When you Pray
Matthew 6:7-15
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
......................................
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
This was dealt with in the last lesson but is worth repeating.
The word vain means “empty” or “useless”; so Jesus is warning us that repeating worthless phrases in our prayers will not help them be heard by God. Our Heavenly Father is not concerned with word count, flowery expressions, or mantras; He desires “truth in the inward being”
Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Many religions—including some branches of Christianity—have prayers that they advise repeating over and over again. Some churches even go so far as to require their members to recite a certain prayer a specific number of times in order to be absolved of sin.
Our Father’s and Hail Mary’s.
This is a kind of paganism and superstition; such prayers are “vain repetitions” that have no place in the church. Jesus has already atoned for our sins once and for all.
Hebrews 10:10 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
We can approach the throne of grace boldly on the merit of Christ’s sacrifice,
Hebrews 4:15–16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in,
Not because of our “many words.
Spurgeon quote:
“Christians’ prayers are measured by weight, and not by length. Many of the most prevailing prayers have been as short as they were strong.”
Prayer should be more of what is on the heart than what is on the tongue. What we say should be our hearts desire, and offered in simplicity of faith. End of quote.
8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Jesus says, “Don’t be like the hypocrite, thinking that because of your many words, God will hear.
Our Father is Omniscient, (all knowing), we don’t need to pray to tell God what we are in need of, He already knows.
We pray because we are in a relationship with him and He loves to hear us ask. It is our communication with a loving Father.
Clarke’s commentary:
Quote: “Prayer is not designed to inform God, but to give man a sight of his misery; to humble his heart, to excite his desire, to inflame his faith, to animate his hope, to raise his soul from earth to heaven, and to put him in mind that there is his Father, his country, and inheritance.” End of quote.
Therefore we have no need to make use of lots of words, or long prayers. Because of the omniscience of God, He knows who we are and He knows our wants beforehand.
We can be assured He hears our hearts even without words.
He is able to help us, we have reason to believe he will; because He is our Father.
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.…
Jesus goes on to say, When you pray, pray in this manner. “Our Father”
The universal title for this prayer is “The Lord’s Prayer”.
However the true Lord’s Prayer can be found in John 17: 1 – 26.
John 17:1-26 is generally known as the Farewell Prayer or the High Priestly Prayer, given that it is an intercession for the coming Church. It is by far the longest prayer of Jesus in any of the gospels.
What we know as “The Lord’s Prayer” could be better titled, “The Disciple’s Prayer”, for Jesus is telling His disciples how to pray. In what manner to pray.
i.e. Jesus did not need to pray, "forgive Me my trespasses", for He was sinless.
He is giving them a "Pattern" for prayer.
Jesus was a man of prayer. He used to spend lots of time talking to His Father.
One day His disciples came to Jesus and said “Lord, teach us to pray”.
Luke 11: 1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
Jesus replied: Luke 11: 2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Pray in this manner, along these lines, like this.
In our text, in Matthews Gospel it says:
Matt 6: 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
9, In this manner. (Greek - Houto – in this way – on this fashion) noun: a way of doing, being done, or happening; mode of action
Pray like this, pray in this way.
It does not necessarily mean using the exact words but along these lines, remembering certain truths.
A question arises here.
Was this prayer meant to be recited verbatim? Or was it meant as a pattern, a model, only?
The answer could be both. It is as a stand alone prayer, a very good prayer and it is also an excellent example of how to pray.
On the surface this prayer does not seem to cover every aspect of prayer.
i.e. It does not give us any information in praying for the sick or how to pray for leaders and the welfare of other people.
However, by saying "Our Father", it is an inclusive prayer of all the members of the body of Christ.
If you are rich, it could prompt you to pray for the poor.
Whilst you may be healthy, it could make you think of those that are sick.
Whilst you may belong to a large close family or a close fellowship of believers, it may cause you to think about others who are lonely.
Whether we call it "The Lord's Prayer" or "The Disciples Prayer", really is not a problem. It is a prayer that recognises the "Communion of saints", the body of Christ all over the world.
Our Father in heaven:
In recognition of God who is our Father in heaven. If we are sons of God, then God is our Father.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Not in the sense of Deism but in the sense that we, if we are in Christ, have a personal relationship with God and that it is a providential relationship between Him and us.
Deism - noun: belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe.
Providence is God intervening in the universe and specifically the lives of His children.
God is our Abba, our Father, In a very familiar sense.
It is a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence.
The New Testament uses an Aramaic version of this word which is "Abba" on three occasions all of which convey the idea of a strong dependable Father who strengthens His children when they are feeling weak.
Romans 8:15: “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’.”
Galatians 4:6: “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba Father!’”
"Ab" (אב), the Hebrew word for father is spelled with an "aleph" (א) and a "bet" (ב)
In the ancient Hebrew the Aleph (God) is represented as an ox head, it symbolizes strength. The Beit (Christ) is represented as a house or tent.
When we are born again of the Spirit we belong to the household of God.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
We belong to God in Christ. ABBA, a strong house/ a house strong, whichever way you look at it, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God is Love.
In Hebrew, Love is spelled with an "aleph" (א), a "hey" (ה), and "bet" (ב).
“Aleph” is the Father and “Bet” is the Son and “Hey” is the Holy Spirit (The breath of God).
From a pictograph perspective, the "hey's" (ה) position in the middle of the word, between the "aleph" (א) and "bet" (ב), the Hebrew word for father, signifies the heart of the word.
The Hebrew letter "hey" (ה) is a picture of a window and represents something revealed. Love, therefore, in terms of God's character, may be defined as the heart of the Father revealed. And in the heart of the Father is love.
God is Love. Father, Son and Holy Ghost
1 John 4: 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Jesus has made it possible for us to come before Almighty God who is in heaven and call Him father.
We have no need to go through any other mediator, not a priest, or the mother of Jesus to intercede on our behalf. We don’t need to ask any saint to intercede for us. For there is one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
Hallowed be your name.
Hallowed meaning: Greatly revered and honoured.
Just because we have the right to come before the Almighty God who is our heavenly Father, we must never take it for granted and should always approach the throne of God with reverence.
In Hebrew a person’s name said something about their character.
The Jews recognised this in the fact that God’s name was so holy, it was never said. Yahweh, the name of God that was never spoken.
Not only is God holy, but His name is holy too. We should never treat God's name with disrespect as some do when they curse and use God's name in vain. We should give the same respect and honour to God's name that we give to God Himself, because He and His name are one in the same.
Exodus 20: 7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done.
When we think of kingdom, we think of the United Kingdom, or another country. However in Jesus day the kingdom was the rule or reign of a king. The word in (Greek “basileia”), rule or realm.
I suppose it could be translated Thy rule come or thy reign come.
So if we are to pray “Your kingdom come”, does this mean future, is the kingdom of God only in the future?
Luke 17: 20,21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
Is the kingdom of God a future reality to be hoped for or a present reality to experience now?
The answer is that it is partly present and partly future. Many of its blessings are here to be enjoyed now; but many of them are not yet here.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:28 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
This is the only way we can understand this from scripture.
Luke 11: 20 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Luke 19 11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
When one is born again, the Holy Spirit comes to permanently dwell within the believer and he enters into eternal life. Eternal life begins the moment one is born of God. Christians are made part of the Body of Christ, of which Christ is the head and Christ is the King.
Christians are born of the Spirit and so are Spirituals, they belong to the Kingdom of Heaven.
This is our reality now but it will also be a reality in the future, when Christ comes again to set up a physical Kingdom on the earth and then finally in the new heavens and earth.
“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”.
We belong to the Kingdom of God, but we also pray for His kingdom on earth, just as it is in heaven.
God’s kingdom reign was established through Jesus’ first coming as His future kingdom reign somehow invaded the present. Yet it is only when Jesus comes again at the end of the age, when God’s kingdom reign will be consummated in power. Only then will God’s kingdom reign be fully, completely established in the sense of abolishing evil and vindicating good. Only then will an ultimate sense of accountability be brought to all people, as every human being stands before the Creator of the universe and gives an account. Only then will every tongue confess and every knee bow.
So the answer is “yes,” the Kingdom of God, has both come and is coming.
Whilst we wait for the coming kingdom, we know God in our hearts by faith in Jesus Christ but not fully.
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
In this, the Church Age, the powers of evil and darkness have been defeated by Jesus through His death and resurrection, but because of the “not yet” there’s still evil in the world. The devil is defeated, he’s on a leash, but it’s a long one. So when we pray “Your kingdom come” we’re not asking for the “already” part, we’re looking forward to the “not yet” part.
Thy will be done.
(Greek – Thelema) Thy Determination - Thy choice - Thy purpose - Thy decree.
We are asking that God will fulfil all His purposes, agreeing with God concerning His decrees.
God’s will is revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures.
God’s Sovereign Will includes His Preferred Will and His Permissive Will
God’s Sovereign Will. (God’s Perfect Will)
Isaiah 46:10: “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”
Because God is sovereign, His Will can never be frustrated. What He has willed, will come to pass. It is certain and can never be thwarted.
Decreed – Preordained – Foreordained – Pre destined.
God’s Sovereign or Perfect Will is hidden from us.
God’s Preferred Will. ( God’s revealed Will).
This is what God would prefer, however He allows men to make decisions, good or bad.
God wants everyone to be saved but not all will be saved.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1Tim 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
God wants us to fulfil His will, this is His desire, His will. He reveals what He wants us to do and we choose to do it or not do it.
However, our decisions are included in His Sovereign Will.
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
God’s Permissive Will.
God does not directly “cause” everything to happen. God is not the Author of sin.
He allows things to happen that He does not take pleasure in.
He permits those things to happen.
God’s permissive Will is not hidden from us. It is revealed to us in His word.
Included in God’s Sovereign Will is: The decisions made concerning His Preferred Will and all the things that are done under His Permissive Will.
There is nothing that happens that is outside of God’s sovereign will. God is always in complete control.
God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass.
When we pray ”Thy will be done” We are acknowledging that this is our desire, that all aspects of God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
“Give us this day our daily bread”.
Bread remains, at least in our language, as a powerful symbol of the rudimentary basis of provision for our needs. The husband or the wife who works to provide for a family is known as the “Breadwinner”.
This petition of the Lord’s Prayer, then, teaches us to come to God in a spirit of humble dependence, asking Him to provide what we need and to sustain us from day to day. We are not given license to ask for great riches, but we are encouraged to make our needs known to Him, trusting that He will provide.
We could easily say “Lord, provide all that we need for this day”.
Luke 12:27-40 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and
tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
If our children come to us and ask for something, we want to give it to them, unless it is something that would not be good for them.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
How much more will God give to them that ask Him.
This does not mean that we can live a lazy life, thinking that God will provide everything for us.
To pray this is to trust that God will provide the means for our daily needs.
12. And forgive us our debts,
This should be our prayer daily as we walk with God.
Forgive our debts. This does not mean run up your credit card and then ask God to sort it.
Debt’s here is sin. Forgive our sin, our trespasses, our wrongdoings, our shortcomings.
Well! I have not sinned today. Oh no?
1 John 1: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
We should pray this every day, we should keep short accounts with God.
We should practice spiritual breathing. Breathing out the impurities and breathing in the forgiveness of God.
We should not save our sins up until we go to bed and have a confession before we sleep.
That way we just sleep clean and live dirty.
We can walk in the Spirit but only by keeping short accounts. The moment we fall and the Holy Spirit convicts us. We should immediately confess, repent and ask forgiveness and allow Christ to fill us with His Spirit. God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is the way to be being filled with Spirit.
Eph 5:18 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
The Greek word here is (Playroo), It has the meaning of be being filled a continuous infilling.
As we forgive our debtors.
How do we want forgiveness? In the same way we forgive those who sin against us.
We must forgive others if we want God’s forgiveness.
Matt 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
13 And do not lead us into temptation.
The pope of Rome has recently said that this part of the prayer should be re written, as it implies that God leads us into sin.
Does a pure sinless God lead us into sin? I don’t think so.
James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
However, the one who is the personification of evil does. Satan began his temptations in the Garden of Eden and he has never changed.
He tempted Adam and Eve, he tempted Jesus Himself and he tempts us today.
The answer is in the second part of this verse.
But deliver us from the evil one.
God is the one who delivers us from evil, not lead us into it. We allow ourselves to be drawn into evil.
We have the power to overcome evil in Christ and yet we, because of our weak and sinful flesh, succumb to it.
James 4: 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We can resist in the power of Christ but not when we depend on ourselves.
Jesus resisted the devil by quoting the scriptures and we can do the same.
God give me power to resist evil and deliver me from it.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
This prayer ends with a very strong statement, the recognition that God is Omnipotent, Sovereign and He will share His glory with anyone.
Isaiah 42: 8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
This short ending to the Lord’s prayer is reminiscent of King David’s words as he offered treasures unto God, saying “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the
majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
1Ch 29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
It is ending the prayer with recognition of who God is and what He is and what He has done.
We see it in Moses prayer after the delivery from the Egyptians.
Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
How else could we end a prayer but to give glory and honour and power to the God who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die in our place.
