Our Father in Heaven Matt 6:9-10

Persisting prayer (Luke 18:1-8) The nature of persisting prayer- it does not accept the status quo but seeks the will of God. The practice of persisting prayer- it does become weary, does not give up, does not grow faint, etc. The key to persisting prayer- faithfulness through the power of the Holy Spirit.

How should we pray?

‘Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is on heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever, Amen. The Lord’s Prayer

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men to be seen by them.”(Matt 6:1a)  “So, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do…” (v2).  “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites…” (v3).  “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do…” (v16).

Prayers are not…..to impress those around us...mantras to be repeated meaninglessly...eloquent words or lengthy sessions but more about the attitude of the heart.

‘Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is on heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

The Lord’s Prayer is … Centered first on God. Centered second on the needs of others. Centered lastly only on our needs.

Though the fig tree does not bud, And there are no grapes on the vines, Though the olive crop fails And the fields produce no food, Though there are no sheep in the pen And no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk’s Prayer, 6:17-19.

How do perceive God in your prayers?

The salutation: “Our father in heaven”

“Our father”

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

When we pray to Abba Father… We address God in the same manner Jesus does. We assume the role of a child to a father. We acknowledge being part of a larger spiritual family.

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Eph 1:15-17

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Acts 8:15-17

For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled on the measure of all the fullness of God. Eph 3:14-19.

“…in heaven”

If I am a father, where is the honor due me? Malachi 1: 6b Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 1 Peter 1:17

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. Hebrews 12:7-10

The first petition: “hallowed be your name”

The first petition of the Lord’s prayer is that God’s name is hallowed, or regarded as holy. This is our greatest need; this is the world’s greatest need (chapter 9-Know your real needs; pg 164). Self serving needs are not meant to be satisfied, they are meant to be put to death (page 163).

The 2 nd petition: “your kingdom come”

Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matt 7:21

The 3 rd petition: “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Sovereign will Moral will Area of specific decisions and freedom to choose God’s will to advance His KingdomGod’s will as revealed in the bible

Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. 2 Cor 2:12-13

Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Cor 2:12-14

Praying for God’s will to be done. Pray to make wise decisions which we were created to do (Gen 1:15-17, James 1:5). Read scripture to understand and obey God’s will (2 Tim 3:16). Pray and ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13, Eph 1:15-17).

“Today, God is first.”

‘Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.