORMED AND FILLED.
SOMETIMES WE THINK OF GOD’S WILL AS BEING DIFFICULT AND WITH GREAT SUFFERING. IF WE LOOK AT LIFE HOWEVER,
WE WILL CERTAINLY FIND MORE “GOOD AND PLEASANT THINGS” THAN BAD. HIS WILL IS THE BEST WAY, THE WAY OF JOY
AND DELIGHT. WE PRAY FOR GOD’S WILL BECAUSE WE CAN TRUST HIS WISDOM AND LOVE.
SO, HOW DOES THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME TO OUR HEARTS- AS WE PRAY FOR HIS WILL, WE COME TO OUR FATHER:
- EMPTY OF SELF
- DESPERATE FOR HIM
- CHOOSING TO SUBMIT TO HIM
WHEN WE PRAY FOR HIS WILL, WE MUST BE READY TO ACCEPT IT! AS FATHER, HE KNOWS BEST WHAT TO GIVE US,
HOW TO SPEAK TO US, AND HOW TO USE US FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. THE QUESTION REMAINS – ARE WE ACCEPTING OF HIS WILL-
THINK OF A TIME WHEN YOU WERE IN DEEP NEED AND DESPERATE FOR GOD TO SPEAK OR TO ACT. WHAT HAPPENED-
VERSE 11: OUR DAILY BREAD IS THE BREAD NEEDED FOR OUR DAILY SUPPORT OF LIFE. GOD HAS THE DAILY BREAD,
WE ASK FOR IT IN PROPORTION – ENOUGH FOR THIS DAY. SOME CONSIDER IT THE BREAD OF COMMUNION, MANNA,
THE WORD OF GOD, AND JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE. IN THIS, WE ASK GOD FOR THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE FOR
THE DAY. HE HAS THE PROVISION, WE ASK FOR IT. SEE PROVERBS 30:8.
THERE IS AN EXQUISITE EXAMPLE OF THE DAILY BREAD FOUND IN THE RISEN LORD PREPARING BREAKFAST FOR THE
DISCIPLES, WHO HAD BEEN OUT FISHING ALL NIGHT. THIS IS FOUND IN JOHN 21:1-14.
- JESUS PROVIDED THE BREAD AND THE FISH
- JESUS HAD FISH ON A FIRE OF COALS – HE WAS COOKING BREAKFAST
- JESUS SERVED THE DISCIPLES
WHEN HAS JESUS PROVIDED FOR YOU AND YOU HAD NO IDEA AT THE TIME-
LIST SOME EXAMPLES OF DAILY BREAD IN YOUR LIFE.
________________________________________________________________
VERSE 12: “FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS”
1. FORGIVENESS OF SIN: ONLY GOD CAN DO
2. FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS: WHAT WE CAN DO AND ARE REQUIRED TO DO
THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS IS THE REMOVE THE SINS FROM ANOTHER. FORGIVING SINS IS LIBERATING A PERSON FROM
THE GUILT AND POWER OF THE SIN. ONLY GOD CAN REMOVE SIN (MK. 2:10). THIS FORGIVENESS WAS SECURED BY JESUS CHRIST
UPON A CROSS WHEN HE BORE OUR SIN.
WE ASK GOD TO FORGIVE OUR SINS AND TO REMOVE THEM FROM US SO WE ARE NOT GUILTY OF THEM OR UNDER THEIR POWER.
SIN IS DEFINED THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
- “SLIPPING ACROSS”; TRESPASS OR ACCIDENTALLY CROSSING THE LINE OF RIGHT AND WRONG;
- “STEPPING ACROSS”; WILLFULLY CROSSING THE LINE;
- “BREAKING ACROSS”; OR LAWLESSNESS;
- “MISSING THE MARK”; USED IN LUKE TO SPEAK OF FALLING SHORT;
- “FAILURE TO PAY A DEBT OWED”; USED IN MATTHEW.

WE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO FORGIVE OTHER’S SINS, BUT RATHER TO FORGIVE THE PERSON. THE ISSUE OF FORGIVENESS
IS SIGNIFICANT, AS WE ARE TOLD IN MATTHEW 6:15 THAT IF WE DO NOT FORGIVE OTHERS, WE WILL NOT RECEIVE FORGIVENESS.
UNFORGIVENESS
HOW CAN UNFORGIVENESS FORM IN OUR LIVES- WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING TO OFFEND OR WOUND US, WITHOUT
FORGIVING THE PERSON, THE FOLLOWING CAN BEGIN TO BUILD UP:
- RESENTMENT
- RETALIATION
- ANGER
- HATRED
- VIOLENCE
WALKING IN UNFORGIVENESS IS WALKING IN LOST FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND, AS A RESULT, DARKNESS. SEE 1 JOHN 1:6 & 9.
WALKING IN UNFORGIVENESS IS ALSO:
- SHOWING INDIFFERENCE TO THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS
- MINISTERING RETALIATION RATHER THAN RECONCILIATION
- WALKING IN INGRATITUDE: SEE MATTHEW 18 AND THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT
CONSEQUENCES OF UNFORGIVENESS
- THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS BEEN GRIEVED: SEE EPH. 4:30-32
- OUR HEAVENLY FATHER LEAVES US TO OUR OWN PLANS AND DEVICES TO WORK THINGS OUT! AND THEN THE ENEMY WILL
TRY TO FILL THAT VOID LEFT BY GOD!
THE SUM OF THE MATTER IS SIMPLE: FORGIVE! FORGIVE AND BLESS.
V. 13: “AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.”
THIS VERSE BEGINS BY ASKING FATHER TO “LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION” – OR KEEP US FROM TEMPTATION. TEMPTATION IS
NOT OF GOD, BUT RATHER OF THE ENEMY. IT IS AN INDUCEMENT TO SIN.
TEMPTATION MEANS TRIAL, TEMPTATION, OR TESTING. WHEN IT IS OF GOD, IT IS A TRIAL OR TEST, DONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVING US, OR IMPROVING US. THIS WORD CAN BE DEFINED AS TEMPTATION WHEN IT IS CONNECTED TO THE ENEMY, AS
TEMPTATION IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CAUSING US TO FALL. WE ASKING GOD TO LEAD US FROM TEMPTATION, TO KEEP US
SAFE FROM IT. IN JAMES 1:13-16, THE STEPS OF TEMPTATION AND SIN ARE DEFINED:
TEMPTATION: IN THIS TEXT, USED TO MEAN SOLICITATION TO SIN
EVIL: WICKED; TO RETREAT, RECEDE, GIVE BACK, OR RETIRE IN BATTLE
LUST: ACTIVE INDIVIDUAL DESIRE RESULTING FROM THE DISEASED CONDITION OF THE HEART
BRINGETH FORTH: GIVES BIRTH TO
SIN: HAMARTIA - MISSING THE MARK, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE RESULTING GUILT
BRINGETH FORTH: GIVES BIRTH TO
DEATH: PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL; THE RESULT OF SEPARATION FROM COMMUNICATING WITH GOD.
THIS SHOWS US THE IMPORTANCE OF ASKING GOD FOR PROTECTION FROM TEMPTATION. VERSE 13 THEN CONTINUES ON TO
STATE – “DELIVER US FROM EVIL.”
DELIVER: TO DRAW WITH VIOLENCE AND FORCE; TO DRAW OUT OF DANGER AND TO LIBERATE. GOD DRAWS US OUT OF DANGER;
HE IS OUR LIBERATOR!
EVIL: LABOR, SORROW, PAIN – SATAN IS THE AUTHOR OF SUCH THINGS, BUT GOD IS THE LIBERATOR FROM THEM.
JUDE 24 STATES: “NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING, AND TO PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS BEFORE THE
PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY WITH EXCEEDING JOY.” WE BEGIN TO SEE, AND KNOW, THAT WE WERE MADE FOR VICTORY! FOR WE
CAN DO “ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHEN (US).” PHIL. 4:13